News: Councilwoman Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

councilwoman v newport beach, california

newsletter: october 2009

DESALINATION
A 50-million-gallon-a-day desalination plant has been proposed for Huntington Beach. While more water would certainly be welcome, there are environmental concerns since the proposed plant would utilize AEC’s intake. This means continuing destruction of marine life since the pipe traps some species and destroys a lot of larva. The Coastal/Bay Water Quality Committee took no position on the merits of the plant but has recommended that the City sign a water purchase agreement as fourteen Orange County public water agencies have. This would not curtail any environmental arguments we might want to make, and the City can opt out at any time, but it means that if the project were to be approved we would be in line to purchase water.

COASTAL PEAK PARK
The new park right by Signal Hill is open. It’s a terrific park–great playing fields, areas you can reserve for kids’ parties, a nice play area. Nearby residents are concerned about parking impacts since this is also a staging area for the open space across the street, and we will be making adjustments as needed.

COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER
There will be a week-long open house October 3-9, to celebrate the renovated Community Youth Center in Corona del Mar, culminating with a movie in the park (Madagascar 2) and barbecue that Friday. There’s an additional classroom with ten new instructors and thirty classes. For more information call 644-3165 or go to the City’s web site.

MORE ON FIRE RINGS
I was down at Big Corona one weekend this summer, and by the jetty and fire rings all I could smell was lighter fluid from the fire rings which didn’t add much to the beach experience. Senator Tom Harmon is interested in the subject, so we met for coffee and talked about safety and air quality issues. He gave me some interesting figures: Of the 394 beaches in California, 12 have fire rings, and 4 of the 12 are in Orange County.

PARKING
A parking structure has been proposed for Old School Park to help alleviate parking problems in the area. The concept is for automated parking which would take the existing parking lot and put what would like a house on it facing 4th Avenue where the ingress and egress would take place. The actual parking would be underneath the park. As presented, there would be less impact on nearby residents than the existing set up. However, impact is in the eye of the beholder, so if the proposal gains any traction, residents’ reaction will be critical.

CIVIC CENTER
I still hate the sail. There was a final meeting Sept. 30 of the City Hall and Park Design Committee at which the project architects presented their schematic designs. They have gone a long way in answering neighbors’ concerns about view planes and light pollution. I determined that since we had put together this committee of architects to give us the benefit of their expertise I would try not to second-guess the design with my own impeccable taste, but when I see the sail I cannot help myself. Anyway, I understand NBTV will be showing reruns of the meeting the next few Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for those who want an update.

AND NO, I DO NOT BEAT MY DOG
But neighbors probably think I did. Mouse was grouse-hunting in Colorado and mistook a porcupine for a game bird (I never said he was a smart dog). Jim pulled all the quills out, and he was fine for a week, and then one afternoon, he started yelping like he was being punished, and he was, but not by us. The porcupine got its revenge. The vet found a small quill floating around inside his ear canal where we couldn’t see it. I wish I could say that Mouse has learned his lesson about porcupines, but knowing the animal it’s probably best if he just avoids Colorado.

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FUTURE TOPIC SUGGESTIONS

This is a two-way process, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with your ideas and opinions.

Councilwoman Nancy Gardner

QUALITY OF LIFE Advocate FOR NEWPORT BEACH

City of Newport Beach - 3300 Newport Blvd - Newport Beach, CA 92663

Phone: 949.644.3004 - EMAIL: gardnerncy@aol.com