News: Council Member Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

council member v newport beach, california

newsletter: january 2011

CURRENT CITY HALL SITE
I previously mentioned my disappointment at the initial proposal for the current city hall site, a disappointment shared by other council members and a number of residents. The second draft will be presented at the January 11 council meeting, and I’m not very optimistic after the letter from one of the major property owners which had pretty much of a take-it-or-leave it tone as to plans for their property. It’s unfortunate because the whole idea was to take this unique opportunity and create a plan that would lift the whole area, but that requires cooperation from all the parties, not just the city.

TAKE A MAN’S HOBBY
Or a woman’s and you’ve really touched the passion, something very clear with the Bike Safety Committee. We had a full house again and intense discussions on some broad-based topics–the development of a good bicycle trails map for the city, for example–and some things only enthusiasts probably care about like bike braking distances. Next up is a community outreach effort to get reaction to having sharrows (share-the road-pavement markings like the recently painted ones on Bayside) on PCH in Corona del Mar. Sharrows are not bike lane designations but are often used when there is no room for a bike lane. They are meant to remind drivers and cyclists that the law requires them both to share the road. The sharrows would not reduce existing street parking.

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT
There was a program in the early days of television. In addition to Crusader Rabbit it had Engineer Bill who did red light/green light with milk. We all drank along and learned that red light means stop. It’s a lesson some of our residents seem to have forgotten. The other day I was following a car as we approached an intersection where our light was red. It was red as we approached. It was red as we stopped. It remained red as the other car drove across. It’s bad enough to slide through intersections when the light has just turned red, but to basically ignore it? I guess these people are so important that the rules don’t apply to them.

PUBLIC PIERS AND FISHING
A recent proposal suggested eliminated fishing at certain public piers. This could be contentious since both sides have advocates. On the fishing side, there is tradition–for a lot of people this is where they first fished–and economics. People who can’t afford to own or rent boats can still fish, thanks to public piers. On the boating side, there is the argument that the main purpose of public piers is to provide temporary tie-ups so that people can go ashore and that those fishing either don’t understand or choose to ignore docking rights which can lead to conflict. I used to think that it was only dogs and trees that aroused emotion, but anything to do with the harbor seems to get out a good crowd as well.

SUNSET RIDGE PARK
People who live near open space don’t necessarily welcome the idea of an active sports park, and I understand that. I’m less understanding when it comes to using such an area as a tool in the Banning Ranch battle, which is what is happening with Sunset Ridge Park. The result will undoubtedly be delays in the development of the much-anticipated youth soccer and baseball fields and money spent on legal fees that could have been used for upgrades. Such, however, is the way of the world when it comes to these things.

PLANNING SESSION
The council’s annual planning session is currently scheduled for the morning of Saturday, February 5. The location has yet to be announced, but in the past it’s been at the main library. If it’s there and you plan to come, bring a cushion. The chairs in the Friends Room get awfully hard.

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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.

Council Member 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