News: Council Member Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

mayor v newport beach, california

newsletter: OCTOBER 2012

PADDLE WITH THE MAYOR
We had a nice Walk with the Mayor—and I’d like to get one more in before my term is up—but the water is beckoning, so Saturday, October 13, at 9 a.m. I’ll be taking off with my paddleboard, and I hope some of you will join me. I plan to paddle around Balboa Island which takes about 1 ¼ hours without a headwind or any interruptions such as me falling off. I’ve charted it, and we’ll be passing Bayside Beach (Harbor Patrol) about 9:10 and get to the first public pier on the island by about 9:15. I’m sure your mother told you not to paddle with strangers, so I’ll be wearing a red floppy hat for identification.

OLE OLE OLE OLE
I watched the end of the Ryder Cup and got a kick out of all the European fans singing “Ole ole ole ole!” in the background, much more celebratory (and less pompous) than chanting “We’re number one.” If I were going to sing “Ole ole ole ole!” around the city, I think the first people I would sing it to would be Jack and Nancy Skinner and their devotion to all things water, whether it’s what we drink or what we recreate in. They spend their time attending many, many meetings with arcane, water-related subjects, and are vigorous voices for the bay. They have often helped the city in its dealings with various agencies, and time and again their comments have helped to improve projects, especially those affecting the harbor. So, “Ole ole ole ole!” for the Skinners.

NEW CITY HALL
From time to time someone will write, unhappy about some aspect of the new city hall. They don’t like the lights or the paint on the parking garage, they don’t like the roof. I’m never quite sure what to say. We formed an advisory committee of architects, held a design competition, and with the committee’s help chose a design. Then a Building Committee of three council members (Selich, Rosansky and Hill) was formed to oversee the process--not to offer suggestions on the design but to protect the integrity of that design and to monitor the financial aspects. Should we start to second-guess the process and change details now? It’s tempting, but given the process I don’t think it’s appropriate. With that said, however, the committee has agreed to review the paint on the parking structure after the landscaping is in.

BICYCLES
The recent deaths of two cyclists within two days in our city was a terrible moment. The accident statistics kept by the Police Department and presented each month at the Bicycle Safety Committee meeting showed a steady downward trend, and we were all encouraged—and then this. There will be a memorial ride honoring the lives of Sarah Leaf and Catherine Campion. Led by Councilwoman Daigle, the ride will start from Whole Foods in Fashion Island at 8 a.m., Sunday, October 28. And we will continue to work to make the city streets safe.

SPEAKING OF BICYCLES
The council approved the installation of sharrows through CdM. We were thinking of the new year so as not to interfere with the merchants’ holiday season but have decided to speed up the installation. Look for them in late October. Also coming, left-turn arrows from Marguerite to PCH which will hopefully alleviate some of the jams that occur when summer crowds leave the beach.

MORE TRAFFIC
The pinch-point test--moving the lane narrowing from MacArthur closer to Avocado—will be ending shortly. The traffic analysis as well as an analysis of public reaction will be presented to council, probably the second meeting in October, when a decision will be made to accept the change, reject it completely, or examine alternatives.

REALITY TV—NEWPORT STYLE
This year, out of all the votes the council has taken, only ten have had dissents, and the dissenting votes have been sprinkled among the council members. Analysis—we don’t vote in tidy blocs, and there’s a lot of accord in the city, which means we’ll never have the ratings of all those catfighting housewife shows.

FUTURE TOPIC SUGGESTIONS

This is a two-way process, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with your ideas and opinions. My email address for city business is: NGardner@newportbeachca.gov. Don’t worry if you forget it. I’ll still be using the AOL one, too.

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Mayor 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: ngardner@newportbeachca.gov