News: Council Member Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

council member v newport beach, california

newsletter: MAY 2014

WEST NEWPORT COMMUNITY CENTER
There are two sites proposed for a future community center on the west side of town--at the northeast corner of PCH and Superior and at the city's Municipal Operations lot at 16th Street. At a recent study session, both sites received support from residents. You can offer your comments at a community meeting, May 12, 6 p.m., at the old City Hall, or online at connectnewportbeach.com. Also part of the discussion--what should be included as part of the center. Among the suggestions so far: a fitness center similar to the one at Oasis, a full-sized gym for basketball and other sports, pickleball courts, meeting rooms and a pool.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLEAN UP
We have debris booms to capture trash entering the bay, and they work, but a lot of stuff still gets by, and in a harbor like ours, there are all sorts of difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies where trash accumulates. On the first Saturday of each month, Help Your Harbor facilitates an on-the-water clean-up. Zero-emission boats, kayaks, paddleboards--whoever wants to participate--should meet at the BBC guest dock at 9 am for directions. For more information: helpyourharbor.com.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BIG CAR?
When I was becoming a mature adult, I didn't know anyone who wanted to make things better. They wanted to make money. I don't know whether that's a comment on the times or on the people with whom I was acquainted, but it hardly prepared me for a world where so many young people today want to improve the world, not just their bank accounts. I met recently with a young man who, with his brother and a friend, is doing his best to reduce the number of plastic bottles littering our planet by promoting a different kind of public water fountain--one that conveniently dispenses water into reusable bottles. They are creating a nonprofit that will sponsor the installations and hope to replace some existing old fashioned fountains in the city with these new ones. Meanwhile, the city is incorporating such water fountains into the new parks we are building.

TOUCH TANK COMING
The city is completing work on a traveling touch tank. It will hold several aquariums containing a variety of specimens including sharks and octopi for an up close and personal experience for visitors. The ISOpod, as it is called, will be serving visitors at Little Corona and classes at the Back Bay Science Center, among other locations, providing a fun education on ways to visit the beach yet leave a gentler footprint.

LAND USE ELEMENT
There are changes proposed for the city's Land Use Element. These changes include development (additional residential units and commercial square footage in Newport Center, new residential units in the airport area) as well as new policies on sustainable communities and climate change, reflecting changes in state law. An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared analyzing the impacts of these proposed changes. The EIR also analyzes an alternative proposal which eliminates any airport-area changes. Anyone who submitted a written comment on the draft EIR prior to April 23 will have a formal response in the final EIR, but there are still opportunities to have your voice heard before the final version of the proposed changes is submitted to the voters in November, in addition to contacting council members--at the Planning Commission meeting(s) in June and the council meeting(s) in July. You can read the draft EIR on the city's website at http://www.newportbeachca.gov/index.aspx?page=2289.

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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Council Member Nancy Gardner

QUALITY OF LIFE ADVOCATE FOR NEWPORT BEACH

City of Newport Beach | 100 Civic Center Drive | Newport Beach, CA 92660

Phone: 949.644.3004 | EMAIL: ngardner@newportbeachca.gov