NEWPORT BEACH BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Noaki Schwartz

ISSUE: Filling an unscheduled vacancy on the City Arts Commission

ACTION: Voted 5 to 2 to appoint Lisa Crespin over Tom Staple

SUMMARY: Pat Brubaker unexpectedly resigned from the commission, creating

the vacancy. Her term would have expired June 30, 2001. The council

confirmed the nominations of Lila Crespin and Tom Staple on Nov. 8.

ISSUE: Option to purchase Caltrans West (Sunset View Park)

ACTION: 7 to 0

SUMMARY: The council was originally supposed to vote to authorize the

city manager to negotiate a one-year option to purchase Caltrans West

(Sunset View Park) for 10% of the appraised value with a one-year

extension at 5% of the appraised value. However, several council members

said that they wouldn’t support the motion unless it was 5% of the

appraised value.

Caltrans originally acquired the property along West Coast Highway in

Newport Beach during the 1960s as part of the planned Coastal Freeway. In

1973, there was a city referendum and the route was opposed. As a result,

almost all of the property acquired was sold except for the parcel

between Coast Highway and the Newport Crest development.

The park is made up of two parcels which are 13.7 acres and 1.1 acres.

Caltrans attempted to sell the parcels twice but did not receive any

acceptable bids.

The city and Caltrans have bartered for the property over the last seven

years. Finally in September, Caltrans offered the appraised price of

$3,730,000 and a 5% deposit. The city countered with a request for a

one-year option to purchase at a fee of 10% of the sale price with an

extension of one year for an added 5%. Caltrans has yet to agree.

ISSUE: Authorize Councilwoman Jan Debay as the city’s representative for

the American Trader Oil Spill’s Trustees Council to advocate for a list

of projects.

ACTION: 7 to 0

SUMMARY: On Feb. 7, 1990, the American Trader oil tanker was carrying

British Petroleum crude oil. When the tanker attempted to offload this

oil at the Goldenwest Terminal, off the coast of Huntington Beach, the

hull was punctured by the ship’s anchor -- spilling 400,000 gallons of

oil.

The trustees who successfully litigated for damages regarding the oil

spill will meet to discuss the use of the settlement proceeds.

The plaintiffs -- including Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange

County, state Parks and Recreation and the state Fish and Game -- will

present a list of projects to be funded by the money. The council will

then review this list and approve the best projects for funding.