CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Newport Beach City Council voted not to have staff support for

the Arts Foundation.

Don Gregory, co-chairman of the proposed Arts and Education Center,

requested the council reinstate one city staff member to the Arts

Foundation.

The committee is planning and raising funds for its $12-million

project to turn the library into the city’s cultural center.

WHAT IT MEANS:

According to city policy, boards, commissions or committees need to

receive permission to enter into contracts.

The Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization and was not

established by the city. If the city paid for a staff member, it could

erode the independence of the foundation.

Vote: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The council approved plans to install landscaped islands to reduce

speeds on Santiago Drive and Holiday Road between Irvine and Tustin

avenues. The cost is estimated at $200,000.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council decided to approve the islands and hire an architect to

assist in the final design.

Vote: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

The city will spend $59,200 on software for recreation activity

registration and facility reservations.

The city has software to handle the 700-plus sports team registration,

10,000 class enrollments and more than 500 facility rentals annually, but

it needs to be updated.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The new software will facilitate the registration process and permit

customer registration online. It will also enable the recreation staff

members to be more responsive and efficient.

The activities processed generate approximately $1.3 million annually.

Vote: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

SOUNDING OFF

“I’m here to talk about the noise issue at surfing contests -- the rap

music. All [residents] hear is the boom, boom, boom of the music.”

-- Rita Wills, on the council’s decision to limit surf contests to

eight per year

NEXT MEETING

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at City Hall, 3300 Newport

Blvd.