NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Here are a few items the council considered Tuesday.

BALLOT MEASURES

Two city-sponsored ballot measures will join candidates for six council seats and a citizen-backed issue on the November ballot.

Council members decided, in a 6-1 vote with Councilman Dick Nichols dissenting, to place the general plan update on the fall ballot for voters to decide. The general plan describes what kinds of development and how much can be built in the city for potentially the next 20 to 25 years. The plan’s highlights include allowing new housing in the airport area, mixed-use in Mariner’s Mile and a reduction in projected traffic from what the existing general plan allowed to be built.

In a unanimous vote, council members opted to put a charter amendment on the ballot that would bar the city from using eminent domain for anything other than a distinctly public project. If it is approved by voters, it would prevent the city from taking property and turning it over to private use.

WHAT IT MEANS

City voters will see three local ballot measures and six council seats on their November ballot.

FIRE RESCUE BOAT

The council unanimously agreed to spend $317,862 to purchase a new fiberglass rescue boat for the city. The city has three rescue boats, the oldest of which was made in 1977. That boat will be replaced with the new boat.

Crystaliner Corp. of Costa Mesa builds the all-fiberglass boats the city wants. The council had budgeted $300,000 this year for a new boat, so additional money will be shifted to cover the remaining $17,862.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will buy a new fiberglass-hull rescue boat for $317,862.

AIRPORT POLICY

An updated airport policy statement for the city no longer talks about a commercial airport at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The council unanimously voted to approve the updated policy, which stresses that the city opposes a second runway, flight curfew changes or any other expansion of services at John Wayne Airport that isn’t already in the legal settlement agreement. The policy also says there is no feasible site in Orange County for another commercial airport.

Members of three citizens’ groups ? the Airport Working Group, Stop Polluting Our Newport and Airfair ? helped draft the new policy. Council members said they’ll consider hiring a consultant for technical expertise on airport issues.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city’s official airport policy has been updated to reflect changes over the last seven years, including that the former El Toro Marine base is now being privately developed and will not support a commercial airport.

? Compiled by Alicia Robinson