NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are some items the council will consider tonight.

PARK FEES

The council could boost park fees charged to developers nearly five-fold, the first such increase in almost 20 years, if the council agrees.

The city requires developers of housing to either donate parkland to serve those new residents, or pay a per-unit fee that would help the city buy or build more parks. The fee per residential unit is $6,894 and was last updated in 1988.

Using the appraised value of Eastbluff Park and Bob Henry Park — $3 million per acre and $3.5 million per acre, respectively — city officials calculated what the new fees should be, based on current land values. The proposed park fee per residential unit is $33,962.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council probably will want to increase the park fees at least a little, since the existing fee is so far behind current land costs. Council members could opt to increase the fee over several years, a method Costa Mesa has used to get developer fees in line with the market while avoiding a dramatic one-time hike.

LEGISLATIVE GOALS

The council will consider a new legislative platform for 2007-08, with key items including regulation of group homes and drug and alcohol recovery facilities, protection against airport impacts and funding for projects such as Back Bay dredging and restoration.

Having a set of issues the city supports and opposes at the state and federal levels is typical. One of the main differences in the latest platform is the new priority of recovery homes. The council also will vote on a new three-year contract with Emanuels Jones & Associates to lobby for legislation on the city’s behalf. The contract would cost $48,000 in the first year and $51,000 in each of the second and third years.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council probably will approve both the legislative platform and the lobbying contract.

— Compiled by

Alicia Robinson