Council may vote to study park site

FOR THE RECORD

Wednesday’s story, “Council may vote to study park site,” should have said that the Newport Beach City Council agreed Tuesday to have a consultant study the Newport Center Park site as a city hall location and that the plan does not require another vote.

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NEWPORT BEACH — In a surprising reversal of course, city leaders agreed Tuesday that they should vote on studying whether to build a city hall on the 12 acres designated to become Newport Center Park. But it’s not because they all agree it’s the right place for a new city hall.

Councilman Ed Selich, who proposed evaluating the park property, said he expects the study will lay to rest, rather than bolster, the idea of building a city hall at the park.

“No one should infer from this that I am in favor of a city hall here,” Selich said. “Cost would only be one factor in making our decision.”

In a 4-3 vote, the council decided that at its June 12 meeting it would consider finishing plans for Newport Center Park and seeking bids to build the first of three phases; accepting a $600,000 donation in exchange for naming rights to the park; and expanding the city’s contract with Los Angeles-based DMJM Design to conduct a preliminary study of building a city hall on the park land. City officials are waiting for a study of an Orange County Transportation Agency site down the street from the library, and supporters of putting a city hall on the park site are working on a ballot initiative.

“While I admit this park is not ideally located, there is no other realistic option to provide a park in Newport Center,” Selich said.

Mayor Steve Rosansky and council members Don Webb and Leslie Daigle voted against Selich’s idea. They have supported considering the park land as a city hall, but they don’t support moving forward with park plans at the same time.

It’s a good idea to get unbiased information on whether a city hall can be built there, Daigle said. “I’m all for rational analysis,” she said.