Commentary: Outside pressures contributed to Civic Center costs

While Councilwoman Diane Dixon’s commentary (“The Civic Center audit will provide a necessary third-party review”) in the June 25 edition of the Daily Pilot was much appreciated, keeping everything in perspective is important in terms of the need for the unanimous approval by the council to conduct such an audit.

The audit request was a campaign promise by Team Newport, and it is my guess that the approval of this audit was agreed upon by continuing council members in order to put this issue to bed.

It is my hope that as a result of this audit, that not only Team Newport, but the entire citizenry of Newport Beach, will understand that because of pressure from the Green Building Council, CERT, the city Parks Commission, the Library Board and from those who reside in Harbor View Homes who were concerned about the new structure blocking their views, the cost of construction greatly escalated from the original plans.

Having the Civic Center be LEED-certified, including a disaster-preparedness center in the building, changing the plans from a passive to an active park adjacent to the facility, and pressure from the Library Board to expand the library all contributed to increasing the initial cost of building a new city hall.

Moreover, the initial site was un-buildable. In order to even begin construction, and to not obstruct the view of Harbor View resident homes, $8 million had to be spent just to make the site buildable.

Once the initial stages of the project began, it was clear to the then-council that the project was going to be very complex, and then recommended to the then-city manager that a project managing firm be hired as opposed to managing the project in-house. This recommendation was ignored.

No doubt Team Newport will find through this audit that the above pressures are what resulted in the overall project exceeding its initial cost projections, not the mismanagement of the project that is implied with the authorization of such an audit.

It is my sincere hope that this entire issue will become a moot point, and that the business of the city can proceed forward for the overall benefit of those of us who consider it a privilege to live in Newport Beach.

JEFF HERDMAN lives in Newport Beach.