12 appointed to Newport Beach boards and commissions

Some new faces will soon be appearing on Newport Beach boards and commissions.

The City Council on Tuesday appointed 12 people to seven panels. They will begin serving their four-year terms Friday.

Douglas Coulter, a longtime Newport resident, and Paul Watkins, the city’s 2015 Citizen of the Year, were appointed to two open seats on the Board of Library Trustees, which oversees the city’s library system.

Michelle Bendetti, who has served on the Newport Theatre Arts Center board of directors, and Jennifer Van Bergh, a longtime supporter of the Orange County Museum of Art, were appointed to the Arts Commission.

Longtime resident and community volunteer David Granoff was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission.

Paul Blank was reappointed to his seat on the Harbor Commission.

Erik Weigand was reappointed to the Planning Commission. Bill Dunlap, who owns an entitlement and development management company called W.E. Dunlap Consulting, was appointed to fill a vacant Planning Commission seat.

Former Arts Commissioner Robyn Grant and longtime community volunteer Douglas Wood were appointed to open seats on the Civil Service Board. The board provides advice to the City Council on personnel matters, conducts appeal hearings for city employees in disciplinary matters and launches investigations of personnel claims by city employees covered by a public safety union.

Saum Nour was reappointed and Rolly Pulaski was appointed to the Building and Fire Board of Appeals, which determines the suitability of materials and methods of construction and provides interpretations of the building and fire codes.