NEWPORT BEACH : Committees Survive Consolidation Efforts

The city’s Bicycle Trails and Harbor Quality committees narrowly survived City Council efforts this week to consolidate several citizen committees, although others will be changed.

The Bicycle Trails Committee, which works on trail development and safety issues, was to be disbanded, in part because of expected vacancies, City Manager Kevin J. Murphy said.

But City Councilman John C. Cox Jr. objected to disbanding the group and said other residents could be appointed to fill the vacancies.

“For years, the Bicycle Trails committee has been one of this city’s most effective committees,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials had considered merging the Harbor Quality Committee into the Legislative Committee. But the council voted to keep the Harbor committee together at the request of residents and committee members.

Several council members, including Mayor John W. Hedges, said several people had pointed out that the Harbor Quality Committee looks at ways to reduce pollution and trash in Newport Harbor, one of the city’s major recreational resources.

The Legislative Committee monitors and helps determine how to apply air quality and other standards imposed by regional and state authorities, but pays no special attention to harbor issues.

Other committees will be changed under council action.

Six committees, some newly created, will handle the duties previously delegated to a dozen.