O’Neil leaves legacy of service in Newport

June Casagrande

After eight years on the City Council, Dennis O’Neil is still in

awe of Newport Beach -- its employees, its services, its communities

and its beauty.

On Tuesday, O’Neil stepped down from his two-term post as the

councilman for Corona del Mar’s District 6.

For O’Neil, who is also a former city attorney, the day marked the

end of a legacy of service, one that instilled in him a deep

appreciation of everything Newport Beach has to offer.

“This is a thriving, big-time, triple-A, world-class city,” O’Neil

said. “It’s so well run and it works so well because over the years

there have been many, many really talented, responsible people

willing to give of their time.”

In his time on the council, O’Neil has seen a number of landmark

events in the city. The hiring of City Manager Homer Bludau comes

quickly to O’Neil’s mind.

“It turns out that Homer Bludau was the right choice at the right

time for the city,” O’Neil said, calling Bludau just one of the many

high-caliber staff members the city is lucky to have. “He has done a

good job at putting in place a management team and an organization

that runs very smoothly.”

Public works projects such as the digging of four city wells in

Fountain Valley haven’t drawn as much fanfare as O’Neil believes they

deserve for their long-term benefits to residents, especially by

reducing the city’s dependence on outside water agencies.

“This will maintain our water rates in the city and will supply

adequate source of water for 40 years out,” he said.

The widening of MacArthur Boulevard, the bypass of the San Joaquin

Hills toll road and the Arches bridge also rank on O’Neil’s list of

important strides the city has made in the last eight years.

When the annexation of Newport Coast was approved last year,

O’Neil was among the first to call it a landmark moment for the city.

“That project was built in the county. If it stayed in the county,

those impacts were still going to be there,” he said. “What we got by

making it part of Newport Beach is a share of the property taxes,

which after we provide services is a source of revenue of several

million dollars or more forever.”

O’Neil said he has no immediate plans to return to public service.

Instead, he’ll devote his newfound time to running his busy law

practice. But the civic pride he developed on the dais and as a

Newport Beach staff member will be with him always.

“I’ve really enjoyed being on the City Council these eight years.

It really has been an honor.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.