What’s the most important issue facing the...

What’s the most important issue facing the city?

Quality of life is the most important over-reaching issue on the

minds of Newport Beach residents, but quality-of-life issues take

many forms.

What is your opinion of how the Greenlight law is affecting the

city and what is your position on plans to build a hotel at

Marinapark?

I think that the Greenlight law has had a chilling effect on some

types of development within Newport Beach as was desired by its

proponents. In the short run, these effects have not caused any major

disruption to our city, its economy or the quality of life; however,

the jury is still out on Greenlight’s long-term ramifications. There

are a number of good reasons to build a hotel at Marinapark, such as

sparking a revitalization of the Balboa Peninsula and the potential

$2,300,000 a year it can generate for the city. Some type of public

park at that location may also be a desirable addition to the

peninsula. It’s city-owned property, which is why I favor a vote by

residents.

Are city leaders doing a good job handling the budget and the

pressures on it from the state?

The city is doing an excellent job of managing the city’s budget

despite the constant raids on city and county funding sources by the

state. We are adding money to our reserve accounts often, we have

balanced our budget without cutting the services our residents

demand, and we have held new hiring to a minimum.

How should the city handle possible expansion of John Wayne

Airport and St. Andrew’s Church?

Mayor Ridgeway, Councilman Bromberg and I have been working

closely with the county board of supervisors to develop a plan to

control any further expansion of John Wayne Airport. Our goal is for

the city to have a level of ownership in the airport that will give

our city a direct say in what happens at the airport. The form of

ownership interest is still being worked out, but we hope to make

significant progress in the months to come. The council has

encouraged St. Andrew’s Church and the neighborhood to work on a plan

helping both parties, which will reduce the overall burden on the

neighborhood.