Here are some items the council will...

Here are some items the council will consider Tuesday:

NEWPORT BOULEVARD WIDENING

The city has been considering adding lanes to ease congestion on

Newport Boulevard, and final design of the project will go ahead if

the council approves it. The $7-million project would add one

northbound lane between 17th and 19th streets and one southbound lane

between 19th Street and Broadway. The lighting, landscaping and

pedestrian access along the street would be improved along with the

widening.

The council will be asked to approve a report that says the

environmental effects of the widening will be minimal. After that,

final design can start and construction is slated for early 2007.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members have supported improving the aesthetics and

congestion on city thoroughfares, and state and federal money would

largely pay for this project, so the council is likely to approve it.

FAIRVIEW PARK

BIKE TRAIL

A new bike trail could connect Placentia Avenue to the existing

Greenville/Banning and Santa Ana River trails, if the council votes

to study the idea. The Parks and Recreation Commission in May

unanimously supported exploring a plan to build a bike trail along

the Fairview Flood Control Channel, which is owned by Orange County.

No cost data is available and the county would have to agree to

the trail.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Since exploring the bike trail option will only cost the city

man-hours, the council probably will agree to research it.

AIRPORT GROUP

AirFair, a citizens group that opposes any future expansion of

John Wayne Airport, has asked the council to pass a resolution of

support for permanent caps on flights, limits on noise and flight

curfews. The group already has the support of the city of Villa Park

and homeowners’ associations representing as many as 20,000 people.

Airport activities are governed by a legal settlement that caps

passengers at 10.3 million per year through 2011. Then the cap goes

up to 10.8 million annual passengers until 2015, when the agreement

expires.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council probably will vote to support AirFair, because in the

past it has opposed more flights at John Wayne Airport.

-- Compiled by

Alicia Robinson