Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

Mooring permit holders are expected to show up in force at tonight’s Council meeting in opposition to new Harbor plan

This evening there are two meetings at City Hall. First will be a Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and the City Finance Committee beginning at 4 p.m., where city staff will review the revenue assumptions, the expenditure requirements and program enhancement recommendations included within the proposed City budget for 2023-24.

City Council will then adjourn to their Study Session and then return at 5:30 p.m. for the regular Council meeting. But, I’m told that the regular meeting could be anything but! One letter writer to Stu News said, “expect political fireworks!” …pointing to a controversial agenda item and potential vote on a Pilot Project to Reconfigure Mooring Field “C” in Newport Harbor, To Improve Navigation Safety and to Optimize Space within the Mooring Field.

I’m told by Harbormaster Paul Blank that this plan has been in the works for three years and is now ready for implementation. He appeared confident in what he’s seen.

On the other side, mooring owners are said to be up-in-arms (according to several, 96% of mooring permit holders were opposed to this plan in an informal poll taken).

The mooring permit holders’ side of the issue says there will be multiple changes to the codes that will affect them long-term, and that a harbor mooring redesign will dramatically impact many of them negatively.

The new plan, led primarily by Harbor Commissioner Ira Beer, includes the verbiage “Pilot Project” indicating to me that they’re confident it will work, but may be altered if need be.

One mooring holder said to me, “I understand you may view this as an elite vs elite issue, but obtaining an offshore mooring permit is the only way a blue-collar person has any hope of keeping a boat on the water in the harbor.

“I won’t expand upon my reasons to request the NB City Council to vote NO on Resolution 2023-32 and I sharply disagree with the approach taken by the Newport Mooring Association to oppose the test, but suffice to say I expect an emotionally charged meeting,” he added (name withheld).

As for me, I don’t “understand” either way…I have no horse in this race, or even a moored vessel for that matter. I do feel confident in Blank as our Harbormaster and he gave me no feeling of strong concern. I also believe our City Council, under Mayor Noah Blom’s leadership, has been performing admirably in recent months and will listen to both sides prior to making their educated decision.

As far as fireworks, yes, anytime you get a passionate group behind an issue I would expect them to line up in their opposition. And, this will be no different. But, at the end of the day, it’s the community’s harbor and our council is charged with making the best decision regarding it. I’m confident they will.

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What better way to get your long Memorial Day Weekend started than by going by and supporting our Newport Beach Police at their next NBPD Mobile Café. This one takes place this Saturday (May 27) from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Starbucks Coffee located at 21155 Newport Coast Drive.

Join our men and women in blue for coffee, pastries and conversation designed to allow community members to come together in an informal setting to discuss community issues and build relationships.

The Cafés are set up to get residents into a relationship-building scenario with the NBPD and away from the usual interactions that usually take place during emergencies or emotional situations. Attend and you’re free to ask questions and get to know the officers.

It’s designed to be casual and fun.

If you have questions (or need to see if that warrant you have will lead to any problems with your attendance), direct them to Sergeant Steve Oberon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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It’s one of the staples in Corona del Mar leading up to summer…this year, the Annual CdM Scenic 5K will take place on Saturday, June 3. The course of the race is about as beautiful as a course could be, meandering through the tree-lined streets of CdM, including a jaunt down the waterfront overlooking the beautiful Pacific below. The race even includes a trip across the one-of-kind Goldenrod Bridge, one of the unique features CdM offers to get from point A to point B above the traffic below.

But wait, the bridge has been under construction. One reader inquired this week, “will it be ready for the big day?” We went to the top and contacted CdM Chamber President & CEO Linda Leonhard, who oversees the race. What about the status of the bridge?

Not to worry…“City staff says it will be completed. (However) the city says if for some outside chance it is not that they will keep it open for the race, but might need to erect some fencing.”

The race must go on and, fortunately, will along the course we all cherish.

Races for the morning will include the 5K, a 2-mile youth race, the Dolphin Dash for kids and the always popular 2-Mile Fun Walk. You may register for any and all here.

In addition to your morning workout, you can also enjoy their Vendor Fair, their Restaurant Row and more.

The morning schedule is 6 a.m. – Event-day registration; 7:30 a.m. – time to warm up; 7:55 a.m. – Men’s 5K; 8:20 a.m. – Women’s 5K; 8:45 a.m. – 2-Mile Fun Walk/Youth Run and 9 a.m. – the 1K Kid’s Dolphin Dash.

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This spotted in a Balboa Island storefront this past weekend. A Memorial Day BBQ at the Balboa Island Park at 115 Agate Ave. Balboa Island vets eat free…as they should! Adults $12, kids $7. The BBQ is Monday, May 29 from 12-2 p.m.

Here’s the menu: burgers, dogs, Spam, chips, chili, ice cream, lemonade and coffee. Also on tap are games and a raffle.

Sounds like summer is upon us!

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And, so you can plan your summer, here’s the list of the city’s recently announced Summer Concerts on the Green.

–The Sully Band (R&B and Blues), Sunday, July 23, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Civic Center.

–Tijuana Dogs (Classic Rock), Sunday, Aug. 20, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Civic Center.

–Boys of Summer (Eagles Tribute), Sunday Sept. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Civic Center.

–Tiffany Dennis and Cruise Control (Singer/Songwriter), Sunday, Oct. 15, 4-5:30 p.m. at Marina Park.

All concerts are free. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low-slung beach chairs and even a picnic dinner, or purchase something from the on-site food trucks. No alcohol is allowed.

Tip: Get there early and mark your territory for the best seats. And when we say early, we mean early!

• • •

Maybe you’ve thought before about becoming a member of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. After all, what could be better than supporting such an important legacy in our community.

So, consider this: There is an upcoming Summer Solstice New Member Celebration on Wednesday, June 14. The celebration will include the usuals…an hors d’oeuvres and wine reception that will be followed by an author presentation with National Book Award finalist Susan Straight. She will be talking about her latest book, Mecca, which is “a stunning epic tracing the intertwined lives of native Californians fighting for life and land.”

Mecca was regarded by the NY Times as one of the 10 Best California Books of 2022.

Now, if you become a new member of the Foundation by May 27, you will receive an invitation to the event.