Revisiting the top stories of 2024
By SARA HALL
2024 was another eventful year for Newport Beach. A lot happened in just the first six months in the city, including: Council approved a library lecture hall funding agreement; the community mourned a longtime local leader; authorities dealt with police and public safety activity and events; council decided to leave a state organization for cities; the harbor’s largest public dock and the long-awaited junior lifeguard facility were opened, and council agreed on a design style for a library and fire station project.
Here’s a round-up of some of the top news stories covered by Stu News Newport over the last year. This is PART 1 in a two-part series.
January
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Art courtesy of RCA/city of Newport Beach
The exterior of conceptual design for the planned library lecture hall
A split City Council moved forward with the Library Lecture Hall project. Councilmembers voted 4-3 (Will O’Neill, Joe Stapleton and Lauren Kleiman dissented) on January 9 in favor of the third amendment to the memorandum of understanding with the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. The agreement obligated the city and the foundation to a 50-50 split on funding the project, with a updated total all-in cost of approximately $23.49 million.
The agreement obligated the city and the Foundation to a 50-50 split on funding the project, with an updated total all-in cost of approximately $23.49 million.
Following the approval of the MOU, councilmembers again voted 4-3 to increase the funds committed and awarded a construction contract for the lecture hall project to AMG & Associates, Inc. for the total bid price of approximately $19.07 million.
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On January 16, the Board of Library Trustees approved appeal procedures and an application form as part of a new process of appealing the library director’s decision on resource materials to the board. They also amended the library’s collection development policy, which incorporates both the approved application and procedures.
Many members of the public presented their views on the draft procedures during the meeting. The input was robust and the board suggested a number of changes and crafted language in response to the comments.
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Allan Beek, of Newport Beach’s first family fame, died early on January 11. He was 96.
Beek was a longtime, respected community activist who was still involved with local organizations, including Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON), and other efforts that he believed had an adverse effect on negative growth, increased traffic, environmental concerns and unwanted change for Newport Beach.
February
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Photo by John Szabo
A strong rain storm caused flooding in Newport Beach and Southern California in early February
A powerful winter storm hit Newport Beach and the rest of Southern California, with runoff flooding streets and parking lots around town. The downpour saturated the ground so much that the hillside below an under-construction home on Kings Road slid away. The slide area was subsequently shored up to prevent more erosion.
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On February 11, a small single-engine Harmony LSA general aviation airplane crashed at John Wayne Airport on runway 20L.
According to reports from a JWA spokesperson and Orange County Fire Authority, two people were on board and transported to local hospital trauma units. The plane, a training aircraft, was reported to be doing a series of touch-and-gos throughout the morning before landing short on approach of a runway and spinning out.
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City Council on February 13 unanimously approved a request from Sober Living by the Sea (doing business as Sierra by the Sea), the operator of a drug and alcohol recovery facility, to terminate a contract with city that provided additional allowances for the operator. The action followed the company’s closure of all their Newport Beach properties late last year.
When approved in 2009, the agreement authorized the operation of residential care facilities and up to 204 beds throughout the city. For the past eight years, the company was only using 43 beds. By ending the agreement, the vested right for SLBTS to operate the potential total of 204 of beds was fully terminated.
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Alleged road rage ended in a shooting with one person injured at the West Ocean Front parking lot on the Balboa Peninsula on February 28.
Just after midnight a verbal altercation reportedly ensued between the occupants of a Tesla and another dark colored sedan. A suspect standing outside the dark-colored vehicle reportedly pulled a handgun and fired five rounds into the Tesla, hitting the driver in the shoulder. He drove away and eventually flagged down a patrol officer.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.
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March
The Planning Commission unanimously denied an appeal and upheld and affirmed a decision approving an electric vehicle dealership planned for Mariners’ Mile.
Commissioners voted 4-0 (three commissioners were absent) on March 7 in support of the zoning administrator’s February 1 decision to approve a minor use permit, minor site development review, modification permit, and tentative parcel map to allow the demolition of the existing on-site structures and the construction and operation of a Genesis automobile dealership at 320, 400, 410, 500 and 600 West Coast Highway.
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A majority of City Council voted to leave League of California Cities, primarily due to opposing stances on Proposition 1.
Councilmembers voted 5-2 (Erik Weigand and Robyn Grant dissented) on March 12 to not renew Newport Beach’s membership in Cal Cities. Although a time limit was not placed on the exit, a majority of councilmembers commented that they would like to revisit the idea in about one year.
During a study session on February 27, council discussed the topic and expressed concerns about Cal Cities’ stance on some key issues, primarily the group’s support of Prop 1 (which would allow by-right approval of sober living group homes), opposition to the Taxpayer Protection Act and their support of ACA 13.
Cal Cities’ opinion on all three of these issues is the opposite of the stance the city has officially taken or that a majority of councilmembers have expressed.
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Courtesy of city of Newport Beach
(L-R) State Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Newport Beach Councilmember Lauren Kleiman, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Joe Stapleton, Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill, Newport Beach Councilmember Robyn Grant and Newport Beach Councilmember Erik Weigand
Officials from the city, the county, The Irvine Company and State Assembly celebrated the grand opening of Newport Harbor’s largest public dock on March 29.
Following a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the Balboa Marina Public Pier was officially opened for public use. The new pier can accommodate up to 12 small vessels or several larger vessels.
April
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Courtesy of city of Newport Beach
The top choices – Top row (L-R): “Gecko” by Doug Snider; “Interplay” by Peter Ambrosio; “Growing Wings” by Hilde DeBruyne; “Heavy Landing” by Vojtech Blazejovsky and “Natural Wonders” by Michele Moushey Dale. Bottom row (L-R): “Glee” by Cindy Debold; “Trillium Bus Stop Bench” by Matt Cartwright; “Duality” by Giuseppe Palumbo; “Reaching Man” by Ron Whitacre and “Millefolium” by Catherine Daley
City Council approved selections for Phase IX of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park, which were chosen by public poll and recommended by the Arts Commission for the city’s rotating “museum without walls.”
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An intruder suspect was shot multiple times during an alleged home invasion in Newport Coast on April 16 and a second alleged suspect died nearby outside with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
Police responded to a 911 call around 4:45 a.m. and found a male armed with a handgun lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Andrew Miguel Rosas, 24, from Pomona was transported to a local hospital, treated and ultimately arrested. The second suspect was located in bushes nearby and pronounced deceased at the scene.
All four occupants of the residence were uninjured.
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On April 23, council unanimously approved various fee changes and directed staff to administratively add a policy to prevent abuse of city reservation system or repeatedly waste staff time. The action was prompted by a frequent user of the human lift (located at Marina Park and the Balboa Marina public dock) who repeatedly canceled within an hour or was absent at the times they scheduled to use the facility.
Councilmembers voted 7-0 in support of an ordinance and resolution revising, adding, or increasing certain fees within the finance, harbor and public works departments. The action also authorized the waiver of vehicle tow fees, adopted a credit card convenience fee and updated the methodology for annual Consumer Price Index calculations.
May
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Renderings by COAR Design Group/courtesy of city of Newport Beach
Concept renderings of the architectural style and layout option that council approved for the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station facility
Council on May 14 approved a design style and layout for the planned replacement facility for the Balboa Peninsula Library Branch and Fire Station combination project. The action also approved removal of a landmark blue gum eucalyptus tree at the site.
Councilmembers voted 6-0 (Robyn Grant was absent) for a cottage-style design for the project, located at 100 and 110 East Balboa Blvd.
More than 20 people spoke during public comment and nearly all opposed removing the eucalyptus tree. Many urged the council to save the green space and the heron’s nesting area.
Several councilmembers sympathized with the public’s comments in favor of the tree, but found that the need for a new fire station and library – coupled with the rot discovered in the tree – justified its removal.
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A 14-year-old girl was fatally struck by a vehicle on May 25 as she crossed E. Balboa Boulevard west of Palm Street on the Balboa Peninsula. Authorities later identified Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley of Rialto as the victim.
Authorities charged Joseph Alcazar, 30, of Fontana on suspicion of one felony count of murder, one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury with two prior convictions, one felony count of DUI with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher (with two priors) and one misdemeanor count of willful endangerment of a child.
June
Former President Donald Trump came to Newport Beach on June 8 for a fundraising event held at a home on Harbor Island. The event raised more than $5 million, according to local sources, with more than 400 people in attendance on site and more than 100 boats “floating” in the nearby harbor as part of a floating rally dubbed as “Trumptilla.”
On June 11, council adopted the budget for the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year. The budget focused on public safety, department performance metrics and the capital improvement program.
The operating budget totals $440.5 million and the capital budget totals $54.3 million in FY 2024-25, for a total of $494.8 million.
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Courtesy of city of Newport Beach
The grand opening of the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard headquarters
The grand opening of the Junior Lifeguard headquarters building was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and much fanfare on June 12.
The event included speeches from Former Mayor Will O’Neill, Fire Chief Jeff Boyles, Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Foundation Chair Graham Harvey and NBJG founder/past Director Reenie Boyer.
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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
