By Sara Hall | NB Indy
The first round of discussions and debates for Newport Beach city council candidates was kicked off in Little Balboa Island last weekend.
The Little Balboa Island Property Owner’s Association (LBIPOA) hosted the first council elections candidate’s forum on Saturday. The association has traditionally held the first forum of election season for Newport Beach.
The only candidate missing from the discussion table was District 3 candidate Rush Hill. Sitting in his place and speaking from a prepared statement for Hill was Scott Olson. Hill was on a previously planned family vacation, according to his statement. Hill also mentioned in his statement that he was unaware that discussions or debates started this early in the year.
The candidates include: Incumbent Michael Henn for District 1; Hill and Edward Reno for District 3; incumbent Leslie Daigle and Mark Tabbert for District 4; and incumbent Nancy Gardner for District 6.
The candidates gave their opening statements before opening up the dialogue to questions.
Many of residents were interested to hear how the candidates would represent them. An audience member asked the candidates how they will manage their time and still efficiently manage their district and the city, considering how much time is required of the job.
“I’m here today,” said Reno. “I take this job very seriously. I do feel I will be able to contribute like no one, quite frankly, on the council currently or anyone in my race (can).”
Reno went on to express his commitment to the job.
“I’m committed to this 110 percent, you’ll see that in November,” said Reno. He added that him showing up is an example of his commitment.
Those in attendance were also very interested to hear the candidates’ views on certain local topics.
Eelgrass was a hot issue at the forum. Questions about what was being done in terms of mitigation were important to many of the residents of Little Balboa.
Daigle said that the Council is working with state and federal government about the mitigation of eelgrass. Federal law currently prohibits boat slip owners from removing or dredging if eelgrass is present. Daigle said she is going at it from a management approach.
Resident Dick Mays said he was happy to hear the candidates talk about the local issues, topics that concern him and his neighbors, he said, and specifically the eelgrass.
“It affects my boat,” Mays said. “(And it) really comes down to the local issues.”
Another local issue that was brought up was city employee salaries and the city budget. Reno noted that he wants to ensure that the city is functioning properly and being managed appropriately.
Gardner said there a several things she wants to accomplish in the next term, one of which is keep the transparency government. She gave the city of Bell as an example of what she does not want to happen in Newport Beach. The city has always been open and clear about the budget and all of the salaries and benefits of city employees, she said. She added later that City Council members do not get any stipends for sitting on committees or task forces.
The new Civic Center, which is a key issue for several of the candidates, was also discussed.
“I am not against the City Hall moving,” Reno said, adding that he questions how the price tag for the project has fluctuated so much. “I’ve asked a simple question… Is this thing being managed right?”
Tabbert chimed in saying he had petitioned against the project and he would like to see the character of the Peninsula and the city stay intact through any changes.
Henn added that he also didn’t want the project and voted against it and lost to the voters. He emphasized that the voters approved the project. He estimated the final cost of it to be approximately $105 million or less and that the city should know the final cost within the next few months.
“This project is being intensely managed, every day,” Henn said.
The project was designed, Henn said, so that if the final cost ends up being more than what the city can afford, some smaller aspects can be cut. He gave the proposed pedestrian bridge over San Miguel as an example of something in the last phase of the project that can be cut, if needed.
“If we get surprised, we can dial back the project to meet our financial (needs),” he said.
A question about adherence to the city charter and the rule for the Council to meet twice a month, yet they only meet once in August and December, brought up how hard City Council members work. Many of the candidates agreed that numerous hours are committed to the working on the Council and all of their respective committees and other city groups.
“It’s more important that the work gets done,” said Gardner, rather than making sure they meet twice monthly.
Another question from the audience that many were interested to hear was how the candidates plan to represent their district properly when they are voted in by the city at large.
“I can’t be too narrowly focused,” said Gardner. “If it is great for Corona del Mar, but bad for the rest of the city,” she said, “in the long run it will also be bad for CdM.”
She emphasized that City Council members need to support and represent both their districts and their city.
“It may be wishy-washy (to say), but it’s true,” she said.
Both Reno and Olson (for Hill) agreed.
“You need a champion for the district, a 360 leadership,” Reno said. “(Someone to) represent the (character) and vibe of the city (and district).”
Other topics of discussion from the audience included protecting the public view versus the private views, city employee contribution to pension costs, and a Federal Emergency Management Agency building.
Resident Bing Girling said he found the question about the charter rules interesting. H he said it’s nice to have them come out and hear the local issues.
“I always appreciate them coming down,” said Girling. “I admire their tenacity to be on the Council.”
