Council meetings may move to Tuesdays

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Football fans are sure to wonder whether the proposal to

move City Council meetings to Tuesday nights is for their benefit.

Tonight, council members will consider the momentous suggestion to push

their traditional Monday evening meetings to the following day. The idea

first surfaced at the Sept. 18 retreat for the council and staff.

Should the change occur, staff reports would be available on Friday

rather than Thursday. While the day would change, the time of the study

sessions and council meetings would remain the same.

The council on Monday also will consider looking into the idea of

interactive “kiosks” to help increase the city’s image as

visitor-friendly. The kiosks would direct tourists and residents to

restaurants, hotels and city attractions, according to staff reports.

These touch-screen information centers have been successfully used in

other communities.

While the cost of the kiosks is yet to be determined, the agenda item

would authorize city staff to request proposals from various kiosk

vendors. The proposal calls for the first kiosk to be built at McFadden

Square.

At the previous City Council meeting Oct. 25, staff was directed to

distribute a request for proposals for the 10.71-acre Marinapark site on

the Balboa Peninsula. The site is home to Neva B. Thomas Girl Scout

House, the American Legion Post 291, and the Marinapark Mobile Home park,

each of which has a lease with the city that expires within two years.

A developer has proposed a five-star resort for the property that would

displace the mobile homes and move the American Legion building. The

156-room resort is estimated to produce $2.8 million in tax revenue for

the city annually. The American Legion veterans and Marinapark residents

are expected to submit their own proposals for the property.

Added to this mix is the Parks, Beaches and Recreation commission, which

also plans to submit a proposal to the city. Though they have yet to iron

out the specifics, commissioners said that they would include more tennis

courts, parks and perhaps some soccer fields -- all for public use.

F.Y.I.

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WHAT: City Council Meeting

WHEN: Today. Study session begins at 4 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7

p.m.

WHERE: City Council chambers at 3300 Newport Blvd.