Heffernan’s reach widens with Newport Coast addition

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- When Newport Coast residents officially became part

of Newport Beach on Jan. 1, freshman City Councilman John Heffernan found

himself the likely representative for what is now by far the largest

council district in the city.

Population counts adjusted at the last election showed the city’s

seven council districts had average populations of about 9,500 each. But

the addition of about 7,000 coast residents adjacent to Heffernan’s

district could nearly double the number of people he represents.

A City Council subcommittee charged with redrawing council districts

has recommended adding the coast to Heffernan’s district and leaving

others alone, for now. Heffernan, a member of the committee, originally

supported the idea.

“The idea is to leave it as is, then take a look later to see if

Banning Ranch is developed, to see what happens with other unincorporated

areas in line to become part of Newport Beach,” Heffernan said last week.

Portions of Santa Ana Heights and Bay Knolls are expected to be

annexed to the city. Banning Ranch, a proposed development of low- and

moderate-income apartments at an undeveloped area at the city’s

westernmost edge, could also affect future council districts.

But at Tuesday night’s meeting, protests by Councilman Gary Adams

caused Heffernan to reconsider.

“I find this very disturbing,” Adams said. “If you’re talking about

not redistricting for more than a year, it means that Newport Coast can’t

have a candidate in the upcoming election.”

This is true because Heffernan is not up for reelection in November,

which means no one from his district will have a chance to challenge him

for the seat until 2004.

And Heffernan was convinced. He and Adams cast the votes against

introducing an ordinance to add the community to his district.

In the meantime, though, Heffernan has already been getting to work

tackling a greatly increased workload that includes some touchy issues.

For example, Heffernan opposed a bid by annexation opponent Phil Greer to

serve on a Newport Coast Advisory Committee that was formed Tuesday.

“One of the issues is to determine whether people want a community

center built there,” Heffernan said. “Another is how to distribute the

money that’s being given back to residents and the question of what to do

with the fire station.”

As part of a deal with the Irvine Ranch Water District and Newport

Coast, residents will get $18 million to help pay off assessment district

taxes used to build infrastructure there. Bonds issued in the 1980s and

‘90s for this purpose are the subject of a city investigation.

For some Newport Coast residents, being part of a city has some

serious perks -- not the least of which is Heffernan himself.

“Prior to the annexation, I would be able to call (county Supervisor)

Tom Wilson’s office. His office was very accommodating, he came to some

of our meetings, but it was clear that the Newport Coast constituency was

a very small part of his district and therefore didn’t warrant the

attentiveness I can get from John Heffernan,” said Jim McGee, head of the

Newport Coast Committee of 2000, which represented residents there to the

city during annexation negotiations. “So far in my interaction with John,

I’ve found him to be very much interested in making sure the city lives

up to its obligations under the pre-annexation agreement.”

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .