What’s the most important issue facing the...

What’s the most important issue facing the city?

The threat of future expansion of JWA, as well as lifting of the

curfew in the year 2020.

What is your opinion of how the Greenlight law is affecting the

city, and what is your position on plans to build a hotel at

Marinapark?

Greenlight: Ballot Box planning across the board is just not

healthy for any community. It does and has stifled reasonable growth.

Marinapark: Initially, I did not believe this was a good project

for the city, as it is proposed to be built on public land. After

researching the issue pretty thoroughly, it is clear that the law

does permit it, and there is significant history throughout the state

permitting construction on public land.

Are city leaders doing a good job handling the budget and the

pressures on it from the state?

Yes. Considering all of the obstacles we have had from the state,

we have voted in a balanced budget, and we are still the healthiest

city, financially, of the 34 cities in Orange County. We are one of

the few cities in the state that maintains and operates our own

services such as police, fire, general services, public works, and

the list goes on. Not only do we manage the residents’ money well, we

give them the best possible service one can receive anywhere as a

resident.

How should the city handle possible expansion of John Wayne

Airport and St. Andrew’s Church?

JWA: by moving forward with our sphere-issues process, which is

centered around JWA. Orange County will have a significant challenge

in accommodating the future air-traffic needs, which is why a second

airport is so important. Our goal is for Newport Beach to have the

final say in future expansion and curfew issues as opposed to the

county.

St. Andrew’s: I have not seen all of the data yet. At this point,

the proponents and opponents should give serious consideration to

sitting down with a third, unbiased party and mediate this issue.

First and foremost, the project must be a reasonable fit for the

church as well as the community, and this will take some very careful

traffic planning.