Here are some of the issues the...

Here are some of the issues the council will consider tonight.

EASTSIDE ANNEXATION EFFORTS

Since 2001 the city has pursued annexation of three areas in

unincorporated Orange County -- west Santa Ana Heights, the Santa Ana

Country Club and the area south of Mesa Drive between Irvine and

Santa Ana avenues. The council in February restated a desire to keep

the areas within its sphere of influence. The city of Newport Beach

also has been interested in annexing the three areas.

The council will decide whether to end its opposition to Newport

Beach’s attempts to annex west Santa Ana Heights. City staff members

recommend continuing to pursue annexation of the Santa Ana Country

Club and area south of Mesa Drive. The final decision on annexations

is made by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

WHAT TO EXPECT

It’s difficult to say whether the council will give up the fight

for west Santa Ana Heights. Residents in the area voted in 2002 not

to become part of Costa Mesa, and east Santa Ana Heights already

belongs to Newport Beach. But Costa Mesa already provides municipal

services to adjacent neighborhoods, and city officials fear giving up

west Santa Ana Heights will open the door to other neighborhoods that

want to be annexed to Newport Beach.

COMMISSIONER SELECTION

After voting Dec. 13 to change how parks and recreation and

planning commissioners are picked, the council must decide how it

will weed through the 29 applicants for seats on the two commissions.

For nearly two years, the council had allowed each council member to

appoint someone to the planning and parks and recreation commissions,

but last month council members opted to return to choosing

commissioners by majority vote of the full council.

They still must decide how to narrow the applicants and whether to

use nominations or some other method to get them to a vote, which is

set for a Feb. 7 meeting. They’ll also have to decide if they’ll

consider two applicants who missed the deadline. Tonight, the city

manager will outline three options for the interview process and

three voting methods.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members were divided on this issue at their last meeting.

Mayor Gary Monahan thought it would take too long for the council as

a body to interview all 29 candidates, and Councilwoman Katrina Foley

wanted her colleagues to try to reach a consensus on candidates

before voting to show unity.

FAIRVIEW PARK MULTIPURPOSE TRAIL

The council will vote on a $261,174 contract with Sol

Construction, a Riverside firm, to build a system of trails including

a paved bicycle path and a pedestrian trail of decomposed granite in

Fairview Park. The trails will be built on the east and west sides of

the park and are a key part of the park’s master plan, which includes

a bridge that will eventually connect the trails. The total project

cost is $300,000, but about $208,000 of that is covered by a federal

grant.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Fairview Park improvements were controversial during the

planning stages because some residents wanted to restore the natural

habitat rather than add concrete, but most of those concerns have

been answered by making the trail smaller and other modifications.

The council will likely be pleased to move forward with the issue and

award the contract.