Council will think over hall changes

Newport Beach’s planned new city hall could get bigger and, to some

minds, better than previously planned, but the changes, if approved,

will add $5.8 million to the building’s cost.

The City Council on Tuesday considered whether to forge ahead with

plans that add space and spruce up the look of the new facility. But

council members did not vote because they wanted more time to

consider the additions.

“Some of these councilmen have just seen this for the first time

tonight, and they’re going to have to make multimillion-dollar

decisions,” Mayor John Heffernan said.

In May, the council tentatively agreed to a $41.5-million plan for

a 67,222-square-foot city hall, a parking garage and a new fire

station at the current City Hall site on Newport Boulevard. The work

will replace about 90% of the existing City Hall.

City officials have said they need the upgrade to handle a growing

roster of city employees and to replace dilapidated offices that

can’t meet earthquake standards or accommodate visitors with

disabilities.

Some residents have questioned the expense and have asked for a

public vote on the project.

Tuesday, the council considered bumping up the project from nearly

68,000 square feet to 72,000 square feet -- which would cost an

additional $1.78 million -- and adding nearly $4 million in

architectural features. The suggested design is a boxy building, with

large banks of windows, one wall with a wave-like appearance, and

lighted triangles on the second-floor roof that look like boat sails.

Council members wanted more time to digest the new options and

said they would discuss them Aug. 23.

There was little public comment, but two speakers suggested that

the building’s flat roof would be well-suited for solar panels.

Those who want to protest the project or hear more about it will

have more chances. At the request of Mayor John Heffernan, Tuesday

was the first of three regular meetings when the council will discuss

the city hall plan before voting in October on whether to spend the

money and build the facilities.

“I want all the council involved in this, and then I want the

buyer of this -- the residents -- involved,” Heffernan said before

Tuesday’s meeting. “I want the questions to come out early, and a lot

of them.”

Heffernan initially voted against the proposal. Now that he’s

mayor, he said, he’ll follow the will of his colleagues to move

forward but will make sure the council does its homework.

The council will discuss the fire station and parking structure

Aug. 23, and how to pay for the project will be on the Sept. 13

agenda, with a final decision on the project Oct. 11.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at

[email protected].