INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some decisions...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some decisions coming out of Tuesday’s City Council

meeting.

ST. ANDREW’S EXPANSION

The council unanimously agreed to delay setting a hearing on the

St. Andrew’s Church expansion until church officials forge an

agreement with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to add at

least 63 parking spots for the church and Newport Harbor High School

to share. The parking agreement was one of 23 operating conditions

the Planning Commission attached to its approval of the church

expansion last week.

WHAT IT MEANS

It’s unclear how long it will be until the council takes up the

St. Andrew’s expansion, a contentious plan that has angered neighbors

while grinding its way through the city’s approval process for two

years. A church representative would not speculate how long

negotiations with the school district might take.

SUNSET RIDGE PARK

The city will spend $49,100 to buy one of two pieces of land it

wanted from Caltrans to create Sunset Ridge Park. State legislation

was passed earlier this year to allow Caltrans to transfer the

properties, near the intersection of Superior Avenue and Coast

Highway, to the state, which would lease them to the city for a park.

But the bill only referred to one of the parcels clearly, so the

city is buying the other outright.

WHAT IT MEANS

Now that the city can move forward with the park, the council will

have to decide how to develop it.

BUCK GULLY RESTORATION GRANT

The city will apply for a state grant to design and build a

project to counteract erosion near the mouth of Buck Gully. The grant

request will be between $500,000 and $600,000. Council members

unanimously voted to proceed with the application.

WHAT IT MEANS

If the city receives the grant, it will be able to restore part of

Buck Gully, which already is being targeted for new regulations to

reduce the risk of fire and to decrease urban runoff from irrigation.