Newport council candidates can agree on this: Traffic is a top issue

Newport Beach City Council candidates faced off one more time Wednesday evening at a Corona del Mar Residents Assn. forum, where they told voters how they would tackle issues such as traffic — and more traffic.

Seven of the eight candidates vying to fill four available council seats — Diane Dixon of District 1; Tim Brown, Kevin Muldoon and Roy Englebrecht of District 4; Scott Peotter and Mike Toerge of District 6, and Mayor Rush Hill, who is up for reelection in District 3 — gathered onstage at the Oasis Senior Center for their final debate before the Nov. 4 election. Earlier they mingled with residents at a reception.

Hill’s challenger, Marshall “Duffy” Duffield, was absent, having undergone quadruple bypass heart surgery on Monday at Hoag Hospital. In a statement, his wife told voters that the procedure was successful and that her husband would resume his campaign when he gets clearance from his doctor.

Wednesday’s event began with a short presentation thanking termed-out Corona del Mar Councilwoman Nancy Gardner. About 100 audience members applauded loudly.

During a question-and-answer session moderated by Corona del Mar resident Debra Allen, all the candidates agreed that increases in traffic and a tight parking supply — particularly in Corona del Mar — are among the most vexing problems facing the incoming council.

As Hill put it, “every time we look at one aspect, we risk screwing something up.”

Along Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, all the candidates agreed, parking should not be removed in order to ease traffic.

All but Englebrecht mentioned working with businesses to share parking during off hours as one potential salve.

Englebrecht suggested implementing a shuttle system to business areas from Corona del Mar State Beach, where he said parking is more plentiful.

Candidates also agreed that some form of a traffic bypass for Corona del Mar should be a priority, despite it not being an explicit component of Measure Y, a proposed Newport Beach general plan update that is on the city’s November ballot.

Candidates differed on their approaches to government.

Hill emphasized that the city is well-run and financially healthy and that a wholesale change on the council would be bad for business.

Brown echoed that, adding, “There’s a good reason why local government is nonpartisan: You should be interested in people who will solve your problems.”

Peotter slammed the current council, saying spending on the city’s new Civic Center, which he derisively referred to as the “Taj Ma-City-Hall,” was too much.

“This city needs a course change,” he said. “We need to actually get an adult in the room that says, ‘No, we don’t need that right now.’ ”

Muldoon said Newport council members should focus on protecting residents’ quality of life.

“I’d like to have seen some of the money spent on City Hall spent on alleviating parking,” he said. “Government’s role is to make life better, not build monuments to itself.”

Toerge, who is running for the district that includes Corona del Mar, said he would be the best fit to represent residents there.

“My goal as a council person is to not be polarizing or self-serving,” he said. “It’s to get you the real information, whichever decision you make.”

Dixon, who is running unopposed, said her primary role is accountability to residents. She said she has spent the past year meeting with thousands.

After the forum, Measure Y was the subject of a rematch of sorts between Planning Commissioner Larry Tucker and Stop Polluting Our Newport treasurer Dennis Baker — and even moderator Allen, who last week hosted a similar debate on the controversial ballot item for Speak Up Newport.

Proponents of the measure, which would allow more development potential in certain areas of the city while decreasing it in others, say is a solid step to ensure smart growth. It would make Newport Center – “our town center,” as Tucker called it – denser and attractive to more residents, thus decreasing traffic overall in other parts of the city.

Opponents of the measure, including Baker, say it serves the interests of big developers — namely, the Irvine Co., which would give up development entitlement in Newport Coast to build more in Newport Center if Measure Y is passed — and could make traffic worse, especially for Corona del Mar residents.