3 questions: Where Newport Beach City Council candidates stand on the issues
Newport Beach City Council
One incumbent and seven challengers are running for four spots on the seven-member council. The Daily Pilot asked each candidate the same three questions:
1) Within the last two years, which City Council decision do you think had the most effect (positively or negatively) for Newport Beach residents? Why?
2) The City Council holds a meeting at the start of every year to determine what the group’s priorities should be. What two items would you hope to see on that list next year?
3) For some, the new civic center serves as a symbol of a government that has overspent. What part of the 2014-15 budget (if any) do you think the City Council could have reduced?
Their responses, edited for space and clarity, are below:
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District 1
Diane Dixon
Age: 62
Businesswoman
1) I’m going to stretch the timeline to three years and say the October 2011 council vote to OK the dredging in the Harbor was the most important and far-reaching decision for the city. If I’m permitted a runnerup, I’d say the council’s decision to not place a general obligation bond on the ballot for voter approval of the $140 million Civic Center project will live in people’s minds as an example of government arrogance.
2) I intend to have more than two items for that meeting, but I’d very much like to see the council tackle the public safety, nuisance and public health issues associated with the plethora of alcohol-serving businesses on the Peninsula. I’d also like to see the city take a comprehensive approach to harbor revenues and expenditures, making the former more fair and including an ongoing dredging and maintenance program in the latter.
3) The FY 2014-15 budget is what it is. Going forward, I believe it is important that as part of the budget process, the council evaluate all the city’s programs in terms of whether they are accomplishing what they are intended to do, and whether they are doing so at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers. I would like to conduct a financial review of each function to understand the key priorities and cost drivers.
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District 3
Duffy Duffield
Age: 62
Boat Designer and manufacturer
1) I believe the decision to ban fire rings on our beaches was ill-advised. It’s caused the Legislature to get involved — that’s rarely a good thing. In 2011 the council didn’t want to hear the matter because it was “divisive.” What happened between 2011and 2014 to cause the change of heart?”
2) First, A serious discussion about our options to reduce the city’s significant long term debt — let’s invite PIMCO in to educate us on how we can get our arms around the largest per capita pension debt of any Orange County city. Second, Newport Harbor needs a comprehensive revitalization plan that will promote, encourage and support public access and commercial operations throughout the bay. The harbor is the city’s iconic jewel … we should treat it well.
3) I believe the Tidelands Fund needs to be audited. Over the years it has become a municipal shell game, with funds moving in and out with little oversight. Law enforcement activity on the Peninsula gets charged against the Tidelands Fund. I want to find out if the fund is being properly used, only an audit will confirm it.
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Rush Hill
Age: 69
Mayor/Businessowner/Architect
1) Extending the JWA settlement agreement, which was to expire in 2015. John Wayne Airport is the largest ongoing threat to the health and quality of life for Newport Beach. It has a direct impact on our property values as well. Reaching this agreement with an unanimous vote by our supervisors is a generational benefit to the residents of Newport Beach. We have the most restrictions on any airport in the nation, including a continued curfew.
2) The continued redevelopment of the Lido Village area, including the Lido House Hotel and the Lido Marina, and upholding our group home ordinance at the Supreme Court level.
3) The FY 2014-15 budget is a well-drafted budget that was scrutinized by staff, council and the public at several public hearings. It contains what the council believes important to continue our quality of life. I would not reduce any of the allocations as I think parks, libraries, social programs, upkeep of our 106-year-old infrastructure and more are important. And like past years, each division will likely operate without expending their entire budgets, adding to reserves.
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District 4
Roy Englebrecht
Age: 68
Fight promoter
1) Two things stand out: Nothing has had a more negative effect on our city than the council decision to remove all city fire rings, made without any research or homework done and with no discussion on other options before the vote to remove them. Number two was for the council to approve the purchase of 250 chairs for $924 each when a city staff person could have gone to Staples and purchased the same chair for $300.
2) The two priorities, though I believe we have more than two, would be to address our financial situation to include: 1) city salaries that are currently being paid and establishing a policy and formula for all city overtime, which is out of control and not being monitored. and 2) Address the outcome of Measure Y and moving forward with growth control in our city.
3) Salaries and overtime. This new City Council which is seated Dec. 9 will have to live with the 2014-15 budget, but they can have real positive financial impact for our city by carefully crafting a 2015-16 city budget.
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Tim Brown
Age: 62
Businessman/Educator
1) The City Council negotiated working agreements with our employee unions, which will have a very positive effect on future pension liability, stand out. They exceed the goals set by Gov. Jerry Brown for the year 2018 relative to public employees contributing more to their PERS plans. Now, many of our employees pay approximately 11% of their benefit package and the percentage increases to 13% for many others by the year 2015.
2) One priority, particularly if Measure “Y” passes, should be to begin examining options the city has to eliminate the toll on the 73 south of the Newport Coast Drive. This is the only permanent solution to a traffic bypass for East Coast Highway. A second priority should be to implement the proposed Bicycle Master Plan and work with the police department on prioritizing enforcement issues, particularly as they apply to bicyclists conforming to traffic laws.
3) The budget approved by the council is a prudent one. It increases a mere 2.1% over last year with much of that amount designated for important one-time expenditures in community development, police and fire. It reflects central priorities for our residents including code enforcement, public safety, public works and senior services. It includes $25 million in re-budgeted funds from 2013-14 for new appropriations that will help increase the property values for all of our residents.
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Kevin Muldoon
Age: 35
VP and general counsel for a technology company
1) The negotiation and execution of the John Wayne Settlement Agreement will have the most positive effect on Newport Beach residents, because it protects the curfew and restricts the growth of the airport.
2) Reducing the long-term debt and increasing the presence of law enforcement.
3) The City Council could have greatly reduced the $8 million FY 2014-15 debt service on the city hall by not building an unreasonably expensive civic center complex and borrowing the funds with a prepayment penalty.
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District 6
Mike Toerge
Age: 58
Commercial Real Estate Investor
1) The airport settlement agreement. JWA is the most flight and noise regulated airport in the nation. The flight curfew, noise abatement takeoff procedure, passenger and flight limits allow our community to live in relative harmony and in close proximity to a valuable regional travel resource. I can think of no single issue that, if challenged, would unify the residents of Newport Beach.
2) Regardless of the outcome of the Measure Y vote, I would prioritize innovative solutions to managing traffic in our city including; a Corona del Mar bypass, intersection modifications, continued signal synchronization and alternate modes of transportation. Developing a long-range municipal work force plan with the goal of providing the highest quality municipal services possible at the lowest cost, including department reorganizations and out-sourcing alternatives.
3) General Fund: Apply the results of a municipal work force analysis mentioned in my answer above, including management of overtime, limits on hiring new employees and compensation. Capital Improvement Program: no reductions. We are an aging city with dynamic infrastructure and facility needs. If spending were reduced on one item it would be back filled with another project from the backlog of projects in the Capital Improvement Program.
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Scott Peotter
Age: 57
Architect/Business Owner
1) The current council has borrowed against future generations for the Taj-ma-city-hall. This project started off as a $40 million remodel and morphed into a $143 million boondoggle that will cost taxpayers over $22,000 per day for the next 30 years. Normally permanent infrastructure is something worth borrowing for. However when the cost is double what it should have been, you burden future generations for your excesses. That is the “me” generation that this council represents.
2) I would love to see a long range plan to rehabilitate the harbor, including establishing some sort of link between the costs to run the harbor and the dock tax. The harbor is clearly the jewel of Newport Beach. As my Team Newport partner Duffy likes to say if the harbor were filled with concrete, we are just Anaheim. 2. I would like to cut the employee and dock taxes.
3) I think we should sell the old City Hall site to the hotel developer instead of leasing it out and use the proceeds to eliminate some of our long term debt.