HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - AmendedCity of Newport Beach
City Council Meeting
September 26, 2023
October 10, 2023
Agenda Item No. 1
Debbie Stevens, Corona del Mar Residents Association, supported the idea, thanked
Councilmember Kleiman for bringing the matter forward, noted the need to consider balance,
and asked Council to support the study.
Jim Mosher suggested looking at having vertical mixed -use housing in this area.
Bernie Svalstad noted two past studies for this area, supported the idea, questioned how it will
tie-in with the new General Plan Update, suggested talking with Scott Laidlaw for his expertise,
and thought the study should include walk-ups.
Denys Oberman thanked staff and Councilmember Kleiman, noted the villages are evolving and
Newport Beach's success is based on a smooth connectivity between them, and recommended
considering this evolution.
In response to Mayor Blom's question, Senior Planner Westmoreland stated that the curb of
Pacific Coast Highway on the northern end is where the CoOtal Zone ends. Deputy Community
Development Director Campbell noted that this corridor has always been for commercial use,
the community rejected mixed -use in 2006, and the question can be revised -revisited in this
study or the General Plan Update. Mayor Blom expressed interest in including the opportunity
for mixed -use housing into the RFP, supported workforce housing, and noted connectivity is
being considered. , -i
SS3. Policy Discussion to Consider the Nightly Closure of All Public Restrooms in the City
Public Works Director Webb, Superintendent Brodowski, and Supervisor Mason utilized a
presentation to review the public restrooms and janitorial services, examples of various
restroom facilities and locations, survey results, restrooms that are closed at night, nighttime
restroom closure considerations, costs/use table, variables for cost and resource estimates, cost
estimates for nighttime closure of all 36 restrooms, and a map with associated costs of 13 select
restrooms considered for closing -at night. Public Works Director Webb further discussed the use,
abuse, and loitering at the 191h Street restroom and Newport Pier restroom.
In response to Councilmember Stapleton's question, Public Works Director Webb clarified that,
except for five- estrooms, all of the restrooms are currently open 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
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In response to Councilmember Kleiman's question, City Manager Leung clarified that the
survey was predoWinately for Orange County, but there were a couple of other cities included.
Councilmember Meiman noted her initial research with many beach cities and thought that
having the restrooms open 24 hours prohibited safe and secure use. She supported overnight
closure of restrooms and thought the monetary cost can be addressed efficiently and outweighs
the resource expenditure for responses and repairs.
Councilmember Stapleton concurred with Councilmember Kleiman, noted activity he has
witnessed at the 58th Street and Bob Henry Park restrooms, suggested using technology such as
motion detection and alarms, referred to this matter as "all or nothing," and deferred to staff to
determine the types of closures.
Councilmember Weigand thanked Councilmembers Kleiman and Stapleton for bringing this
matter forward. In response to his questions, City Manager Leung stated that the City did not
ask other cities to share their opinions about the overnight restroom closures. He expressed
appreciation for the cleanliness of the restrooms and thought they are a good resource. Public
Works Director Webb indicated that restrooms need to be cleared periodically due to being
occupied. Councilmember Weigand suggested identifying closing times by area, determining the
contractor cost, process for closing the restrooms in other cities, and closing overnight access to
public restrooms with consideration for restroom use.
Volume 65 - Page 627