HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV(a)_Additional Materials Received_MosherFebruary 7, 2024, GPAC Agenda Item Comments
These comments on a Newport Beach General Plan Advisory Committee agenda item are submitted by:
Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229)
Item IV.a. Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2024
The passages shown in italics below are from the draft minutes with suggested corrections shown in
strikeout underline format.
The “Attachment 1” draft minutes are missing page numbers after “Page 1 of 5.” They should be
added.
Page 1, Item III, paragraph 3: “Nancy Scarbrough announced that Katie Eng will be speaking about
emergency planning resiliency relative to natural disasters tomorrow in the Friends Room at 7:30 p.m.”
[Comment: The minutes are correct, but those searching for it may find the January 11 event
referenced was actually a “Good Morning CdM” one, hosted by the CdM Chamber at 8:00 a.m. at the
Bahia Corinthian Yacht club, not a “Wake Up Newport” event hosted in the Friends Room by the
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.]
Page 2, paragraph 3: “Nancy Gardner, Chair of the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC),
introduced the item, as the GPUSC reviewed the proposed procedures at their December 20, 2023,
meeting and concurred with the recommendations therein.” [add comma]
Page 2, paragraph 3 from end: “Dennis Black Baker suggested the same person cannot chair more
than one subcommittee.”
Page 2, last paragraph: “Jenna Tourje-Maldonado of Kearns & West reviewed the next steps for
outreach and engagement, GPAC feedback loop, and questionnaire for event type properties
priorities.” [See video: the exact request was said to be for “priorities and suggested events.”]
Page 3, paragraph 6, sentence 1: “In response to Charles Klobe’s question, Principal Planner Zdeba
indicated that information on the November election will be shared organically, but no outreach is directly
tied to it.”
[Comment: This point needs emphasis. At the January 31 Outreach Subcommittee meeting, I noticed a
comment that to get people interested in what the GPAC is doing, it’s important to let them know the
result will be something they will have to vote on.
My understanding is GPAC’s work is unrelated to the Housing Element Implementation amendments to
be voted on in the November 2024 election, and while it’s possible the adoption of our recommendations
might require a second ballot measure in 2026, that would only be if they include changes triggering the
Greenlight thresholds, and (like the 2024 election) the 2026 election, if one is needed, would be limited to
voter approval of the specific changes triggering those thresholds. As their approval is not required,
Newport Beach residents have never voted on the great majority of the General Plan content.
So outreach participants don’t later feel they have been the victims of a bait-and-switch, it seems
critically important that all outreach efforts be clear, upfront and honest about the fact that there will be a
ballot measure in November asking if they want to add thousands of new houses to the plan – and that is
not what input is currently being sought about; but rather, about changes that could be made later, in
addition to that. Without such disclosure, when people get their November ballots, they will,
understandably be asking: Is this the City’s response to the input I provided??]
GeneraO POan AdYLsory CommLttee - February 7, 2024
Item No. IVa Additional Materials Received Draft
Minutes of January 10, 2024