Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Non Agenda Items - CorrespondenceReceived after Agenda Printed February 24, 2026 Non Agenda Item From: Garrett, Errica To: DDe t - City Clerk Subject: FW: Saving Civic Center Park Date: February 23, 2026 8:25:27 AM Attachments: imaae001.ona image002.png imaae003.pna image004.png Errica Garrett Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council City Manager's Office Office: 949-644-3004 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 @0 From: Nancy Skinner <jskinnermd@aol.com> Sent: February 22, 2026 4:07 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Saving Civic Center Park [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. Dear Mayor Kleiman and Member of the Council: I am writing to urge you and members of the Council to stop considering our Civic Center Park for a new Police Department building. Many years ago, when citizens were asked to vote for City Hall in the Park, we were told that the rest of the open space would remain as a park, that it was the tradeoff for giving up the open space/park for a new and more accessible City Hall. Many of us who lived here at the time are feeling our City Council is reneging on what seemed to have been a promise to the residents. In my opinion, it was the belief that the rest of the open space would remain as a park that led to the success of the vote to approve the City Hall location. There was a lot of controversy over using the open space for our present day City Hall. The compromise came in believing that the rest of the open space would remain so forever. I strongly urge you to remove the park option from your discussions and honor the promises of your predecessors. You have other options. Thank you in advance for giving serious thought to your decision regarding the park. Sincerely, Nancy Skinner 1724 Highland Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 From: Admin To: Dept - City Council Cc: City Clerk"s Office Subject: Public Comment - City Council February 24th, 2026 Date: February 23, 2026 3:00:19 PM [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. Hello Mayor Kleiman and Councilmembers, On behalf of the Newport Mooring Association, we appreciate the City's efforts to move forward with a tidelands management committee. These are important issues for the harbor, and we recognize the time and attention they require. While we would have welcomed a broader and more transparent stakeholder process from the outset, the Newport Mooring Association remains committed to working constructively with the City to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes for all tidelands users. We look forward to participating in a collaborative process that reflects the shared goal of fair access and responsible stewardship of our harbor. In that light, we are requesting monthly meetings beginning as soon as possible with the committee so we are aware of updates and can offer input from the community. Anne Stenton Newport Mooring Association From: Orange County Chapter <orangecounty@cnps.org> Sent: February 27, 2026 4:09 PM To: City Clerk's Office Subject: Civic Center Park Comment Letter Attachments: NB Civic Center Park Comment Letter, 02-27-26.docx.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Completed [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. Dear Members of the Newport Beach City Council: The Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS) is submitting the attached comment letter regarding the future Police Headquarters proposed for land that is occupied by the Civic Center Park. We ask that the Newport City Council protect Civic Center Park as an irreplaceable community asset and uphold Newport Beach's commitment to preserving open space and biodiversity. If you have any comments or questions after reading the letter, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Elizabeth Wallace Co -President OCCNPS 949-370-0590 CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY To conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy. 27 February 2026 P.O. Box 54891 Irvine, CA 92619-4891 orangecounty@cnps.org TO: Members of the Newport Beach City Council c/o City Clerk 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 RE: Opposition to Proposed Police Headquarters at Civic Center Park (Adj. Newport Beach City Hall) Dear Mayor Kleiman and Members of the Newport Beach City Council, On behalf of the California Native Plant Society — Orange County Chapter (OCCNPS), we write to formally express our serious concerns and opposition to the current concept under consideration to site a new Police Department headquarters and associated facilities within the natural areas of Civic Center Park adjacent to Newport Beach City Hall. OCCNPS was actively involved in the original creation, planning, botanical survey, and restoration work of this park space around the period of 2012-2014. Our volunteers, led by Ron Vanderhoff, performed botanical surveys of the land and documented the existing native plants, contributing to shaping the park's restoration and landscape plan. A summary copy of our botanical surveys and natural resources is attached. The natural area we helped steward have been a valuable public open space supporting local biodiversity, passive recreation, and community engagement with nature. We understand that the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee has identified Civic Center Park as a preferred option for a new police facility largely because it is city -owned and avoids costly land acquisition. The preliminary estimate for a headquarters project at this location is roughly $162-165 million and would require extensive technical and environmental review under CEQA before any further entitlements are considered. While we respect the need for modern public safety infrastructure, we urge you to reconsider siting such a substantial facility within Civic Center Park for the following reasons: 1. Irreversible Loss of Open Space and Natural Habitat Civic Center Park, including the area adjacent to City Hall, contains significant open space that was intentionally preserved and enhanced with native California plant communities. This space is irreplaceable once permanently developed, and its loss would be deeply felt by residents who use it for passive recreation and nature connection. Replacing parkland and natural areas with a large office building, extensive parking, and associated infrastructure would result in: • Permanent reduction of accessible public open space. • Loss of habitat for native plants and associated wildlife (birds, insects, pollinators). • Reduced park continuity at the core of our Civic Center. • A backward progression toward the state's 30 x 30 conservation initiative. OCCNPS.org I P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891 To conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, and increase understanding, appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants. This green space plays a valuable role in community well-being, environmental education, and local biodiversity—which is increasingly rare within Newport Beach's urban fabric. Mature plant communities and established soils cannot simply be "replaced" by installing new landscaping elsewhere. Loss of contiguous green space fragments habitat and diminishes ecological resilience. In a highly urbanized coastal city, preserved green space is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. 2. Environmental and Biodiversity Impacts Large-scale development has inherent impacts on local ecosystems. Even with mitigation, the transformation of open parkland into built infrastructure alters hydrology, soil integrity, microclimates, urban heating, water quality, and habitat connectivity. The park as currently configured serves and supports native plant species and wildlife that rely on this conserved environment. The removal or degradation of these areas would negatively affect: • Urban wildlife corridors. • Local ecological functions (shade, pollination, native plant survival). • Carbon sequestration and climate regulation • Urban heat mitigation through tree canopy and evapotranspiration • Stormwater absorption and soil infiltration • Pollinator and bird habitat • Public mental health and wellness benefits • Public opportunities to engage with nature in an urban setting. 3. Hydrology and Water Quality Concerns The proposed inclusion of a fueling station, expanded parking, and increased impervious surface area raises serious concerns regarding stormwater runoff and groundwater contamination. We understand the site lies within a drainage pathway that ultimately feeds into Newport Harbor. Before any commitment to advance this location, a comprehensive hydrological analysis should be conducted to evaluate: • Changes to surface runoff patterns • Pollutant loading risks • Groundwater protection measures • Potential downstream impacts on harbor and coastal water quality Protection of coastal water quality is a long-standing priority for the City and community; siting critical infrastructure in a drainage corridor demands exceptional caution. Once these natural features are eliminated or fragmented, they cannot be restored. OCCNPS.org I P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891 To conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, and increase understanding, appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants. 4. Climate and Urban Heat Island Impacts Replacing vegetated open space with multi -story structures and associated parking infrastructure will increase localized heat island effects. Tree canopy and permeable soil are not aesthetic luxuries — they function as climate infrastructure. They reduce ambient temperatures, buffer extreme heat, and improve microclimate conditions. In a warming climate, preserving urban canopy and soil permeability is an investment in long-term public health and fiscal resilience. 5. Community Values and Shared Vision During the park's planning and creation phase, stakeholders —including CNPS OC—contributed time, expertise, and community resources. That investment was intended to establish a civic green that contributes to quality of life and reflects Newport Beach's stewardship of open space. We urge the Council to honor that investment by: • Protecting these natural areas from removal. • Exploring alternative sites for essential civic facilities that do not displace parkland or open space. Appropriate alternatives may include redevelopment of previously disturbed or underused parcels, adaptive reuse of existing City facilities, or other sites that balance public safety needs without sacrificing community open space. 6. Precedent and Long -Term Policy Implications Building major civic infrastructure within designated parkland sets an enduring precedent. Future councils may reference this decision when considering other open -space conversions. Preservation of public green space depends upon consistent policy discipline. Once exceptions are made, they are difficult to contain. 7. Broader Community Sentiment Public records and commentary indicate there are significant concerns among residents about replacing civic green space with facilities that essentially extend municipal offices and parking into parkland. Even local coverage highlights residents' anxiety over losing public open space at the Civic Center. Protecting public green space aligns with broader community values, supports mental and physical health benefits for residents, and helps maintain Newport Beach's identity as a coastal city with rich natural assets. Conclusion and Call to Action OCCNPS.org I P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891 To conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, and increase understanding, appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants. OCCNPS respectfully but firmly requests that the Newport Beach City Council: 1. Cease advancing the Civic Center Park location for the police headquarters. 2. Require a comprehensive environmental impact review prior to advancing any site -specific studies. 3. Prioritize preservation of existing public green space whenever feasible. 4. Direct staff to evaluate alternative siting options that do not compromise parkland, natural habitats, and restored landscapes. 5. Commit to robust community engagement and transparent environmental review before considering or investing in further design development. We are prepared to work collaboratively with the City and other stakeholders to identify solutions that meet public safety goals without undermining our shared environmental and community values. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration. We urge the Council to protect this irreplaceable community asset and uphold Newport Beach's commitment to preserving open spaces and biodiversity. Sincerely, epat Ron Vanderhoff Elizabeth Wallace CA Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter CA Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter Plant Science Chair President OCCNPS.org I P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891 From: Garrett, Errica Sent: March 02, 2026 7:33 AM To: Dept - City Clerk Subject: FW: Civic Center Campus & The Importance of NBPD HQ Errica Garrett Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council City Manager's Office Office: 949-644-3004 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 From: Ruth Kobayashi <ruthkobayashi@gmail.com> Sent: February 28, 2026 8:18 AM To: Dept - City Council<CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Civic Center Campus & The Importance of NBPD HQ [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. Good morning City Council Members, I plan on speaking up frequently about the importance of locating the NBPD HQ to the Civic Center. While you may have already seen it, I've copied my letter to the editor that was published in Stu News yesterday, February 27th. Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to public safety. Sincerely, Ruth As a long time resident of Newport Beach, with a deep commitment to our community, I'm advocating for building our new Police Headquarters on the Civic Center campus. Keeping our vital public safety agencies centralized and integrated offers the strongest foundation for our city's future. fully acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous value of the open spaces adjacent to the Civic Center and the art installations that make it a cherished destination. However, positioning this as Public Art vs Public Safety is not realistic. Public safety must come first. The core functions of unified command, rapid response, and seamless coordination between Police, Fire, and the Emergency Operations Center are non-negotiable priorities that directly protect residents, businesses, and visitors. These needs are not temporary — they are essential for decades to come. We also have a City Staff who fully appreciates the high standards that our community expects and we must give them an opportunity to propose a thoughtful and innovative plan that respects the art and open spaces, while knowing that the primary responsibility of city government is to ensure public safety. If our community can build a state-of-the-art City Hall and Library Lecture Hall, it only makes sense to provide the same respectful investment for our police department's centrally located facility on the Civic Center campus. They belong there too. Ruth Kobayashi, Newport Beach Ruth iPhone Photographer From: Garrett, Errica Sent: March 04, 2026 7:24 AM To: Dept - City Clerk Subject: FW: Location of New Police Headquarters Errica Garrett Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council City Manager's Office Office: 949-644-3004 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 -----Original Message ----- From: Ron Rubino <ron@eastbluff.net> Sent: March 04, 2026 12:02 AM To: Dept - City Council<CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Location of New Police Headquarters [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. March 3, 2026 Honorable Mayor and City Council Members: This letter is to provide my opinion and advice on where to locate a future new police department headquarters building. I do not support using the Civic Center park property adjacent to City Hall for this new building and its supporting facilities. I recommend that the City evaluate the use of the existing Police Department and Fire station located off Jamboree at 870 Santa Barbara. This option will save the City time and money because the land is owned by the City, utilities are in place, and the fire station can be replaced, making the additional land area available for a parking structure. This alternative avoids complex environmental reviews and potential litigation if the Civic Center park is selected as the site. In November 2022, the City purchased a building at 1201 Dove St. The office building is on a 4-acre parcel and costs the city $30.5 million. (See Nov 26, 2022, Orange County Register article: Newport Beach plans $30.5 million purchase of site for future police headquarters.) Based on recent comments by members of the city council, it appears the City has decided this is no longer a desirable location. If this is correct, the building and land can be sold or leased to recoup the city's investment or generate revenue. These funds could be budgeted to help offset the cost of building the desired Fire Station and Police Department headquarters. The Dove St site has potential for redevelopment as senior and workforce housing units to help the city meet the state mandate for affordable new units. Planning the new facilities and completing design work will likely take three years. After that time, more City funds should be available to pay debt service on the new Police Department headquarters, as the City's employees' pension unfunded liability debt is paid, freeing up budget dollars. In summary, I support a plan that includes the following elements: 1. Utilize the land/buildings at the current Fashion Island Police Department and Fire station as the site for the new headquarters facility. 2. Sell the building and land at 1201 Dove Street, Dover, to a developer to construct new housing units, including a substantial number of affordable workforce and senior units. 3. Replace the current Santa Barbara Street Fire Station next to the current Police Department headquarters, to free up city -owned property for the new Police Department headquarters. 4. Determine the architectural and structural building requirements for the new Police Department headquarters. 5. Avoid locating Police Department headquarters, Fire, and Emergency Operations Center in close proximity to City Hall to provide more protection from emergencies that could impact these vital functions. 6. Consider locating Police Department functions such as weapons training, vehicle maintenance, short- term jail custody, vehicle impound, supply storage, training, and IT support at different locations than the administrative headquarters, where they are more compatible with surrounding buildings, parking, traffic flow, and less expensive to build. 7. Other considerations: Keep costs down to avoid excessive new long-term debt. Avoid increasing traffic on Jamboree and MacArthur by locating all functions in one Civic Center area. Avoid impacting the Civic Center building, parking, lawn, library, and park. The city hall, adjacent parking structure, and parking facility were well thought out, and the open space was part of the vision when this decision was made. It works well. Add Police Department management and technical support staff needed to plan, design, and supervise the construction of a new Police Department headquarters and a replacement Fire Station. I appreciate the opportunity to share my opinions and suggestions regarding the proposed Police Department headquarters building. Thank you, Ron Rubino Eastbluff Resident for 39 years 2845 Alta Vista Dr Newport Beach, CA 92660 From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Garrett, Errica March 04, 2026 4:07 PM Dept - City Clerk FW: Police Station in Civic Center Park. lettertothecouncil.docx Errica Garrett Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council City Manager's Office Office: 949-644-3004 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 From: Keith Curry <keithcurrvl@vahoo.com> Sent: March 04, 2026 11:15 AM To: Dept - City Council<CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Police Station in Civic Center Park. [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above. Honorable Mayor and City Council, Please see the attached letter setting forth some of the very serious cost, environmental and operational issues regarding placing the police station in Civic Center Park. This is not a complete list but it is my hope it gives you pause to consider the risks of both cost escalation and project delay with the park site. If the council acts on March 10 to remove the park site from further consideration you will save the taxpayers millions, and you will be able to move forward with other options that will deliver the police station faster and for much lower cost. Thank you for your consideration. Keith Curry Mayor, 2010, 2013 Honorable Mayor and City Council The decision to place the new police headquarters in Civic Center Park will result in cascading consequences from a bad economic decision. Where is the best location for the police headquarters? It is the lowest cost practical site with the least risk for environmental or project delay or site preparation issues. Civic Center Park is the opposite of this. It is the most expensive site, it has an assured probability for litigation and environmental delay and it has the highest and most unpredictable site preparation and mitigation costs. What is the best way to pay for the new facility? It is actually more efficient to finance the project. It is a multi -generational essential asset, the city's borrowing costs are roughly equal to its investment earnings on cash, it can be financed without stressing the city budget and most importantly, it will allow the council to optimize the disposition of the Santa Barbara and Dove street properties for the benefit of taxpayers and residents. Except, you cannot finance it because that would require voter approval and this site would certainly not be approved by the city voters. Therefore, you must seek funding from the disposition of current city real estate assets. Should the city sell Santa Barbara and/or Dove Street or place the properties into long term ground leases? As with the old city hall site, competent economic analysis will certainly demonstrate the long-term lease of the property is in the best economic interests of taxpayers and residents. The properties are appreciating assets and will be worth much more to the city in the future if it retains ownership and generates reoccurring income through leasing. Except you cannot lease Santa Barbara because it would not generate the upfront cash needed to pay for construction. Lease benefits accelerate once the property has been redeveloped. Therefore, you must sell the property if the objective is to finance construction from the proceeds. Except, You will need to enter into a leaseback agreement following the sale until construction is completed. Depending on the final sale price and length of construction, this will add between $12-$15 million to the cost of the project. Except the state Surplus Land Act (SLA), requires the city to make the site available for housing with a 25% affordable component. Developers tell us that those economics will not work in this case. Nobody wants to buy a $5 million high rise condominium in a building where every fourth neighbor is a subsidized renter. The recent state cancelation of the Anaheim stadium sale and the development of its parking lots into a commercial zone demonstrate the risk. Therefore, you are unlikely to receive sufficient proceeds to build the new facility. Back to the initial bad decision, because you choose the park location, you will need multiple state agencies to approve the installation of a fuel tank directly in the path of an underground drainage stream that leads into the ocean. You will need to mitigate the loss of riparian wetlands habitat, likely at a cost of millions, and you will need to spend millions in site preparation. These tasks involve review and approval by agencies and public boards appointed by a partisan state government and require environmental analysis, hearings, public involvement, an appeals process and the opportunity for litigation. You can and should assume that each decision will be used as an opportunity to stop the project at this site. It will take years to resolve while the construction cost of the project escalates, mitigation cost accumulate and the leaseback of the existing site continues to be a financial drain. The objective of providing a new police facility will be delayed for years. At some point, you or the people who follow you on the council are faced with the need to finance the additional cost, now well in excess of $200 million and going higher. Except now the project has taken on poster child notoriety as a government boondoggle along the lines of high-speed rail. All of this is before we consider Museum House level opposition to what is to be developed on Santa Barbara, the impact of the daily release of arrestees into the park and library, the conflicts with sex offender registration and the proximity of the police station to the park, the destruction of tens of millions in taxpayer funded park improvements, landscaping and irrigation, loss of parkland for new residents moving into Newport Center, traffic impacts, and the very real potential of a ballot measure to stop the project. There are better alternatives. There is no widespread opposition to the new police station. Opposition is centered on the placement in the park and it is adamant. Dove Street, and any alternate location in Newport Center would be widely acceptable much less costly and entail much less risk. As an example, when the fire station is relocated, a new police station can be built right next door to the existing facility. A parking structure would be built first. This allows a new 70,000 sq. ft. building. When relocation of the police is accomplished, the existing police station could be retrofitted or rebuilt as a state-of-the-art regional training center, gun range, gym, police lab or other purposes providing a total of over 111,000 sq. ft. You have important optionality. If you decide to keep the existing building, the new station can be smaller and the gun range, training rooms and gym placed in the old building. If you decide to scrap the existing building, you can turn the lot into surface parking and eliminate the need for a parking structure. These and other options save taxpayer dollars. Alternatively, if more space is not desired, you could lease the former station site to generate city revenue and offset project costs. This option will take two years or more off the construction schedule, will eliminate environmental and regulatory risk, minimize litigation and site prep costs, and substantially eliminate environmental mitigation and leaseback costs. It will also give you better and more efficient financing options. It will save millions and result in abetter facility, delivered faster. The council needs to take the park off the table now so the city can move forward.