HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 - July 4th Newport Safety Planning Committee Disestablishmentr
TO:
FROM:
PREPARED BY:
PHONE:
TITLE:
CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
May 13, 2014
Agenda Item No. 13.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk — (949) 644 -3005, (brown @newportbeachca.gov
Tara Finnigan, Public Information Manager
949 - 644 -3035
Disestablishment of the July 4th West Newport Safety Planning Committee
ABSTRACT:
Progress made in addressing some of the unruly behavior frequently displayed on the Fourth of
July in West Newport has shifted community focus from a strictly public safety concentration to
encouraging an atmosphere of "family fun" for residents and visitors. The changes have
lessened the need to maintain the July 4th West Newport Safety Planning Committee, though
we will still hold regular open workshops.
RECOMMENDATION:
Disestablish the July 4th West Newport Safety Planning Committee.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
The current adopted budget includes sufficient funding for this program.
DISCUSSION:
The Newport Beach City Council established the July 4th West Newport Safety Planning
Committee by adopting Resolution No. 2002 -58 on September 10, 2002. The Committee was
formed to bring together representatives of the West Newport Beach Association and
community, the City Council, the Newport Beach Police Department, the City Attorney's Office
and other City staff members to identify measures to address the often unruly or illegal behavior
frequently displayed in West Newport on the Fourth of July holiday.
In the nearly 14 years since the Committee was established, gradual progress has been made
in changing the tone of the holiday festivities in this area of the city. Resident participation in the
Committee, and in directly communicating concerns and suggestions to the City, have been
important in crafting an approach that balances the importance of protecting the West Newport
community with providing a fun and safe atmosphere for residents and visitors.
[CEIR
By 2011, however, some residents had grown weary of the usual July 4 street closures and told
City representatives they felt trapped on the Peninsula during the holiday. They believed that
while the closures and fenced off areas had initially helped with crowd control, in time, those
measures were contributing to the "Mardi Gras -like" atmosphere.
The City heard these concerns and the residents' desire for family- oriented, Fourth of July fun
for the families that call West Newport home. A key turning point occurred when City staff and
community volunteers developed a plan to focus less on enforcement and more on family
oriented activities. The inaugural Fourth of July is for Families parade and festival was held on
July 4, 2011. The event was a success and has continued to grow in size and popularity each
year.
During the past few years, the Newport Beach Police Department also revised its approach to
law enforcement in West Newport on the Fourth of July holiday. Fewer street closures and new
tactics ranging from the adoption of the Loud and Unruly Gatherings Ordinance to bringing in a
mounted patrol to help on the holiday have also been instrumental in making progress on July
4.
With the focus shifting from safety and law enforcement to family oriented activities, there has
been less need to convene the July 4th West Newport Safety Planning Committee. Thus, staff
is recommending the disestablishment of the Committee. The City's Recreation and Senior
Services Department will continue to the work with the Fourth of July is for Families citizens
committee. The department will also join the Newport Beach Police Department in hosting a
meeting in the late spring of each year to update the West Newport Beach community on the
City's plans for the Fourth of July holiday. Staff has notified the current president of the West
Newport Beach Association and she supports this recommendation.
We think that the Committee's work was successful and are pleased that it was able to bring
about the changes made to date and please to give our dedicated Committee members some
of their afternoons and evenings back. While this coming July 4 weekend promises to be
challenging given the Friday holiday, we think the policies are in place for continued success.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act ( "CEQA ") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the
activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of
Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to
the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the
meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
343