HomeMy WebLinkAboutWritten CommentsApril 4, 2016, PB&R Comment
Comment for the Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission submitted by:
Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229)
Item VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
I would like to call to the Commission’s attention several items that seem relevant to PB&R that were
seen by the City Council at its recent meetings.
First, as part of study session Item SS3 (“CIP Early Look”) on March 8, 2016, the Council heard staff
would be requesting $250,000 in the coming fiscal year to develop an Arroyo Creek Multi-Purpose
Trail. As illustrated, the trail would run northeast of The Irvine Company’s Bison Shopping Center
and essentially connect Bonita Creek Park to Arroyo Park to the western part of Bonita Canyon
Sports Park. One might hope PB&R would be involved in the planning of this trail.
Second, as part of the same study session item, the Council heard staff would be asking for
$800,000 to begin updating the City’s General Plan, focusing on the Circulation, Safety, and Land
Use Element policies. This is relevant to PB&R because the General Plan also contains a
Recreation Element which has not been updated since it was adopted in 2006.
Third and finally, as consent calendar Item 12 at its March 22, 2016, meeting the Council received
and authorized submittal to the state of staff’s annual report on the status of the City’s General Plan.
That report reviews the City’s compliance with the Implementation Program adopted with the plan in
2006. This is relevant to PB&R because Implementation Program 23 is entitled Parks and
Recreation, and it would seem wise to verify that the sub-programs it contains have indeed been
implemented and are being followed.
In particular, program Imp 23.1 calls for the City to “comprehensively review the status of its park
system and assess the need for improvements, including new or renovated facilities” every five
years, and Imp 23.4 calls for PB&R to prioritize the matters identified in that needs assessment.
Has this happened? Again, PB&R may wish to review the Recreation Element of the General Plan
and the Implementation Programs related to it.
References:
Slide from March 8th showing proposed Arroyo Creek Multi-Purpose Trail (funding on previous
slide): http://ecms.newportbeachca.gov/Web/0/doc/810923/Page7.aspx
March 8th slide showing funding request for General Plan update:
http://ecms.newportbeachca.gov/Web/0/doc/810923/Page12.aspx
Minutes of March 8 meeting: http://ecms.newportbeachca.gov/Web/0/doc/815950/Page1.aspx
Video of March 8 Item SS3:
http://newportbeach.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=a05e7a93-f781-11e5-8170-
f04da2064c47&meta_id=161425
The City’s current General Plan (Recreation Element is Chapter 8; Implementation Program is
Chapter 13): http://newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/community-
development/planning-division/general-plan-codes-and-regulations/general-plan
March 22 status report on Implementation Program 23:
http://ecms.newportbeachca.gov/Web/0/doc/815864/Page61.aspx