Community Members:

After nearly two years of effort that included numerous community workshops and public input opportunities, the City's Housing Element update is nearing completion and certification by the state. The Housing Element update, part of the City's General Plan, is a critical document to comply with a state mandate compelling Newport Beach to plan for the addition of at least 4,845 housing units over the next decade.

At a study session this week, the City Council heard an update from the City's Community Development staff on the status of the document and response from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the agency tasked with certifying compliance among cities. After the Council adopted the Housing Element update in February, staff submitted the document to HCD for a mandatory 60-day review. The City's response to HCD comments was discussed at the study session, and the Council provided direction to staff on the inclusion of potential development sites. Our plan is to incorporate Council direction and HCD comments into the latest revision in the next few months.

It is important to note that at this stage of the process, the City is not considering the merits of specific development projects in relation to the Housing Element update. The update identifies potential sites where housing could be developed. There are still multiple steps left in the certification process before any development identified in the Housing Element update could begin. As is the case for all development projects, any proposed projects would be noticed and subject to public review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 

I would like to thank the residents who participated in the development of this document, along with members of the Housing Element Update Advisory Committee (HEUAC), and Planning Commissioners who devoted considerable time and effort to this project so far. I will keep the community updated on the progress of the Housing Element update and future opportunities for public review and comment.

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

On April 22, Lincoln Elementary School hosted the City’s Arbor Day Celebration event. Present at the event were Councilmember Joy Brenner, PB&R Commission Chair Diane Daruty, CalFire Representative Abigail Srader, Lincoln Elementary Principal Kristin DeMicco, school staff and 3rd grade students, and Public Works Department staff. The City is proud to be recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA for the 32nd consecutive year. In addition, because of our tremendous planting efforts last year, we are proud to have received the Growth Award, which we have been awarded 19 times. Following the presentations and reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation, attendants took part in planting five trees on school grounds. These trees will provide the 3rd graders the opportunity to watch the trees grow over the years to come.

The Public Works Department was recently honored to receive the award for Outstanding Parks and Recreation Project of the year from the Orange County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The awards ceremony recognized Grant Howald Park for its positive community impact, overcoming construction obstacles,  and environmentally friendly features.

(Pictured L to R, are Tom Sandefur, Kathryne Cho, Jim Houlihan and Robert Silva)

On Saturday April 23, OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy celebrated Earth Day at the Peter and Mary Muth’s Interpretive Center. The event welcomed 1,000 attendees with 40 exhibitors, including a booth hosted by the Natural Resources division from the Recreation and Senior Services department.  The energy of the event was reflective of the weather: sunny, warm, and buzzing. Exhibitors and partnering agencies were all smiles, greeting each other with hugs after the event has been on hiatus the last two years from the pandemic. Families participated in a scavenger hunt by collecting information and free giveaways. The Natural Resources booth featured a tidepool model and information about rules to follow when visiting the Marine Protected Areas like Little Corona del Mar, as well as information about Camp Newport this summer.

Children balanced on colorful steppingstones to peer into the model (crafted from a plastic kiddy pool) to excitedly tell Marine Naturalist staff about the animals they have seen on their own explorations in the tidepools.  When asked "what is the one thing you can do to help protect our tidepools" most children quickly responded, "to throw away trash and not litter".

After 52 years of celebrating Earth Day, the event continues bring the community together to inspire change and make the world a better place locally and globally.

Bring your family and friends out to Marina Park to enjoy a screening of Luca on Friday, May 13.  The event will begin at 6:45 p.m. with showtime at 7:45 p.m.  Fun activities, free popcorn and food will be available for purchase. Bring a chair and blanket to enjoy the evening at Marina Park!

The Be Well mobile crisis response team is now operating in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and EMTs, and works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.

This week the Be Well team: 

• Transported two people to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
• Transported two people to crisis stabilization facilities for care.
• Reunited an elderly man with his family after addressing a mental health crisis.
• Provided First Aid to two people experiencing homelessness.
• Conducted 31 outreach interactions with residents and people experiencing homelessness.