The Week in Review - January 5, 2024

City of Newport Beach, California sent this bulletin at 01/05/2024 03:44 PM PST

Community Members:

Happy New Year! I hope the holiday break was restful and enjoyable for you and your families.

As the New Year gets underway, I'm pleased to report that construction of the Superior Avenue pedestrian and bicycle bridge at Pacific Coast Highway is nearly complete. The last major step -- pouring concrete for the arch that spans Superior Avenue -- was recently finished, using about 253,000 pounds of reinforced steel and about 60 truckloads of concrete.

The City's contractor, Reyes Construction, is now removing the temporary wooden framework used to support the concrete pours. A few final items, such as the bridge's lighting and railings, will be installed in the coming weeks. The bridge is expected to be finished by March, with the remainder of the project (retaining walls, storm drains, parking lot and landscape improvements) completed by August.

The $14.7 million project will provide a significant community benefit, with improved safety for pedestrians and bicyclists across a busy intersection, and increased accessibility and use of Sunset Ridge Park through the expanded parking lot.

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

Photo of work being done on the Superior Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

NBPD Mounted Unit Joins Pasadena Rose Parade

The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) Mounted Unit joined the Orange County Mounted Officers Association on January 1 for the 135th Annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, marking the Department's inaugural appearance at the event.

Three NBPD mounted unit members, including two police officers and one volunteer, proudly represented Newport Beach at this iconic New Year's Day celebration as they trotted through the parade route on horseback.

This year's parade coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Orange County Mounted Officers Association. Joining forces with agencies across Orange County, the NBPD Mounted Unit celebrated two decades of equestrian excellence and community service. A total of 27 officers and their horses participated from several public safety agencies, including the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.

Construction Begins on Newport Coast Pickleball Courts

Construction has begun on new pickleball courts located adjacent to the Newport Coast Community Center.

The project, a partnership between the City and the Newport Ridge Community Association, will build eight new pickleball courts at the association's private park. Six courts will be available to the general public and two courts will be reserved for association members.

The courts are expected to be open for play by this summer.

Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Update

The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates 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 works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.

This week, the Be Well team:

Reunified a person experiencing homelessness with family.
Transported two people to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Transported a person to a crisis stabilization unit for treatment.
Collaborated with the Newport Beach Fire Department for a hospital transport.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department's non-emergency line at 949-644-3717.

This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:

Placed a man into an assisted living facility.
Housed a man who stayed at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Continued to shelter people; 25 people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.

Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard, which includes key monthly and yearly data on the City's homeless response.

Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.

On the Agenda: Jan. 9 City Council Meeting

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, January 9. Items of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda and reports can be viewed here.

The regular meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include:

A resolution to establish an Ad Hoc Transit, Transportation, Parking and Mobility Committee and confirm Mayor O’Neill’s appointments of Mayor Pro Tem Joe Stapleton, Councilmember Noah Blom, and Councilmember Lauren Kleiman to serve on the committee. The committee would work with City staff and make recommendations to the City Council regarding transit, transportation, parking and mobility improvements. The
committee would also identify potential funding sources to help support the recommendations.
An $11.9 million construction contract to Riverside-based International Line Builders, Inc. for utility undergrounding in central Balboa Island, a project previously approved by residents and funded through an assessment district (Underground Utility Assessment District No. 124 – Phase 1). The low bid was about 37% below original estimates, due to an improved bidding environment for this type of work
and the relatively larger size of the assessment district. Construction work will be done in phases to minimize community impacts.
A revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Newport Beach Library Foundation and construction contract award for the Central Library Lecture Hall Building project. The amended MOU revises funding conditions and other terms for the Foundation under a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement with the City. The construction award would approve a $19 million construction contract with AMG & Associates, Inc., of Santa Clarita, the low bidder. The total project cost is estimated at about $23.5 million. If approved, construction would begin in the spring and be complete in late 2025.

VIEW THE FULL AGENDA>>

This Week’s Events

See Full Schedule

MONDAY, JANUARY 8

CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEETING

5 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

4 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10

HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING

5 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

5 p.m.
Civic Center Community Room
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

3 p.m.
Civic Center Community Room
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

CITY ARTS COMMISSION MEETING

5 p.m.
Newport Beach Central Library - Small Conference Room
1000 Avocado Avenue
Newport Beach, California 92660

SEE FULL SCHEDULE >>

@cityofnewportbeach

WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660

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