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Community Members:
I am pleased to share that the California Coastal Commission recently approved a City of Newport Beach proposal to extend the existing concrete pathway at the Wedge and build a new viewing platform. The project will make one of the world’s most iconic body boarding and surfing spots more accessible to all members of our community, including those with mobility challenges.
The new ADA-accessible design will feature a 200-foot pathway connected to the existing concrete walk at Jetty View Park, ending in a 10-foot-wide viewing area overlooking the surf. This improvement will allow visitors using wheelchairs, walkers and strollers to safely experience the breathtaking shoreline and watch the body boarders and surfers in action.
The expansion of the pathway and creation of a viewing area will ensure that the Wedge can be enjoyed by everyone, advancing the City’s broader goals of inclusive public access. In addition, the project will help protect the surrounding dune habitat and native plant species.
The next step will be to finalize project plans and secure permits, with construction anticipated to begin in early 2026.
We look forward to breaking ground on this project and welcoming residents and visitors to experience the Wedge in a safer, more inclusive way.
City Manager, Grace K. Leung
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Newport Beach’s Bonita Canyon neighborhood has become the first in the city to earn a Firewise USA designation, reflecting a community-wide commitment to reducing wildfire risk.
The recognition, awarded by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), signifies that Bonita Canyon residents have taken important steps to reduce wildfire risks in their community. The program encourages neighbors to work together to protect their communities, strengthen emergency preparedness, and build long-term resilience.
Neighborhoods that earn the designation must demonstrate proactive reductions in wildfire risks through education, vegetation management, defensible space and home hardening.
The Firewise USA program benefits neighborhoods by:
- Improving wildfire preparedness through regular education and training.
- Building collaboration between residents and the Newport Beach Fire Department.
- Providing national recognition for reducing wildfire risk.
- Enhancing safety and sustainability, potentially lowering insurance costs and improving recovery efforts after an emergency.
For information on wildfire preparedness, visit this resource page on the City’s website.
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Cappy’s Cafe will host its annual Waffle Eating Contest on Sunday, August 24 at 8 a.m., bringing together the Newport Beach Police and Fire departments in support of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire.
While the friendly competition between the Police and Fire departments always makes for a spirited and fun event, the true victory lies in the cause. Every ticket sold helps grant life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses.
The public is invited. Tickets, which include breakfast, can be purchased for $25 at Cappy's and will be directly donated to Make-A-Wish.
Cappy's Cafe is located at 5930 W. Coast Highway.
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 The City is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Mayor's Youth Council, an unpaid internship and mentorship program for high school students.
The Mayor's Youth Council aims to educate students about the significance of civic duty and encourage participation in local government.
Participants are paired with a City staff member and spend a minimum of four hours during the year learning about their mentor's job responsibilities. Additionally, participants will assist with City special events and create their own service projects.
Applications are due Friday, September 5.
For more information, click here.
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The City's Public Works and Fire departments recently completed a large fuel mitigation project in the canyon adjacent to the Bonita Creek trail, between the Bonita Canyon Drive bridge and Ford Road.
Crews removed non-native plant material and reduced tall grasses and weeds.
By clearing potentially combustible brush, fuel mitigation projects help reduce wildfire risk.
 Before (left) and after (right) the fuel mitigation efforts.
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 This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
- Placed a person in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
- Placed a person in a motel temporarily while awaiting a shelter intake.
- Enrolled six people into services.
- Continued to shelter people. Twenty-two 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.
Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.
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The next meeting of the Newport Beach City Council will be on Tuesday, August 26 at 4 p.m. The full agenda is available here.
Agenda items include:
- An amendment to the City’s municipal code that would prohibit climbing on railings, ledges or other structures on public property near waterways. This amendment would help deter bridge jumping by strengthening existing regulations prohibiting diving, jumping and climbing on public property adjacent to waterways.
- A $5.2 million contract with Superb Engineering, Inc., for the third and final phase of the Big Canyon Nature Park Restoration Program. The contract includes clearing non-native trees and plants, restoring a freshwater pond, and creating an estuary and salt marsh. The item includes an agreement with Horrocks LLC to provide construction management services. City funds for construction and related construction management services would be reimbursed from State grants through an agreement with the Newport Bay Conservancy. The Big Canyon restoration is one of the City’s largest restoration programs, extending from Jamboree Road to Back Bay Drive.
- The appointment of William Lobdell to the volunteer position of City historian laureate. Lobdell is a Newport Beach resident and former journalist who hosts the “Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror” podcast dedicated to city history. As historian laureate, Lobdell would interpret past events and provide thoughtful, educational and enjoyable narratives and presentations when required.
- A public hearing and consideration of amendments to the City’s zoning and coastal regulations related to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs). The updates would bring Newport Beach’s municipal code and local coastal program into compliance with recent changes in State housing law. The amendments are designed to make it easier for homeowners to create ADUs and JADUs by streamlining approvals, reducing costs, and expanding options. If approved, the amendments will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Coastal Commission for final review.
- Consideration of an appeal regarding a proposed 27-unit townhome project at Ford Road near MacArthur Boulevard and Bonita Canyon Drive. The project would develop a parcel of vacant land next to the Bonita Canyon Sports Park to provide additional housing under the State-mandated housing opportunity sites. The City's Planning Commission unanimously approved the project in early July and an appeal was filed later that month. The City Council will conduct a public hearing on the project before considering the appeal.
- Consideration of the purchase of a property at 3848 Campus Dr., near John Wayne Airport, to help meet the City’s future operational and transportation needs in the airport area. The $11.5 million purchase could provide a site for future City uses, including potential relocation of the Newport Transportation Center in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority. The purchase would be funded through the City’s year-end budget surplus. If approved, the City would conduct inspections and due diligence and solicit community input before finalizing the property’s future use.
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WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
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