From City Hall to You - February 20, 2025

City of Newport Beach, California sent this bulletin at 02/20/2026 02:21 PM PST

Dear Community Members,

If you’ve been watching the news or scrolling on social media, chances are you saw that Newport Beach was in the headlines for a fishy reason – a 30-foot juvenile humpback whale washed up on the Balboa Peninsula near 10th street. Alerted by our Newport Beach Lifeguards, the City worked with our partners at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect samples, determine the cause of death and safely remove the whale from our beach. As Mother Nature would have it, shifting tides later carried the whale near Corona del Mar, where our lifeguards and contractors towed it approximately 25 miles offshore.

At our next City Council meeting on February 24, they will consider approving a construction contract to rebuild the historic Balboa Library Branch and Fire Station No. 1. If approved, the Newport Beach Fire Department will establish a temporary station near Balboa Pier to ensure uninterrupted service to the neighborhood. For our readers, Library services will continue on the peninsula at Marina Park through our concierge service. Residents can reserve their books online and pick them up or return them to staff. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin this spring.

Last week, I shared that the City Council is evaluating a potential location for a new Police Department headquarters. While we are still very early in the process, residents can visit NewportBeachCA.gov/Trending/Projects-Issues for an overview of the potential project. As far as next steps we are planning to have a follow up study session discussion with the City Council, tentatively scheduled for March 10. I encourage the community to check the page for updates as discussions continue.

And last but certainly not least, Newport Beach closed Fiscal Year 2024–25 in a very strong and healthy financial position. General Fund revenues outperformed expectations, driven by resilient property tax, sales tax and hotel/short-term rental revenue. The City maintains its top-tier AAA credit ratings, while continuing its long-term pension paydown strategy. For some light and exciting reading, you can find our Annual Comprehensive Financial Report here: NewportBeachCA.gov/Government/Departments/Finance/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Reports.

As always, thank you for being an engaged and informed part of our community. I look forward to keeping you updated as these projects move ahead.

Warmly,

Seimone Jurjis, City Manager

Marina Park Adaptive Sailing Program In Action

The City's Recreation & Senior Services Department and the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship recently hosted members of SoCal Adaptive Sports and the Los Angeles Chargers wheelchair football team for a fully adaptive sailing experience at the Marina Park Sailing and Boating Center. New sailors experienced the harbor on J22 keelboats and learned from OCC instructors using the City’s adaptive-rigged RS Venture with forward-facing bucket seats and “joystick” steering.

Since 2025, Marina Park Sailing & Boating Center has offered one-on-one private sailing lessons for individuals with disabilities. This was the first group to experience a sailing lesson together. For more information on the City’s Adaptive Sailing program, please call (949)270-8160.

March 6 Youth Track Meet Registration Spots Still Available

Registration is still open for the 2026 Youth Track Meet of Champions on Friday, March 6, at Newport Harbor High School.

Online registration is open through Monday, February 23.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Early Lessons, Big Impact: Interceptor Tackles Storm Season Head-On

Public Works staff overseeing the Newport Beach Trash Interceptor Pilot Project on San Diego Creek have been hard at work over the past few months as winter storms moved through Orange County, helping keep our waterways and beaches clean. As with any new pilot program, we are also learning more about the types and volumes of materials flowing into the interceptor and how the capture and collection systems perform—including when adjustments are needed. During this start-up phase, staff have been evaluating operations and implementing refinements to address unforeseen collection and performance challenges.

Despite being under construction for part of last year’s storm season and working through the interceptor’s start-up and operational learning curve, the system still captured approximately 40 tons of trash and debris that would have otherwise entered the Back Bay.

This storm season, the interceptor has already collected nearly half that amount— about 20 tons — and it’s only February. With more rain in the forecast, City staff will continue operating and monitoring the system to remove debris before it reaches the bay, harbor and ocean.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEEES MEETING

5:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

4:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MEETING

10:00 a.m.
Via Zoom

SEE FULL SCHEDULE >>

@cityofnewportbeach

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

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