The "City Hall in the Park" initiative, which was passed by Newport Beach voters last February 5 as "Measure B," was upheld in a final and dispostive ruling by Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos.

     The city charter amendment, the brainchild of Newport activist and World Cup winner, architect Bill Ficker, preempted other plans of the Newport Beach City Council majority and requires the location of a needed new City Hall to be placed on city-owned property at Fashion Island next to the Central Library.  It was a very logical proposal to place the new City Hall in a central location and near the library, on a 12 acre parcel that will otherwise remain parkland.

     Opponents threw out the usual extreme environmental and NIMBY type arguments that hamper rational decisionmaking throughout Orange County  coastal jurisdictions.  Led by local activist  and 1968 VW beattle driver, Allan Beek, Measure B survived a pre-election legal challenge, won at the polls, survived a post-election challenge, and now the entire case has been dismissed on the City’s motion, joined in by Intervenors Bill Ficker, Jack Croul, and former State Senator Marion Bergeson, the proponents of the measure.  Beek was 0 and 3 in his legal challenges, and accomplished nothing through his lawsuit other than to cause the taxpayers a lot of wasted dollars in legal fees.

     I was very pleased to have written the Charter Amendment and handle the lawyering in court for the proponents.  It was a very satisfying and rewarding work, and a top-to-bottom victory resulting in real savings to the citizens of Newport Beach in placing the new City Hall on property already owned by the City.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.