America’s Cup Winner Bill Ficker, a retired Newport Beach architect, filed his "City Hall in the Park" charter amendment initiative with the Clerk, City of Newport Beach this morning. Joining Bill as co-proponents are Former California Secretary of Education and former State Senator Marian Bergeson, and local businessman Jack Croul. The charter amendment measure was written for the proponents by your author, Jim Lacy, who is also serving as counsel to the initiative committee. The amendment does not require a tax increase.
The charter amendment, to be on the ballot in February, 2008 if the qualifying signatures are gathered, would place in the City Charter a requirement that the City Hall of Newport Beach be placed in Newport Center next to the new Newport Beach Central Library. Some council members have resisted the idea of placing the new City Hall next to the current Library. The current City Hall on the Balboa Peninsula is in poor condition and need of extensive repairs.
The City Attorney has fifteen days to return a "title and summary" to the proponents, and signature gathering will likely begin thereafter in June. STA Campaigns is managing signature gathering for the initiative campaign.