Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Headquarters topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves funds to study Civic Center Park police-station feasibility amid heavy public opposition
Summary
After extensive public comment opposing siting a new police headquarters in Civic Center Park, the Newport Beach City Council approved consultant contracts for conceptual design, environmental study and outreach — approving two contracts 6–1 and an outreach contract 5–2.
The Newport Beach City Council voted this evening to authorize three consultant agreements to study whether Civic Center Park could host a new police headquarters, despite repeated public objections that the site is a greenbelt, a watershed and unsuitable for a heavy civic facility. The council approved the conceptual design agreement and the environmental study contract each by 6–1, and approved the outreach/communications agreement by 5–2.
Residents filled the council chamber and used their three minutes to press the council to stop spending public money on what many called a foregone conclusion. "I am appalled to have learned that it is your intent to move this Newport Beach Police Department to the Bunny Park," said Madeline Enright, a 28-year resident, arguing the site would require rezoning, costly civil engineering and would worsen traffic. Multiple speakers raised similar objections about environmental constraints and the risk of costly, unsuccessful permitting.
City staff said the three agreements are intended to complete an early phase of work the council previously funded. Public works staff described the conceptual-design contract with LPA as a not-to-exceed $713,000 authorization for site programming and conceptual plans; an amendment for targeted biological surveys and environmental review will inform whether an EIR is required; and a separate outreach contract would provide additional communications capacity beyond the city's public information office.
Council members split over sequencing and public engagement. Council member Robin Grant said the studies should wait for the ad hoc committee's final report and recommended caution about hiring a PR firm before a site is selected, while Mayor Pro Tem Blom said the city must know what is feasible before ruling any site out. The motion for the conceptual-design contract passed 6–1 (Council member Robin Grant opposed), the environmental-contract motion passed 6–1 (Grant opposed), and the outreach contract passed 5–2, with Council members Grant and Stapleton opposing.
The actions authorize staff to spend funds already set aside in the capital budget to complete the work; the agreements do not commit the council to build on any site.
