Newport’s District 7 council hopefuls share ideas

Traffic, coyotes and citywide growth peppered an interview Thursday between termed-out Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry and two candidates vying for his seat on the City Council.

Roughly 30 residents attended the “job interview” hosted by Curry to give voters an early look at the candidates running for District 7, which represents Newport Coast and Newport Ridge on the seven-member council.

“There are some serious issues in front of the city,” Curry said. “I have the capacity to sniff out answers that aren’t coherent or ones that don’t address the concerns of residents. Who knows more about the job than someone who’s had it for 10 years.”

Local attorney Phil Greer, attorney and finance committee member Will O’Neill and former planning commissioner Fred Ameri have declared their intent to run for the seat. Curry has not yet endorsed a candidate.

O’Neill was absent from the forum. He said he had a conflict and declined to have the event rescheduled to accommodate his schedule, Curry said.

The roughly hour-long discussion consisted of Curry asking a question and each of the candidates providing an answer. The candidates shared similar opinions about many city issues, but occasionally differed in how they would approach them.

Greer said he hasn’t quite made up his mind about the proposal to build 895 homes, a 75-room hotel, a 20-bed hostel and 45,100 square feet of retail space on about 62 acres of the Banning Ranch property.

“Some of the proposals are working, and some have serious issues,” he said. “I’m going to listen to the people who care and understand and I’m going to do something that’s good for the community.”

Ameri said property rights give the owner of the land leeway to build some type of project on it.

“That comes with a huge but,” he said. “They should scale down the project so as to not take things out that are valuable.”

Both Greer and Ameri agreed with one another that increased traffic in the community stems from development that has gone unchecked and negatively effects residents quality of life. Ameri said traffic should be considered as a regional issue, taking into account how projects in surrounding cities impact Newport.

“What happens in Santa Ana and what happens outside Newport Beach affects traffic in Newport Beach,” he said. “In the last few years we have grown a lot, way, way beyond what the pace of development should be.”

However, Greer said he was more inclined to address it as a local challenge given that traffic problems in Corona del Mar are unique from areas like West Newport. He also said that the council should focus on strategic growth and look more closely at the traffic impacts of proposed developments.

Coyote attacks on local pets, which have been specifically troubling for residents in Newport Coast, were also discussed.

Ameri said although he’s seen them in the neighborhood, he hasn’t really thought about the issue so far. Greer said the community should continue reminding one another not to leave pet food out and be vigilant in reporting the coyotes to animal control so they can keep accurate logs.

Both candidates, who have each lived in Newport for 19 years, said their long history in the city would make them an ideal representative.

“I want to work with the community,” Greer said. “My wife and I have built a life here, we’ve raised our child here. We care.”