Irvine Avenue repairs and landscaping get Newport council’s OK after initial rejection

A previously rejected proposal to repair Irvine Avenue and replace browning grass in the median with drought-tolerant plants received a green light from the Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday.

The council voted 6-0, with Councilman Marshall “Duffy” Duffield absent, to approve a $1.7-million contract with All American Asphalt to reconstruct sidewalks, curbs, gutters, access ramps and pavement, as well as fix the irrigation system and plant new colorful drought-tolerant landscaping along the median between Santiago and University drives, adjacent to Upper Newport Bay.

“It’s a gateway into West Newport Beach and it’s a scenic vista,” Councilman Tony Petros said. “When you consider that drive and the welcoming sense it has for our community, it deserves what we have put together for the plant palette. It is a modest cost and over time will prove to be a great sustainable benefit to the city.”

The council had voted 4-3 on June 14 to reject a portion of the bid, sending public works staff back to the drawing board and likely out to bid again, which would delay the work for months.

However, Councilman Ed Selich, who originally voted against the proposal, asked his colleagues to reconsider the item at Tuesday’s meeting.

Selich said he was initially concerned that the city was spending too much money on the Irvine Avenue median work and might have to forgo other median projects in the city.

However, after the June meeting, he met with city staff members who told him there was enough money in the budget to cover the Irvine Avenue project and still replace other browning medians with green ground covers, which are more drought-tolerant.

Councilman Scott Peotter, who had previously suggested the city scrap the landscaping portion, estimated to cost about $500,000, and instead put down wood chips or hydroseed grass, also was swayed after meeting with staff, he said.

“Our efforts to save money may be too late, considering how far along they are in the process,” Peotter said. “I’m not looking to downgrade the standards of this island as much as I am trying to do it in a more cost-effective manner.”

Several homeowners who live near Irvine Avenue spoke in favor of the project, saying it would put the landscaping in line with other medians in the city.

“What we have today with brown grass and dirt is very definitely not something we can be proud of,” said longtime resident and former Councilman Don Webb.

Construction is expected to begin in August and likely will be completed by the end of the year, city staff said.

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Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN