Commentary: Infrastructure improvement is among my priorities for 2016

The City Council will hold the 2016 Planning Session at 9 a.m. Saturday. I feel it important that the City Council, city staff and our community understand my priorities as we embark on the new year.

My priorities are based on my experience over the past three years and my frequent engagement with neighbors, friends, residents and business persons in our wonderful city. I believe we must honor commitments made to our residential and corporate residents, continue our longstanding practice of providing platinum level municipal services and engage in productive long-range planning for the future benefit of our community.

Election cycles are discrete periods that can be quite disruptive to the community experience. Our citizens engage in the planning process and expect outcomes based on votes cast and promises made.

But as leaders change, some promises can be lost, much to the chagrin and disappointment of our constituents. Regardless of who sits on the dais, I believe the people run this city.

And when the people are told a project is imminent and doable, they should see the fruits of their efforts.

With that in mind, I believe a top priority is to complete the major capital projects that have been in the pipeline for years. These include the West Newport Community Center, dredging of the Seminouk Slough, landscaping improvements along West Coast Highway and Balboa Island’s sea walls.

We should see these projects through to the end, before we embark on other major capital projects. And we should not be confused between capital planning/programming and other municipal efforts, like enterprise funding (such as water and wastewater) and General Fund allocations.

I believe the city provides great service to our residential and business communities. We are a gracious host to our visitors and wish everyone a wonderful and safe experience in Newport Beach. It is my priority to continue that tradition.

We should adequately fund and maintain our existing infrastructure and look for means and methods to increase efficiencies. Water service, wastewater service, road maintenance, reforestation and tree trimming, park and beach maintenance are essential to making Newport Beach the desirable locale it is. They help make our property values so high – something we all value.

We should not skimp in any way on these services. We should also continue to provide for a safe community by supporting appropriate levels of police, fire and other safety services.

Finally, leaders do their best when they plan for the future. Plant the sapling today so that a citizen can enjoy its tree shade in the future.

My priority is to continue to plan for the ultimate vision for Mariner’s Mile. Continue the planning and zoning studies in West Newport to make the area west of Superior Avenue a new residential hub with walkable community-based features. Allocate the appropriate level of funds to address long range issues at John Wayne Airport, such as noise, emissions and departure patterns. Initiate long range planning to enhance the Newport Bay as a nautical commercial and recreational center for Orange County. And tackle important needs like reducing our pension liabilities, hand-in-hand with our employees.

This sounds like a tall order. But it is not. It is what we can do and have done throughout the history of this wonderful city. We plan boldly, and we execute decisively. My priorities are not an “either or” proposition. We are blessed to have the financial tools, manpower, and knowledge to see all these efforts through to completion. We can, we should and we will continue to make this city an example of fiscal accountability, excellent service and gracious engagement. It is what has defined us. It is Newport Beach.

TONY PETROS is a member of the Newport Beach City Council.