NEWPORT BEACH : Changes in Store for Council Districts

City Council members are considering a slight change in council district boundaries in light of new population figures from the 1990 census.

The plan suggests that each of the seven council districts include about 9,520 of the city’s 66,643 residents. Additionally, the plan calls for each district to include some ocean or bay front land.

“There are few, if any changes,” said City Atty. Robert Burnham. “It’s a nip here and a tuck there.”

Recommended changes include transferring portions of District 2, represented by Councilwoman Ruthelyn Plummer, to District 1, represented by Councilman John Hedges.

The change would transfer about 240 residents of the area bounded by 35th and 36th streets, Ocean Boulevard and the Rivo Alto into District 1, bringing representation there closer to the average of other districts.

It was also recommended that about 480 people from District 3 be shifted to District 4. In return, the Upper Castaways, a vacant plot of land, would be transferred from District 4, Councilman Clarence J. Turner’s district, to District 3, which is represented by Evelyn R. Hart.

The redistricting plan also recommends moving about 270 residents of the Eastbluff area in District 4 to District 5, represented by Councilwoman Jean H. Watt.

Finally, there were recommendations to shift about 1,600 people in the Corona del Mar area between District 7, represented by John C. Cox Jr., and District 6, represented by Mayor Phil Sansone. About two dozen communities would be affected, and the move would give Cox’s District 7 water frontage in the historically landlocked district.

Council review of the districts is possible every four years under the City Charter. The council discussed the changes at a study session earlier this week and plans to vote on the changes at its next meeting.