NEWPORT BEACH : City Could Combine Some Resident Panels
The City Council is considering a plan to consolidate some resident advisory panels to save money on support work and on the amount of time city employees work with the panels.
The city spends an estimated $326,000 a year on employee support for more than 40 committees, boards and commissions, in addition to the $20,590 in committee budgets, according to Assistant City Manager Ken Delino.
In-house committees are often the City Council’s conduit to the community on a variety of subjects ranging from economic development and environmental quality to bike trails and youth activities.
The city also participates in regional committees like the Southern California Assn. of Governments to monitor issues like employment and housing. Newport Beach and Fullerton are the only Orange County members of SCAG.
Some of the committees are permanent.
At Monday’s meeting, council members asked city officials to look into consolidating the bicycle trails committee with the parks, beaches and recreation commission, the hazardous waste committee with the environmental quality affairs committee, and eliminating any city committees that have outlived their original missions.
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