Newport Beach Official Proposes Quarterly Newsletter

If Councilman John E. Noyes Jr. has his way, everyone in the city will be better informed and feel more in touch with the city.

On Monday, the City Council will consider Noyes’ request to fund a quarterly city newsletter.

“It would be something kind of homey,” said Noyes.

In addition to keeping residents updated on major city projects, Noyes said he hopes to introduce the community to some of the city’s employees.

City staff members say the newsletter would cost $9,582 annually. To save on mailing costs, city officials have proposed including the newsletter with the Newport Navigator, a quarterly recreation brochure that is sent to 43,000 local households.

Council members will also discuss a measure giving them control over who gets a license to sell alcohol in the city.

The proposed changes would give the chief of police power to determine whether an area has an overabundance of liquor licenses. Permits to open bars, nightclubs and cocktail lounges would no longer be reviewed by the Planning Commission.

This is the most recent measure Newport Beach has considered to control what some have complained is an over-concentration of bars on the Balboa Peninsula and in West Newport.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd. Information: (714) 644-3017.