City Council Reviews Progress on ’97 Goals

The City Council gathered last week to take inventory of the progress it has made on major goals for the year.

“I think we are doing well,” Mayor Janice A. Debay said. “It was a pretty ambitious agenda we set, but I am pleased with the progress that is being made.”

The council decided on quarterly meetings this year to discuss accomplishments and to fine tune its agenda.

At its first such meeting last week, the council received reports on several major projects:

* Newport Coast annexation. The staff has been studying the possible annexation of the county land south of Corona del Mar known as Newport Coast. The staff’s findings will be presented this month in the legislative and finance committees, which will then forward their conclusions to the entire City Council.

* Upper Newport Bay dredging. The council committed to continue its push for funds from the state and federal governments to dredge the bay.

* El Toro airport. The council will continue to lobby for the development of a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

* City finances. The city is trying to improve its financial situation with better planning. The staff is in the final stages of drafting a formula to project its revenue 10 years into the future. As a possible way to increase sales tax revenues, the council will continue discussions on the possible expansion of Newport Center.