Newport Beach to review contracts for police and fire chiefs, consider sculptures for exhibition

The contracts for Newport Beach’s police and fire chiefs will be up for consideration by the City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Police Chief Jon Lewis’s contract, which included a base salary of $238,409, was last updated in April 2019. Fire Chief Jeff Boyles last saw a contract update in July 2019, which included a base salary of $235,527.

As proposed, the contracts of both officials would be extended by five years. They would also receive two non-union-related salary adjustments at the start of the next fiscal year and at the start of 2023.

The council will also review 10 sculptures and four alternates approved by the Newport Beach Arts Commission for display in Civic Center Park, as selected by residents through a survey. If approved, the sculptures will be on display for two years, with installation set to begin in June 2022.

In a study session prior to the meeting, the City Council will discuss continuing to allow use of outdoor dining in the public right-of-way on Balboa Island and Newport Pier.

The last discussions on outdoor dining date to September, which extended emergency temporary use permits granted to restaurants during the early pandemic through the end of 2021.

They will also be hearing an update from Be Well OC on the implementation and operation of its Newport Beach Mobile Crisis Response Unit, which council members approved for $1.2 million in October for an initial one-year pilot program.

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