NEWPORT BEACH : Land Purchase Issue Headed for Ballot
Three days after the Newport Conservancy reached a $55.8-million purchase agreement with the Irvine Co. for 134 acres of land, the City Council on Monday agreed in concept to put it to the voters in November.
Though no action was taken, City Council members agreed that residents should decide whether to purchase the 56.6-acre property Upper Castaways and the 77.2-acre Newporter North, which both overlook the Upper Newport Bay.
The council has until July 26 to put the advisory vote on the ballot. If approved by voters, the city would have to hold a public hearing before establishing an assessment district to fund the purchase.
A proposed assessment district, which would levy a citywide flat tax, would cost single-family homeowners at most $120 per year for 30 years, according to the Newport Conservancy, which is negotiating the purchase of the land. Officials have not decided whether a simple majority vote is strong enough to mandate the tax.
While there was little dissent on the council during the hourlong discussion, some council members questioned the timing of a tax hike and its fairness.
Council member Phil Sansone said Monday that “the timing is terrible†to pitch another tax to the voters. The November ballot is expected to contain a state proposal for a half-cent sales tax hike. Additionally, sanitation and water district fees in Newport are increasing, as are the city’s emergency paramedic user fees.
The council is expected to discuss how to pay for the purchase at its July 12 meeting and then take action at the next meeting.
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