INSIDE SCOOP

-- Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff

Lodwrick M. Cook’s plan to bring his 55-foot yacht to Balboa Island

and reconfigure his pier on South Bayfront as a result has a lot of

residents fuming. They’re saying the boat will block views and beach

access and that city officials shouldn’t approve Cook’s request.

Well, needless to say we wanted to let our readers know as soon as

possible what folks down at City Hall have decided to do. But the best we

can do for now is tell you that they’ve decided o7 somethingf7 .

“Staff has made its decision,” City Manager Homer Bludau wrote in a

memo to council members Friday, adding that city officials will sent out

a letter “no later than late next week. Until the letter goes out, I

believe it best not to report its contents.”

I guess we’ll all have to sit tight and wait a little longer to find

out what’s happening. In either case, both residents and Cook always have

the option of appealing the decision to council members. And Councilman

Steve Bromberg, who represents Balboa Island and lives on Little Balboa

Island, has already promised he’ll bring the matter before his council

colleagues if city officials approve Cook’s request.

Supervisor Silva in charge of Newport Beach? Some would be

thrilled.

When Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva came to last week’s City

Council meeting, all he’d really expected was a proclamation for his work

on water-quality issue.

But on top of that, Mayor Gary Adams also handed him a key to the

city, saying that that’s something not everyone gets to have.

Councilman Dennis O’Neil even went a little further.

Once the county’s redistricting process is complete, Silva -- who now

represents Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, among other cities -- might

end up serving as Newport Beach’s supervisor, as well.

“I’d like to tell you that we would welcome you as supervisor for our

city,” O’Neil said to applause from everyone.

It’s no wonder Newport Beach folks would receive Silva with open arms.

He supports flight caps on John Wayne Airport and an airport at El Toro.

Supervisor Tom Wilson, who currently represents Newport Beach, backs the

flight caps at John Wayne. But since he’s also accountable to South

County residents, who oppose an El Toro airport, Wilson won’t support

Newport Beach in that respect.

Do you suppose Wilson has a city key?