READERS RESPOND

I believe that there are universal truths. That the most precious things in life are free is one of them.

I always treasure the view of Catalina Island, the coast and the blue Pacific as I accelerate out of the stoplight at San Miguel and MacArthur on my way home down the hill into Corona del Mar.

I can’t be the only person in town who has a heart that skips a beat when he sees this beautiful sight. The thought of this open space covered by buildings, no matter how honorable the cause, is more than I can bear. Bill Ficker is not our savior.

It is hard to believe the residents of a wealthy city like Newport Beach would allow this spectacular view to be lost for the want of few pieces of silver.

Not everything is for sale is another universal truth. City Hall ? anywhere but here.

LES WILEY, Corona del Mar

Greater scrutiny is called for regarding Bill Ficker’s proposal to use the park land at the central library for a new Newport Beach City Hall.

These 12 acres were part of a swap between the Irvine Co. and the city. The Irvine Co. was granted permission to develop other open space in exchange for this open land, which was promised as a park. This was a contract and should be honored. Too often contracts like this are “forgotten” at a later date so that the land can be developed. With this mass amnesia, no one is held accountable for breaking trust.

Bill Ficker has a conflict of interest. While advocating the breaking of this contract with the city, he appoints himself as the architect for the project. Ficker is not a disinterested party. He wants the job.

There is a shortage of open space in Newport Beach. Many would point to the beaches as our open space. However, this is a misunderstanding. The beaches belong to everybody in California, to the whole United States ? in fact, to the world. We in Newport Beach share these beaches with all. The beaches are becoming increasingly overcrowded. Not surprising, since our population keeps increasing.

As Newport Beach becomes more crowded with increasing density, the need for open space becomes more urgent. Of course, once the land is developed, there is no turning back. When open space is gone, it is gone forever.

Let us treasure our park, in the midst of urban high rises. Let us honor our commitment to this open space.

SHIRLEY A. CONGER, Corona del Mar

Over the past few weeks, several readers have referred to several Newport Beach parks as “weed patches.”

Newport Beach should support diversity in its park designs and locations for all sorts of reasons. In any city, not everyone looks on nature and its beauty with the same perspective, nor do they all share the same needs for open space use. We should have parks as varied as our residents and as varied as our topography. There is room enough in Newport for passive parks and active parks; green parks and natural parks. Some I’ll like, and some you’ll like.

If you want parks with green turf grass, then support the proposal for Newport Center Park. This park proposal has ample turf grass areas for picnicking and other leisurely activities. It will be a great spot for library visitors and workers from surrounding business centers to ease back during an otherwise hectic day. And in recognition of environmental factors and concerns, a portion of the park is allocated to a more natural state, supporting its current flora and fauna.

What more can you ask for? A turf grass park that also is respectful of its natural surroundings is a gift that keeps on giving for generations to come.

JOHN REILLY and KAREN TRINGALI, Corona del Mar

We second the motion on Bill Ficker’s proposal for a new city hall for Newport Beach.

We vote for a civic center plaza in combination with a new city hall on the city-owned, centrally located property next to the city’s main library. At the city’s present stage of history and maturity, we feel that people are entitled to see a development rather than just another park or a remake for the present old City Hall property with its limitations and restrictions.

The adjoining public transportation hall is another place for this site.

We hope that with the use of proper foresight and good judgment, the City Council will encourage such a development, which would have much greater use for all the people and business interests of Newport Beach.

MR. And MRS. E.P. BENSON, Newport Beach

After watching the June 27 city council meeting last night, concerning the relocation of the city hall to the park site in Fashion Island, the only proposal put forth that made any sense at all was the proposal by Barry Allen to acquire the Irvine Co.’s Corporate Plaza site in Fashion Island through eminent domain. This idea was also later voiced by Allen Beek.

This would seem to be the perfect vehicle to acquire the very desirable site. Are we afraid of the Irvine Co.? What is going on here!

BILL GARRETT, Newport Beach

I say no to building the new city hall on the open space above the library. How many times do we have to fight the same battle? That land is designated for open space and should be kept for that purpose. There is no other available land to use for mitigation that is comparable to that site. The word “free” that Bill Ficker used in his proposal is a magic word. People hear it and accept it without question because they want to believe it, but a new city hall at that site would be far from free, as Tod Ridgeway pointed out in the Daily Pilot. Costs are rising; either get on with it or abandon the idea, rent some storage units for the files, put in validated parking for city hall visitors and make do.

ELAINE LINHOFF, Balboa

I, too, feel that Bill Ficker’s idea for the Avocado city hall location is a fine idea. Logically, it ends up with a more accessible location and saves the city millions. It even would provide for a much easier construction/transfer process than trying to run a city in the midst of construction.

Note that the new construction on the site would have to be very sensitive to the view issues of the neighbors across MacArthur ? and this must be studied with great care ? but at this point, this seems like an issue that can be carefully handled.

The location of the proposed park would likely attract virtually no one, devoid as it is of any connection to nature other than the “natural” heavy traffic that flows by. And not building the park saves money, too ? in construction and maintenance costs.

And speaking of traffic, maybe the city should consider another Ficker idea that he mentioned to me once about 30 years ago. Consideration should be given to a major restructuring of the Jamboree and Coast Highway intersection to take constructive advantage of the hill at that intersection. Bill’s idea was to have Coast Highway bridge Jamboree. Jamboree would go under Coast Highway at that intersection on its way down to Balboa Island, thus smoothing out traffic at the intersection and avoiding a traditional stop light there.

Ficker still is quicker and has been for a long, long time.

FRED FORSTER, Corona del Mar

The proposed relocation of the Newport Beach City Hall to and set aside for a public park is thoroughly unacceptable!

First, it would take away one of the few open areas left for future public use.

Second, it would compound an already over-congestion of traffic where Avocado, San Miguel and MacArthur converge.

Third, access/egress to/from the city hall would be a nightmare.

LEONARD URBAN, Corona del Mardpt.19-readers-cityhall-CPhotoInfoOL1T2UBB20060719j1umr6ncCredit: MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT Caption: (LA)A vacant lot above Newport Beach Central Library is a site possibility for the new Newport Beach City Hall.