NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are some items the council will consider tonight.

CENTENNIAL SPENDING

The council will consider whether to pump $350,000 into the account for the centennial celebration to cover final costs. The yearlong celebration of the city’s 100th birthday will end with a beach party and concert Oct. 8.

A report showed centennial activities are ultimately expected to cost $1.18 million, and the city has raised $722,740 in donations and revenue from events. The final $350,000 from the city would cover costs of the beach party and any last-minute expenses.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is likely to approve the money, with the beach party coming up soon and projections showing the city coming out in the black.

TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN

While studying requests from several neighborhoods to slow traffic, city officials decided they needed universal criteria that could apply to all requests for speed bumps, traffic circles and other traffic calming measures. So a committee created a first-time program of citywide guidelines for neighborhood traffic management.

The program outlines how residents can request traffic calming for their neighborhood and what steps will be taken to evaluate the request. The council will decide whether to adopt the new program.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members asked at an August study session that the program be brought to a vote, so they probably are ready to approve it.

SPHERE ISSUES

City officials have again delayed discussion of the “sphere issues” — a set of issues that form a new pact with Orange County, giving Newport more control over John Wayne Airport, Newport Dunes, the Santa Ana Heights redevelopment funds and other areas.

City Manager Homer Bludau has been in talks with the county for two years to hammer out details of the pact, but issues keep cropping up to delay final approval. The sphere issues agreement was on today’s council agenda, but Bludau asked that it be postponed.

Compiled by Alicia Robinson

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. todaytuesday

WHERE: City Council chambers, City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

FYI: (949) 644-3005 or www.city.newport-beach.ca.us