NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING PREVIEW

Here are some items the board will consider tonight:

PLANNING COMMISSIONER

In November, Planning Commissioner Michael Henn was elected to the City Council, leaving a vacancy on the planning board. The council will vote tonight to appoint a replacement on the Planning Commission for Henn, whose term expires June 30, 2009.

At its last meeting, the council confirmed the nominations of Timothy Stoaks and Bradley Hillgren. Stoaks is an architect for the pharmaceutical company Allergan, while Hillgren has been the chief executive of the Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group since 1986.

WHAT TO EXPECT

No saying how the council will vote. Councilman Don Webb, who was on the interview panel, said both Stoaks and Hillgren were excellent candidates.

“I think both of them are very qualified,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m not sure I’ve totally made up my mind.”

TRAFFIC SIGNALS

The City Council recently conceived a traffic signal modernization project to upgrade technology at the city’s intersections. Among the project’s goals are replacing the master traffic-signal computer controller at City Hall, putting new field equipment at the city’s 105 signalized intersections and installing a closed-circuit television system for remote monitoring.

At tonight’s meeting, the council will vote to approve a contract with Iteris, Inc., of Anaheim to design the first phase of the project. The price tag is $263,215.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will approve the contract.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

WHEN: Tonight at 7 p.m., with study session at 4 p.m.

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

INFO: Call (949) 644-3005 or visit www.city.newport-beach.ca.us