SOUNDING OFF:City hall initiative does include park space

The current initiative petition regarding “A city hall within the park” is being circulated throughout Newport Beach for several significant reasons.

The most obvious and compelling reason is four of the existing City Council members refused to acknowledge the requests of hundreds of residents beseeching them to delay the so-called passive park plan until a study by staff or outside consultants could be done to determine the concept of building a new city hall on less than three acres of the 12.8-acre site adjacent to the Central Library.

These aforementioned residents’ requests were made at a City Council meeting and sent to council members via e-mail as well as postal letters along with letters published in the Daily Pilot. The City Council majority heard the outpouring but refused to listen.

Bill Ficker, a decades-long resident as well as a world-class architect, has, at his own self expense, developed this plan to build our new city hall on less than 25% of their planned park site with adequate structure parking — a much-applauded asset for the existing library.

There are so many logical and significant benefits to this plan — a perfectly central location. The city of Newport Beach owns the 12.8-acre site, which will save our community potentially millions of dollars. The neighborhood where I live, Harbor View Hills community, would have no view impact, which is protected by the city view plane ordinance.

The plan of our city hall within a well-designed open space park, adjacent to our Central Library and within walking distance of Corona del Mar, exudes a synergy of excellence for all of our residents.

Some of the letters as well as e-mails published or sent by those opposed to Ficker’s plan have stated the initiative has no plans for a proposed park. This is a sad mistruth! This concept started with a city hall in the park, and those plans will culminate with a city hall in the park.

One writer expressed his concern over the lack of an impact report. A reasonable answer is both the 65,000-square-foot Central Library and the Corona del Mar Plaza have passed whatever tests were required by our city, so it is not unreasonable to assume that an adjacent city hall would do the same.

It is not a matter of whether the city hall can go in this location; it will be what conditions might be required by the city. An important fact: This is a municipal facility for the good use of all of us, and it will be a net increase of 28,000 square feet, assuming a new 72,000-square-foot city hall over the existing 44,000-square-foot city hall.

Those on the City Council, who by their actions and inactions have brought this much-needed initiative to our citizens, have consistently talked about their integrity and commitment. I would remind them that there are critical times in our lives that, for the betterment of the vast majority of our community, their true commitment belongs to the 80,000 residents of Newport Beach. They had several opportunities to do the right thing, and they have insisted on making a poor choice. That is why this ballot initiative has come to be.

I applaud Bill Ficker for his unwavering energy as well as his world-class plan and welcome one of Newport Beach’s finest citizens to his team, Marion Bergeson.