Judge rejects legal effort to stop City Hall ballot measure

An Orange County District Court judge on Friday ruled against a temporary restraining order that would get a measure on the proposed Newport Beach city hall off the ballot in February.

If voters approve the measure to build the city hall next to the central library on Avocado Avenue then the judge will hear arguments on the lawsuit.

“I think the judge is hoping we will win the election, and we are going to do our best to get him off the hook so he doesn’t have to make a decision about it,” said Newport Beach resident Allan Beek, who filled the lawsuit last month.

Beek is named as the only party in the suit that alleges the February ballot measure is illegal because it leaves the city hall issue up to voters. The suit claims only City Council has the power to make a decision on the matter.

James Lacey, an attorney for the group City Hall in the Park, which wrote the ballot measure, said Friday said he doubted the lawsuit would keep the measure tied up in court if it passes.

“A judge is going to be very deferential to the wishes of the voters,” Lacey said.

If passed, the measure would change the city charter to require city hall to be built next to the central library on Avocado Avenue. A 1992 agreement with the Irvine Co. designated part of the site as open space, and the majority of the council has rejected using it for a city hall. The group City Hall in the Park collected enough signatures earlier this year to qualify the measure for the ballot. Among other issues, the group contends the site next to the central library is the best place for the next city hall because the city already owns the land.