Setting the Record Straight

By Dolores Otting

This is a position paper that Sets the Record Straight regarding issues that were brought up during the Campaign.

So here goes-

The Marines and the Marine Memorial-- I love the Marines. I married a Marine. I spoke in favor of a Memorial that that would honor all the Armed Services, not just the Marines. I spoke in favor of a Memorial that would honor all the men and women who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have many retired residents living in Newport Beach that served in the other Armed Forces- Navy, Army, Air force, Coast Guard, and National Guard + I thought we could have honored all of them- we area very generous Community.

The General Plan -- I voted NO on the General Plan because it did not include the zoning, and two (2) years later it still doesn't include zoning + In good conscience I could not vote for a plan which did not include zoning, a plan that left the property rights of the residents up in the air. The General Plan is still creating zoning issues that have yet to be made available to the public- take for instance the possibility of changing the zoning on Balboa Island from R1.5 to R2, is that something that they want, is that something they thought they voted on??? Time will tell.

JWA and the Spheres Agreement -- I firmly believe in the Containment of JWA and AirFair endorses me. I was not happy with the Spheres agreement the City approved and sent to the County Board of Supervisors for approval because it deleted the horse trail on Mesa Drive in Santa Ana Heights. What is ironic is that the Spheres agreement approved by the County Board of Supervisors took out the deletion of the horse trail- basically they had the same mindset as I did. I guess they also thought that the agreement was only about the Airport.

Measure X-- I supported Measure X, and due to that I heard could have stopped Nordstrom's from coming to Fashion Island. I have no recollection of Nordstrom's or Dick's Sporting Goods store being part of any Measure X campaign. It was all about traffic and not wanting more of it. Considering that traffic is the number 2 issue in Newport Beach behind the Group homes, I am glad that the public had the right to vote. I hold no grudge that Measure X failed.

Newport Center North -- I spoke against the process the City Council implemented not the deal with the Irvine Company for the Newport Center North project. I opposed the process not the development agreement. The City Council implemented the use of an Addendum to the General Plan, which I disagreed with. This is a complicated issue, so please bear with me. The public had just voted on the new General Plan that stated that there would be no additional "Office" in Newport Center but instead Commercial. I can remember many evening City Council meetings where they were making changes on the `fly' and taking out "Office" from the General Plan any where they could since they felt Office is what generated trips and traffic, and they needed to cut trips.

Now, here we are saying that we can change the land use designation we just voted on from commercial back to office with only an addendum? I disagreed and expressed my facts. I felt they should have done an Amendment to the General Plan, which would have then in turn warranted a supplemental EIR which would have then had taken public input. I hold no ill will and knowing that The Irvine Company builds only the best of the best, I am sure the Center will be even gorgeous!

Ironic how we all forget that `Defend the Bay' ended up pursuing litigation on the basis that there was not adequate study done on water and runoff and settled receiving approximately $3 million plus dollars that went to the City of Newport Beach for Water Run Off mitigation.... Yeah!

Landscaped Mediums-- I do not oppose landscaped mediums. I do feel that the health and safety of the residents should come first. There is nothing should impede an ambulance from making its way to HOAG or CHOC hospital. We need cut outs in the medians. It is basic common sense. Any caring person can see the logic and agree.

Marina Park-- I spent 6 months of my life collecting signatures to keep Marina Park as the last "Window to the Bay". I spent 6 months of my life collecting signatures to ensure that the Window of the Bay would preserve the last view of the Bay for the next generation. I feel as a Community and a City there are times when the job of the Public is to preserve Public Views for the public- not only the public of today, but also the Public of tomorrow and the tomorrow after that. In a nutshell, Measure L collected signatures based on the spirit and belief that there would be an Aquatic Center and place where residents from all over the City could come and hand launch vessels. I feel the commercial, visitor serving docks are a great idea, however pouring enough cement on the last view of the bay to build a building the size of the Balboa Pavillion really leaves a lot to be desired. It certainly doesn't leave a view of the water, bay, or mountains for anyone.

Compressed Natural Gas-- I questioned locating the CNG facility at the General Services yard because I did not feel it was the best location. As a person who always thinks of health and safety first, I was concerned that if there were an explosion it would impact Newport Blvd. and Superior and therefore impact the evacuation routes for not only the residents of the Peninsula and West Newport, but also of HOAG and the new facility they are building. Long Beach did not locate their CNG facility at the - If there was an explosion it would impact the - I thought the end of 16th street was preferable- I hold no grudge

This is a democracy where diversity of thought always results in better decisions. Please visit my website at www.doloresotting.us for more information.

Thank you for your vote on November 4th, 2008. A vote for me is a vote for you!