Council Approves Pay Cut, 'Free' Right Turns and a Tourism Contract

The Newport Beach City Council met this week. Here are the highlights:

• The City Council approved an amendment to City Manager Dave Kiff's contract, which essentially requires him to contribute more toward
  his retirement and reduces the amount of leave time he accrues, resulting in a savings to the city. At the meeting, Councilman Steve Rosansky thanked Kiff for agreeing to the new terms. "He essentially took a pay cut in order to align his contract. I commend him for doing so and setting an example for the rest of the organization."

• The City Council unanimously approved "free" right turn striping and sign design templates for bicycle lanes. According to a staff report, free right turn pockets are those that allow a vehicle to turn from one street to another without stopping, except to yield to others (pedestrians, bicycles or vehicles) already within the intersection.

• Cynthia Cowell, director of the Newport Beach Public Library, presented two checks totaling $381,000 from the Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library and to the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation to the library. "This is the generosity of  a lot of people in our community who love our library," she said. The funds will go toward new monitors, materials for the new media lab, collection materials and more.

• Newport Beach voted 6-1 to hire former City Attorney David Hunt as an outside contractor less than one month after his departure. One council member was to the decision.

• The City Council unanimously approved a new contract with . Under the agreement, the city will appoint a member to the agency's board, has the right to audit and the right for approval of its $2.7-million budget. "Our tourism industry, which some people believe is inconvenient and not essential, is absolutely essential to the services we enjoy in the city," Councilman Keith Curry said. "It produces $14 million that support the Police Department, the Fire Department, the library department and the parks and recreation department. Visit Newport has done an exceptional job in a tough economy."

• Save the Date! The 50th Annual Sand Castle Contest will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. Big Corona Beach. On Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m., the Ronald Reagan statue dedication will be held at Bonita Canyon Sports Park.

During the public comments section of the meeting, a resident talked about Haeyoon Miller, who was killed when a tree toppled onto her car and crushed her earlier this month. He read messages left at the roadside memorial.