Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
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Minutes
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
4:00 PM
STUDY SESSION- 4:00 PM (PUBLIC WELCOME)
Council Chambers
City Council
LAUREN KLEIMAN, Mayor
NOAH BLOM, Mayor Pro Tem
MICHELLE BARTO, Councilmember
ROBYN GRANT, Councilmember
JOE STAPLETON, Councilmember
SARA J. WEBER, Councilmember
ERIK WEIGAND, Councilmember
SEIMONE JURJIS, City Manager
AARON C. HARP, City Attorney
LENA SHUMWAY, City Clerk
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
I. ROLL CALL - 4:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Lauren Kleiman, Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom, Councilmember Michelle Barto, Councilmember Robyn Grant, Councilmember Joe Stapleton, Councilmember Sara J. Weber, Councilmember Erik Weigand.
INVOCATION
The invocation was led by Councilmember Barto.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Blom.
II. PRESENTATIONS
• Public Works Week Proclamation
Mayor Kleiman read the proclamation designating May 17 through May 23, 2026, as National Public Works Week, recognizing the 66th annual observance sponsored by the American Public Works Association. Public Works Director David Webb and Utilities Director Mark Vukojevic accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Public Works Department and thanked the City Council for its continued support of infrastructure investment.
STUDY SESSION
• Self -Certification Building Permit Program
City Manager Seimone Jurjis introduced the item as part of an ongoing effort to improve customer service in the permitting process. Community Development Director Jaime Murillo and Deputy Community Development Director Tonee Thai presented a proposed voluntary self - certification building permit program. Community Development Director Murillo explained that the program would allow qualified, licensed architects —holding ICC certification and demonstrating prior experience with City projects —to self -certify code and zoning compliance for lower -risk projects such as non-structural tenant improvements and residential ADUs, bypassing traditional plan check review. Key safeguards would include full building inspections, liability and indemnification agreements, and a disqualification mechanism for violations.
Community Development Director Murillo noted an anticipated time savings of two to four months and reduced plan check costs for applicants. He also addressed the potential future use of AI -based code compliance tools as a pre-screening resource. Staff identified potential concerns including architect reluctance to assume full liability and increased burden on field inspectors.
Councilmember Weigand expressed support, noting the program would benefit residents who are often frustrated by permitting delays, and that a qualified pool of local architects already performing Newport Beach work would develop naturally over time.
Public Comment
Adam Leverenz expressed support for easing regulatory burdens while appreciating the retained oversight measures and cautioned against unchecked self -certification based on an example from Humboldt County.
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
Ana Gromis (Building Industry Association of Southern California, Orange County Chapter) commended the City for its forward -thinking approach and encouraged starting small before expanding scope.
Denys Oberman (Resident) praised the community development department's professionalism and suggested adding electrical and mechanical thresholds as eligibility criteria, engaging insurance carriers, and implementing a structured pilot period of 12 to 18 months.
Jim Mosher (Resident) asked for clarification on whether Council approval was required or whether this was an administrative decision, and whether a formal vote would be taken at a future meeting.
The City Council expressed support for the program through a straw vote (7-0-0).
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA AND NON -AGENDA ITEMS
Former Mayor Nancy Gardner commended City staff who attended the Corona del Mar Residents Association meeting, praising their enthusiasm and effectiveness as community ambassadors.
Jim Mosher (Resident) concurred and raised a procedural point regarding the upcoming Finance Committee budget review meeting, noting that the five non -committee council members are welcome to attend as observers.
Coeli Hylkema (Mooring Permit Holder) expressed concerns about proposed mooring fee increases of 300 to 500 percent and the potential elimination of mooring transferability and questioned the equity of fee treatment between mooring permit holders and residential pier permit holders.
Adam Leverenz raised a transparency concern regarding the Harbor Commission agenda not being accessible via the City's standard website links, noting the issue was corrected after being brought to staffs attention.
Axel (Resident) representing Creek Team OC, urged Newport Beach to support a county -level transition to an organic -first approach to herbicide application, citing violations by Orange County Public Works in waterways flowing into Newport Back Bay.
Steven Gerard Sidlovsky advocated for the City to adopt a resolution declaring Newport Beach a safe pre -born personhood city.
CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ORAL REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL ON
COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
Councilmember Weigand recognized Public Works staff for promptly responding on a Saturday morning to address non -organic mulch debris discovered at Castaways Park.
Councilmember Grant reported on attending the Boys and Girls Club of Central Orange Coast 2026 Impact Summit, highlighting the organization's partnership with the City in EastBluff since 1971.
Councilmember Weber announced Armed Forces Day at the Field of Honor at Castaways Park on Saturday May 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM, and a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25 at 12:00 PM.
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
Councilmember Stapleton echoed recognition of the Corona del Mar Residents Association event, congratulated local yacht clubs on their opening days, and reminded the public of the Finance Committee meeting taking place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
Mayor Kleiman congratulated Ben Zdeba on his promotion to Deputy City Manager.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no public comments on consent calendar items.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Kleiman announced that staff requested to pull Item No. 4 from the Consent Calendar for consideration at a later date.
Councilmember Stapleton stated that he had a conflict on Agenda Item No. 11 based on his interest in his personal residence.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom noted a conflict on Agenda Item No. 5 based on his interest in 224 Marine Avenue.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom moved, seconded by Councilmember Barto, to approve the Consent Calendar, including amendments to Item No. 2 (Minutes), and excluding Item No. 4; noting Mayor Pro Tem Blom's conflict on Agenda Item No. 5 based on his interest in 224 Marine Avenue, and Councilmember Stapleton's conflict on Agenda Item No. 11 based on his interest in his personal residence.
The motion carried by the following vote: 7-0-0
Ayes: Councilmember Barto, Mayor Pro Tem Blom, Councilmember Grant, Mayor Kleiman, Councilmember Stapleton, Councilmember Weber, and Councilmember Weigand
READING OF MINUTES AND ORDINANCES
1. Reading of Ordinances
2. Minutes for the April 28, 2026, City Council Meeting
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
3. OASIS Senior Center Site Lighting Phase 2 - Notice of Completion for Contract No. 9009-3 (26F02)
4. Fire Station No.2 HVAC Retrofit - Notice of Completion for Contract No. 9959-1 (25R02) — Item pulled from the Consent Calendar for future consideration
5. Approval of Professional Services Agreement with X Engineering & Consulting, Inc. for the AD 124 Alley Restoration Design Services -Contract No. 9451-4 Mayor Pro Tem Blom recused himself on Agenda Item 5 due to his interest in 224 Marine Avenue.
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
6. Approval of Equipment Replacement Purchase Orders for One Hydro Excavator Truck and One Sewer Cleaner Truck
7. Approval of Purchase Order with Pinnacle Petroleum, Inc. for Fuel
8. Pump Station Commercial Door Replacement - Award of Contract No. 9888-1 (25F03)
9. Professional Services Agreement with Aleshire & Wynder, LLP, JLGroup, LLC, and Richard D. Jones dba Jones Mayer for Hearing Adjudication Services
10. Amended and Restated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit Implementation Agreement - Approval
11. Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Sampson Oil Company for Oil Well Management Services
Councilmember Stapleton recused himself on Agenda Item 11 due to his interest in his personal residence.
MISCELLANEOUS
12. Set a Public Hearing for the City's 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan
13. Acceptance of Proposition 69 Reimbursement
ACTION: MOVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR, EXCEPT FOR
THOSE ITEMS REMOVED
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Fire Station No.2 HVAC Retrofit - Notice of Completion for Contract No. 9959-1 (25R02) - Item pulled from the Consent Calendar for consideration at a later date.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. Resolution No. 2026-27: Notice of Intent to Override Airport Land Use Commission Finding of Inconsistency for Amendment to Newport Place Planned Community Development Plan Related to the Minimum Percentage of Inclusionary For -Sale Housing within the Residential Overlay (PA2025-0196)
Councilmember Stapleton recused himself due to a real property conflict. Mayor Kleiman recused herself as well due to her husband having received income from business relations with Intracorp involving projects outside the City.
Mayor Kleiman turned the meeting over to Mayor Pro Tern Blom.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom presided. No staff report was requested and no public comments were received.
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
Mayor Pro Tem Blom moved, seconded by Councilmember Weber to, a) Conduct a public hearing; b) Find the proposed overriding action is not subject to CEQA pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and c) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Notifying the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission and the State Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Program of the City's Intention to Find that an Amendment to the Newport Place Planned Community Development Plan (PC-11) to Revise the Minimum Inclusionary For -Sale Housing Percentage Required within the Residential Overlay is Consistent with the Purposes of the State Aeronautics Act and Overrule the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's Determination that the Amendment is Inconsistent with the 2008 John Wayne Airport Environs Land Use Plan (PA2025-0196).
The motion carried by the following vote: 5-0-2 (Councilmember Stapleton and Mayor Kleiman recused)
Ayes: Councilmember Barto, Mayor Pro Tem Blom, Councilmember Grant, Councilmember Weber, and Councilmember Weigand
15. Ordinance No. 2026-04: Amending Newport Beach Municipal Code Section 3.36.030 Related to Cost Recovery Percentages, and Resolution No. 2026-28: Revising and Adopting Fees Within the Schedule of Rents, Fines and Fees
Budget Analyst Abigail Marin presented the City's annual rotational fee study, covering the Community Development, Fire, and Police Departments, as reviewed and recommended by the Finance Committee on April 16. Notable changes included: new a -bike impound release fees in the Police Department; introduction of a care facility lift assist fee in the Fire Department (with one free assist per calendar year before full cost recovery applies); removal of the standalone emergency ambulance transportation fee; a phased 6% annual increase to the Junior Lifeguard program fee toward full cost recovery; updated short-term lodging permit fees; and a new parking penalty for California Vehicle Code crosswalk violations per Assembly Bill 413. The proposed updates are projected to generate approximately $937,000 in additional annual revenue, with most fees effective July 1, 2026, and building and development fees effective July 25, 2026, per Government Code Section 66017.
Councilmember Weigand noted there was no increase to the MEDICS program and took the opportunity to encourage all residents to enroll in the program.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom and Councilmember Weigand both spoke in support of the Junior Lifeguard fee increase, noting the program remains a strong value and that complementary scholarship and foundation resources exist for lower -income participants.
Mayor Kleiman expressed support for the new care facility lift assist fee structure and
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
requested that staff explore full or partial cost recovery for administrative cite and parking hearings in a future study.
Public Comment:
Jim Mosher (Resident) noted the complexity of the fee schedule and identified several apparent gaps, including a missing fee for the a -bike diversion program, the absence of fees for city tree removal requests and related appeals under the recently amended tree policy, and questioned the policy rationale for pursuing full cost recovery for the Junior Lifeguard program while not charging for CERT or Citizens Police Academy participation.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom moved, seconded by Councilmember Weber to, a) Conduct a public hearing; b) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; c) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-28, A Resolution of the City of Newport Beach, California, Revising and Adopting Fees Within the Schedule of Rents, Fines and Fees; and d) Introduce Ordinance No. 2026-04, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Amending Section 3.36.030 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code Related to Cost Recovery Percentages.
The motion carried by the following vote: 7-0-0
Ayes: Councilmember Barto, Mayor Pro Tern Blom, Councilmember Grant, Mayor Kleiman, Councilmember Stapleton, Councilmember Weber, and Councilmember Weigand
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16. Resolution No. 2026-29: Dissolving the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee and Creating the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Advisory Committee Acting Deputy Community Development Director Ben Zdeba outlined the background of the police headquarters evaluation effort initiated in 2025, noting that the prior three -member Council Assessment Committee had reviewed potential sites, culminating in a March 10 study session where staff was directed to continue evaluating the Civic Center campus while keeping other locations in consideration. The proposed Advisory Committee would consist of three Council members and four residents, including two qualified members (one in real estate financing, one in construction management/architecture/land use) and two at -large members, charged with evaluating the feasibility of the Civic Center campus, assessing cost and design, and making a recommendation to City Council.
Mayor Kleiman proposed clarifying language to reflect that the new committee's scope would extend to all three sites under consideration —the Civic Center campus at 100 Civic Center Drive, 1201 Dove Street in the airport area, and the existing headquarters at 870
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
Santa Barbara Drive —and that the committee's purpose be to discuss, assess, and obtain public input rather than be limited to a pure feasibility determination. Mayor Kleiman also proposed extending the application period beyond the one week specified in the draft resolution.
Councilmember Grant expressed support for the committee reform but urged that the scope be expanded to restart the site selection process entirely, beginning from a blank slate and considering all potential sites citywide rather than the three already identified.
Councilmember Grant also requested that the committee, rather than the Mayor, appoint its own chair and vice chair as a transparency measure.
City Manager Seimone Jurjis clarified that the $1.5 million previously allocated for Civic Center campus study had not been altered by this action, and any expansion of scope would require the advisory committee to bring recommendations back to the full Council.
Councilmember Stapleton and Councilmember Weigand expressed general support for the resolution, noting that the committee could surface additional sites and bring them forward to Council, and that the full Council retains confirmation authority over all appointments.
Public Comment:
Adam Leverenz expressed appreciation for the inclusion of citizen members while encouraging serious consideration of police substations as an alternative to a single large facility and noted strong public opposition to the Civic Center park site.
Ron Rubino (Resident) requested that all four options from the original scope of work (including a site across from the Civic Center) remain under consideration, called for the committee's meetings to be open, televised, and include interim public check -ins, and suggested recruiting a member with direct experience building a police facility.
Walter Stahr urged that the word "advisability" be added alongside "feasibility" in the committee's charge, so that the committee could address whether the Civic Center park site is a good idea, not merely whether it is technically possible.
Former Mayor Keith Curry argued that the Civic Center park site should be formally removed from consideration given its cost, operational, environmental, and community opposition issues, and suggested that several Council members had already publicly endorsed the park site while dismissing Dove Street and Santa Barbara as real options.
Nancy Skinner (Resident) urged the Council to take the park option off the table entirely and avoid spending $1.5 million on a study for an unpopular site.
Andrew Gerken (Resident) expressed concern that the committee member selection process was not sufficiently representative of the public and suggested a more randomized or broadly representative approach.
City Council Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting
May 12, 2026
Jim Mosher (Resident) recommended the City follow its charter process for citizen advisory bodies, called for all seven Council members to review applications rather than delegating solely to the Mayor, and suggested including an environmental expert among the qualified member slots if the Civic Center park remains in consideration.
Evelyn Kroner (Resident) spoke in support of preserving the Civic Center park, noting the historical significance of open space in the area and the growing density of approved housing nearby.
Motion by Mayor Kleiman, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Blom to a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA guidelines because this action will not result in a direct or indirect physical change to the environment; and b) Adopt Resolution No. 2026- 29, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Dissolving the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee, and Creating the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Advisory Committee with the following changes for the scope of the committee: discuss, assess and solicit public input on the Civic Center Campus, 1201 Dove Street, and 870 Santa Barbara Drive as potential sites for a new Newport Beach Police Department headquarters and change deadline for applications from date of publication of the notice to two (2) weeks.
The motion carried by the following vote: 7-0-0
Ayes: Councilmember Barto, Mayor Pro Tern Blom, Councilmember Grant, Mayor Kleiman, Councilmember Stapleton, Councilmember Weber, and Councilmember Weigand
VII. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
There were no motions for reconsideration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m. in memory of Debra Allen.