Community Members:

E-bikes, propelled by electric motors, have emerged as an increasingly popular and eco-friendly mode of transportation. However, with their growing popularity, ensuring e-bike safety has become paramount.

As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our community, we invite residents to attend one of two upcoming free workshops on e-bike safety hosted by the Newport Beach Police Department.

The public workshops will be on Monday, October 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mariners Elementary School, 2100 Mariners Dr., and on Tuesday, October 3 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ensign Intermediate School, 2000 Cliff Dr. The public workshops are in addition to several student-only workshops being conducted at Ensign, Mariners and Corona del Mar High School.  

The e-bike safety workshops will cover essential topics such as:

• Safe riding practices. Learn how to navigate traffic, intersections and pedestrian areas safely to reduce the risk of collisions.
• Maintenance and inspection. Understand the importance of maintaining e-bikes in good working order to prevent accidents caused by mechanical failures.
• Helmets and protective gear.  Learn why helmets and other protective gear are of critical importance in reducing the severity of injuries in case of an accident.
• Local regulations. Get informed about e-bike regulations in our community to ensure that riders stay in compliance.
• Law enforcement. Learn how the Newport Beach Police Department is enforcing laws and regulations related to e-bikes.  

By attending a workshop, you not only enhance your own safety but contribute to a safer environment for everyone. We especially encourage parents, teachers and community leaders to bring young people and students, to help equip younger riders with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the roads safely. Together, we can ensure that e-bike rides in our community are more enjoyable, efficient and safe.

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

The Newport Beach Police Department will host the next Mobile Café event on Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at Peet's Coffee, 894 Avocado Ave. The event is hosted by Peet's and Sprinkles Cupcakes. 

The NBPD's Mobile Café events allow for relaxed, one-on-one interaction and an opportunity for community members to learn more about the department’s work. It is a comfortable setting to ask questions, bring concerns, build relationships, and get to know the officers who serve our community.

Please join us for coffee, cupcakes and conversation. We hope to see you there!

For questions, contact NBPD Sgt. Steve Oberon.

The City's online dashboards offer residents a convenient way to stay updated on many City-related activities in their neighborhoods.

The dashboards provide real-time information on development projects, active building permits (shown in screen capture), planning applications, short-term lodging rentals, code enforcement cases, recent police and fire service calls (up to 30 days), the public tree maintenance schedule, and more. The John Wayne Airport dashboard provides detailed data on flight paths, aircraft noise and aircraft weight.

Residents can filter the information by categories, specific neighborhoods, or City Council districts. The dashboards can be accessed at any time through desktop, laptop or mobile devices.

September is National Preparedness Month, serving as a critical reminder that we must be ready year-round to protect our homes, communities, businesses and loved ones from disasters of all types. 

For residents with pets, it is critical to include your furry friends in emergency planning. The Newport Beach Ready campaign offers resources and guidance on pet care, including:

• Sheltering. Before the emergency, make arrangements to shelter your animals at two different locations far apart from each other.
• Collar. Be sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars with securely fastened,
  current identification, including your telephone phone number and address.
• Training. Train both dogs and cats to feel comfortable entering and
  remaining in a crate for fast transportation during a disaster.
• Outdoor pets. Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of
  a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from
  home in a crisis.
• Pet kit and storage. Keep emergency pet leashes and other critical pet items clearly labeled in an accessible place and stored in sturdy containers that can
  be carried easily (duffel bags, covered trash containers, etc.)
  
  For more information please visit the City’s Disaster Preparedness Website or contact Emergency Services Coordinator Katie Eing at 949-644-3670.

The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.

This week, the Be Well team:

• Transported two people to the sobering station at the Be Well campus.
• Transported two people to a crisis stabilization facility to resolve mental health crises.
• Transported a person home after resolving a mental health crisis.
• Transported a person to a hospital for treatment after resolving a mental health crisis.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department's non-emergency line at 949-644-3717. 

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, September 26. Items of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda and reports can be viewed here.

A study session will begin at 4 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Corona del Mar Village commercial corridor land use and parking study. City staff will present information related to a potential economic development study for the CdM business corridor. The study may include measures to support existing businesses and attract new ones, address parking issues, and reduce impacts on residential neighborhoods. 
• Consideration of nightly closures of public restrooms. Staff will present options for future Council consideration related to the operational hours of public restroom facilities and potential nighttime closures. 

The regular meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Community Development Block Grant program annual performance and evaluation report. The Council will conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the 2022-23 program year prior to considering approval and submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  
• Approval of the City's 2023 water and sewer rate studies and setting a November 14 public hearing to consider related fee increases. The Council will consider recent rate studies that evaluated water delivery and sewer service charges. In recent years, costs have increased in every aspect of water and sewer systems, including the cost of buying and pumping water, operational increases, and the cost of maintenance and infrastructure. Customer fees are the only source of funding, as no taxes support Newport Beach's water and sewer systems. The studies recommend an updated rate schedule that increases the average household monthly rate by about $6 per month for water through 2028 and $2.20 - $3.50 for sewer charges through 2028. This agenda item does not increase water or sewer rates. Council members may approve the studies, direct staff to send a notice of proposed rates to customers in compliance with Proposition 218, and set a date of November 14 to hear public comment and consider the proposed rate increases. The water rate study and sewer rate study that informed the proposed changes are available to the public for review. Additional presentations and background information can be accessed for the water rate study here and the sewer rate study here.