City Council - Special Meeting

Tuesday, August 18, 2026Official site

The City Council heard extensive public comments opposing a proposed undergrounding utility project in Newport Heights and discussed ballot questions for citizen-sponsored charter amendments. The council also voted to support classifying lifeguards as first responders and authorized an appeal related to the charter amendment lawsuit.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Newport Beach, CA
Meeting Date
August 18, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

26 sections

0:15 – 0:30•Lauren Kleiman

The time is 5 o'clock and I will call to order the August 18th special City Council meeting. Madam clerk roll call please. All council members present. Madam clerk, please read the notice regarding public comments on agenda and non agenda items.

1:12 – 1:45•Lauren Kleiman

We will now proceed with public comments on all agenda and non-agenda items. Please note that members of the public will still have an opportunity to comment on agenda items during current business and closed session later in the meeting, provided they do not comment on those items at this time. A speaker who comments on any calendar item will not be permitted to comment again later in the meeting. Is there anyone wishing to speak? Agenda or non-agenda. Please come forward. Thank you.

14:29•Lauren Kleiman

Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please.

22:41•Lauren Kleiman

Any other speakers? Oh, please come forward.

23:48 – 24:03•Lauren Kleiman

Thank you. Any other speakers at this time? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, do we have anyone online? Mr. Jurgis, given the number of speakers on the undergrounding issue, do you want to just offer some words of clarification?

24:48 – 25:01•Lauren Kleiman

Thank you Mister churches will now move on to our consent agenda has one item on it this evening is there anyone from the public that would like to speak on the consent item.

31:04 – 31:15•Lauren Kleiman

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT ITEM? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, IS THERE ANYONE ONLINE? Council member Wagon.

31:16 – 32:46•Erik Weigand

Yeah, seeing that this is the only consent calendar item. I don't think I have to pull it, but we're already here on being discussing the item. Mr. Moser brings up some valid question about perhaps another bill that's running. I'd like to add that if that's possible, Mr. Attorney. And then as far as needing a fiscal analysis on this, this is simply just whether something that we've left out of our legislative platform. So every year the council adopts a legislative platform that says if X, Y, and Z are covered, then bill or letters of support or opposition can automatically go out from the cit

32:46•Lauren Kleiman

Are we OK procedurally since there's only one consent agenda item we weren't really supposed to discuss?

33:00•Noah Blom

Thank you very much, Mr. Rupp. I'd like to move consent to include the adjustment from Councilmember Wiegand.

33:08•Lauren Kleiman

Do I have a second? Nope, I think Councilmember Bartow beat you to it. Okay, let's go ahead and vote.

33:29•Lauren Kleiman

We'll now move to current business. Item number two relates to the proposed ballot questions for three citizen-sponsored charter amendment initiatives. Mr. Harp, do you have a staff report?

35:33 – 35:59•Erik Weigand

Yes, I just want to ask a question to our city attorney on the last two related to districts and term limits. Does that reset the clock for the existing councils? So say I run for reelection here coming up and say I'm successful. Maybe I won't be. Maybe I will be. But if I am successful, does that mean the calendar is reset so I can run for two more terms in addition for both of those should they pass?

36:39•Lauren Kleiman

Seeing no other hands raised up here, we'll go out to the public.

39:41•Lauren Kleiman

Thank you. Any other speakers on this item? Madam Clerk, anyone online?

39:58 – 40:21•Robyn Grant

Just quickly, I'm not opposed to the clarification in the first measure that was offered by Mr. Mosier that we add the term of these provisions. So I guess I would make a substitute motion to add that in. I think it does clarify it minimally, but enough that it adds something to it.

40:21•Lauren Kleiman

We don't have a motion on the table yet.

40:23•Robyn Grant

Well, that's my opinion that we should add that.

40:28•Lauren Kleiman

Any other comments up here? Or a motion?

40:38 – 40:50•Robyn Grant

I'll make that motion then, that we move forward with all three provisions as modified in the first provision, adding of these provisions to be adopted, of these provisions.

41:39•Robyn Grant

Noted. Then I'll withdraw that. Mayor Pro Temblan?

41:47 – 43:55•Noah Blom

Well, thank you, and I was very thankful for Mr. Mosier to support me for another eight years up here. That was wonderful of you, sir. We've had a great time together. Unfortunately, my wife might actually murder me, and that is on the public record now, so we'll all know if anything happens to me. Shy of that, you know, I... I love a good special meeting as much as all of us out here. That's why I wore flip flops today. We're sitting out here looking at something that puts us in a very precarious position We are stewards, and I actually laugh sometimes at the name of the group that is fightin

43:57•Lauren Kleiman

We have a motion and a second. Let's go ahead and vote.

44:28•Lauren Kleiman

Are there any motions for reconsideration? Seeing none, we'll move to public comments on closed session. Do we have anyone who wants to speak on closed session?

44:45•Lauren Kleiman

Mr. Hart, please announce our closed session items.

45:07 – 45:57•Lauren Kleiman

Okay, we are adjourned to closed. Mr. Hart, do we have a closed session report?

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.