CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

CDMHS PTA Takes Interest in Tonight’s Council Meeting; Parking Lot Funds On Agenda

With more than $1 million in possible parking lot improvement funds on the line at tonight’s Newport Beach City Council meeting, Corona del Mar High School’s PTA representatives are trying to rally members to attend the meeting to show support of the plan.

The money under consideration is bond funds generated by homeowners in Bonita Canyon, an area within the high school’s attendance boundary. The bond money must be used for specific city or school improvements, and the district is asking for $1 million to improve the Corona del Mar middle school and high school lots.

According to a city staff report, which can be seen here, the staff is recommending that the Council take $100,000 of the funds for improvements to the Bonita Canyon Sports Park, and to transfer $1,031,884 to a Newport-Mesa Unified School District for the parking lot project.

“They will be bringing this item up for action again,” according to an PTA email that was sent to members this week. “If you are available to come to the council meeting, please do.”

The staff report says the park improvements would include improvements to shade structures, safety surfacing at the tot lot, landscaping and more.

The high school parking plan would move three tennis courts to make room for 121 extra parking places in the main lot. Future construction at the school would reduce the final count to 80 extra spots, according to a letter from a district official that is included in the staff report. The item had been continued from the Feb. 23 and March 9 council meetings.

The City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Central Library’s Friends Room at 1000 Avocado Ave. The location was changed from Council Chambers after a faulty beam caused the chambers to be yellow tagged; read our story here.