READERS RESPOND

Yes, put it on the ballot. I don’t believe our council is doing its job on that one.

LINDA MARTIN

Newport Beach

No. The City Council has voted on this at least three times with the same results. The site should remain as it was designated — as a park. We were told by the council at one recent meeting that this site would be removed from further consideration. This decision needs to be honored. There are a few other options for the location of the city hall — perhaps Mr. Ficker should put his talent and effort into developing a plan for one of these.

KATHY HOFFMAN

Corona del Mar

I am adamantly opposed to having it go on the ballot and am against having a park there because of incredible traffic problems in that area.

HELEN DAWN

Corona del Mar

I don’t understand why they can’t dissolve the grass in front of the present city hall and put the building that they want added to the existing city hall. I would think they could get plenty of square footage — and maybe they could have parking underneath it. However, if it’s a matter of using the present library area, I would be for that if they can’t make the grass in front of the city hall work.

FRANK EISENDRATH

Newport Beach

By all means, let the residents of Newport vote on the city hall issue. I completely agree with Bill Ficker’s idea to locate that new city hall in the area by the central library.

TONI FOX

Corona del Mar

Both my husband and I are very anxious to have the city hall done over at the park where Mr. Ficker suggested it, and I would like to see it on the ballot if that’s the only way we can get it done.

LINDA WEST

Newport Beach

I think Bill Ficker has the right idea. I believe that the city hall should be located next to the library. The results of the city doing any construction has always been very slow. It takes two to three times as long as they say, so it would be logical to go to a vacant lot where there is adequate room.

J.B. LARSON

Corona del Mar

Yes, I want to see the city hall built on that parkland that the city owns in Newport Beach in the Fashion Island area.

EVE HOLMGREN

Newport Beach

I vote no on putting it on the ballot. We have an elected city government, and I believe that ballot-box planning is not effective, nor is it good for the city.

PHILLIP LUGAR

Newport Beach

City Hall is an office building — a place where people, hired by Newport Beach are paid to work and provide services for the citizens of Newport Beach. Nothing more.

City Hall should not be constructed in an area that will be detrimental to the citizens of Newport Beach for whom they are paid to work.

Newport Central Park is an area that will be enjoyed by all the people of Newport Beach.

Once turned into an office building, this area will be lost for all time.

A city hall on the Avocado Avenue site will affect the area with people and traffic so heavy that it will be impossible to manage. This density problem already exists.

There is a reason that the Irvine Co.y was not allowed to put office buildings in this area. Newport Beach would not allow them to do so.

Some people have very short memories — their goal being only to build a monument to themselves.

Build city hall out by the airport. Or possibly on some of the newly acquired land that has come to the city. County land, airport area property or even the proposed park at Sunset Ridge would all be perfect places for an office building.

JIM WARREN

Corona del Mar

It is and always has been a dumb idea to put the city hall on the Avocado Avenue site.

BILL DAVENPORT

Corona del Mar

I think it is premature to consider putting city hall in Newport Center Park on the February ballot.

The City Council is considering a site nearby, across the street from the park at the Orange County Transportation Authority site.

The transportation authority’s property offers a number of advantages, not the least of which is the public gets to keep its view park at Newport Center Park above the library, with spectacular views of the ocean and coastline all the way to Palos Verde.

The county land also appears to have willing partners in the transportation authority and the Irvine Co. Certainly this site deserves full consideration before giving up dedicated open space and losing park land. As populations continue to grow, we should retain our park and open spaces. Once gone, they’re gone forever.

JAN VANDERSLOOT

Newport Beach

The park land was given to the city of Newport Beach by the Irvine Co. to be used as a park.

The council has voted three times to reject a city hall on the property. Does Mr. Ficker understand the word “no”? Since he has not been elected by the citizens of Newport Beach, it is time he respected the voting of our elected officials.

JIM AND JANET MURPHY

Corona del Mar

Just what we need is one more initiative. If Bill Ficker wants to build a city hall where he wants it, why doesn’t he run for City Council?

I. BLACK

Newport Beach