Title
Certification of Referendum Petition on Resolution No. 2025-71 Approving a General Plan Amendment for the Snug Harbor Surf Park Project Located at 3100 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach, CA and Consideration of Council Action Options
Recommendation
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080, and Sections 15060(c)(1), (2) and (3) and 15378 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
b) Authorize City staff to prepare and execute a budget amendment, as needed, to implement the City Council’s selected course of action and to appropriate sufficient funds to cover associated costs based on the option approved by the City Council;
c) Accept the certification of the Orange County Registrar of Voters as to the verification of signatures of the Referendum Petition; and
d) Take one of the following actions:
(i) Adopt a Resolution Repealing City Council Resolution 2025-71;
(ii) Call a Special Municipal Election. By motion, decide whether to submit an argument against the proposed referendum (pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282) and, if submitting such an argument, designate the authors; and then adopt the following resolutions: (1) Resolution Calling for and Giving Notice of a Special Municipal Election to be held on June 2, 2026, for the Submission of a Referendum on Resolution No. 2025-71 Approving a General Plan Amendment for the Snug Harbor Surf Park Project Located at 3100 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach, California and Requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors Authorize the County Elections Official to Consolidate the Special Municipal Election with the Statewide Primary Election to be Held on the Same Date; (2) Resolution Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis of a Referendum to be Submitted to the Voters at the Special Municipal Election to be Held on June 2, 2026, and Providing for the Deadlines for Filing of the Impartial Analysis and Written Arguments For and Against the Referendum Measure; and (3) Resolution Setting the Deadlines for Filing of Rebuttal Arguments in Response to Direct Arguments Filed For and Against a Referendum to be Submitted to the Voters at the Special Municipal Election to be Held on June 2, 2026; or
(iii) Call a General Municipal Election. By motion, decide whether to submit an argument against the proposed referendum (pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282) and, if submitting such an argument, designate the authors; and then adopt the following resolutions: (1) Resolution Calling for and Giving Notice of a General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, for the Submission of a Referendum on Resolution No. 2025-71 Approving a General Plan Amendment for the Snug Harbor Surf Park Project Located at 3100 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach, California and Requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors Consolidate the General Municipal Election to be Held on the Same Date; (2) Resolution Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis of a Referendum to Be Submitted to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, and Providing for the Deadlines for Filing the Impartial Analysis and Written Arguments For and Against the Referendum Measure; and (3) Resolution Setting the Deadlines for Filing of Rebuttal Arguments in Response to Direct Arguments Filed For and Against a Referendum to be Submitted to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026.