“The kind of projects [the Sanitation District is] funding are really apple pie to our community,” she said. “It’s a pretty lean operation, and they’re funding issues of concern to our residents.”
Daigle cited the 2007 City of Newport Beach Community Survey, indicating Newport residents wanted their elected officials to emphasize better maintenance of the bay and ocean, and said she therefore acted on behalf of the expressed wishes of her constituents.
“The kinds of improvements that the fee increase will be funding are consistent with what the residents want the council to emphasize — maintenance of the bay and beaches,” she said in an e-mail. “Secondary treatment of sewage, too, will improve our water quality.”
Costa Mesa Representative and Sanitation District Chairman Jim Ferryman also voted for the increase, saying the funds would be useful in building a much-needed pump station for the county that would transfer sewage efficiently and cheaply. The central pump station would replace 21 separate stations the district uses now.
“This isn’t yet a done deal; it’s in its initial stages,” he said. “But, it will benefit Costa Mesa and Newport Beach immensely — it’s a real upgrade.”
“A big pump station is an extensive proposition, and we simply couldn’t do it without the sanitation district,” he added.
But other members on the board stood by their “no” vote on the measure, saying it was an exorbitant, abrupt strain on taxpayers that could be eased through long-term financial planning.
