BREAKING NEWS: City Council to Consider Possible Repeal and Restart of “Safety Enhancement” Ordinance at Tomorrow’s Council Meeting

Tomorrow’s Newport Beach City Council agenda (March 24, 2026) includes a closed-session item in which the Council will confer with legal counsel regarding a March 11, 2026 Brown Act “cure and correct” demand letter from Beaches for All–California. The agenda describes the letter as alleging a Brown Act violation tied to the February 10, 2026 City Council meeting and Agenda Item No. 3, “Safety Enhancement Zones and Enforcement During Peak Activity Periods,” specifically regarding an amendment to Municipal Code Section 11.08.020 (Use of Shade Coverings). The “Brown Act” is California’s local government transparency law.

In plain terms, the March 11 letter argues that the February 10 agenda description framed the action as a safety enforcement measure for “Spring Break” and other high-risk periods, but the Council’s action included introducing Ordinance No. 2026-2 to permanently reduce the maximum allowable size of beach shade structures (from 10’x10’ to 6’x6’) and that the agenda did not clearly disclose the permanent, year-round nature of the change. The letter requests the City “cure and correct” by rescinding the February 10 action introducing Ordinance No. 2026-2 and re-agendizing the matter with a clearer description.

NBSTRA supports the goal we all share — a safe and welcoming Newport Beach, especially during busy holiday and peak-activity periods. At the same time, process matters. When the City is considering changes that affect residents, visitors, and regulated communities, the public deserves clear notice and a meaningful opportunity to weigh in.

If you agree that the February 10 process moved too quickly and the public was not adequately informed, we encourage you to submit a written comment and/or speak at the meeting urging the Council to rescind and restart the process from scratch, with clear notice and a more robust public input process that includes the STR community so we can work collaboratively toward effective solutions.

The meeting begins at 4:00 PM at 100 Civic Center Drive, and public speakers are generally limited to three minutes.

If you speak on this item, you should do so in the “Public Comment on Closed Session Items” section. If you want to email the Council, you can do so by emailing the City Clerk.

While the Brown Act allegation is not central to some of the concerns we raised, it does give the City an opportunity to restart this process and do it right.