Topic
Police Headquarters
The City is reviewing where to build a new police headquarters. It is evaluating four candidate locations and has not selected a site. As of March 2026, Civic Center Park was publicly favored by two of the seven councilmembers. The site also raises an unresolved question about the City Charter.
Updated as new information is verified. Check back often, and refresh if you've visited before.
Current Status: no site selected
No site selected · City evaluating four locations · Civic Center Park publicly favored by 2 of 7 councilmembers (as of March 2026)
The City says “no future facility location has been selected or approved.” The four locations under evaluation are “The current 870 Santa Barbara Drive site,” “The City-owned Dove Street property (1201 Dove Street, acquired in 2023),” “The Civic Center campus,” and “Privately-owned Corporate Plaza near the Civic Center area.” CONFIRMED [38]
As of March 2026, Civic Center Park was publicly favored by Councilmembers Noah Blom and Erik Weigand, two of the seven councilmembers. STATEDon-record statements, Voice of OC [14]
Total confirmed public spending authorized so far: approximately $1,524,410 (potential contract ceiling of ~$13,121,150 if all future phases are authorized). CONFIRMEDCity Council Staff Report, July 28, 2026, Agenda Item Nos. 18, 19, 20 [19]
Most recent action: on September 14, 2026, the Advisory Committee received a staff overview of the state Surplus Lands Act, which applies if the City sells or leases land it no longer needs. It also received the results of a biological resources study of Civic Center Park, and reviewed three initial site plan concepts for the park. As of October 23, 2026, the City's meeting record still lists the minutes as draft and shows no recorded actions. CONFIRMED [36] [32] [37]
According to City Manager Seimone Jurjis, no formal recommendations were made, and the next meeting, on a date to be determined, will focus on the City-owned property at 1201 Dove Street. STATED [34] As of October 23, 2026, no date for the next meeting has been posted on the City's meeting calendar. CONFIRMED [37]
Quick answers
The Advisory Committee's next meeting has not been scheduled; as of October 23, 2026, no date has been posted on the City's meeting calendar. CONFIRMED [37]
City Manager Seimone Jurjis has said it will focus on the City-owned property at 1201 Dove Street. STATED [34]
At its most recent meeting, on September 14, 2026, the Committee received a Surplus Lands Act overview, a biological study of Civic Center Park, and three initial site plan concepts for the park. No formal recommendation was made. CONFIRMED [36] [32]
Yes. The City says: “Renovation and rebuilding scenarios at the current headquarters remain under evaluation.” CONFIRMED [38]
On July 21, 2026, the Advisory Committee voted 5-0 to recommend that the Council stop spending resources studying the site, without ruling out future reconsideration. CONFIRMED [25]
On September 2, 2026, Chair Sara Weber stated for the record that the Santa Barbara site has not been eliminated from consideration, and Deputy City Manager Benjamin Zdeba said the full City Council has not yet acted on the Committee's recommendation. CONFIRMEDdraft minutes, not yet approved [36] [35]
The committee's vote was a recommendation. The City describes the committee as advisory; it “does not make final decisions for the City.” CONFIRMED [38]
Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the City Council stop studying the current 870 Santa Barbara Drive site
At its July 21, 2026 meeting, the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee voted 5-0 to recommend that the City Council cease expending further staff time and resources studying the 870 Santa Barbara Drive site. Vice Chair Noah Blom made the motion; Councilmember Michelle Barto seconded it. Chair Sara Weber clarified the motion was to stop spending resources at this time, not to permanently foreclose future consideration of the site. CONFIRMEDAdvisory Committee meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 (Attachment A, Sept 2, 2026 agenda packet) [25]
Vice Chair Blom said that he and other council members had previously evaluated the Santa Barbara Drive site over multiple meetings and closed sessions and concluded it was not a viable location due to operational constraints. STATEDAdvisory Committee meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 (Attachment A, Sept 2, 2026 agenda packet) [25]
This item was previewed in the City's “From City Hall to You” newsletter, received and published by Stu News Newport on July 17, 2026. REPORTEDCity newsletter content as carried by Stu News Newport, July 17, 2026[16]
⚠ DISCREPANCY Two checkable records conflict on whether a sale of the Santa Barbara Drive property has been discussed.
- Handwritten notes from the November 18, 2025 Ad Hoc Committee meeting, authored by James Houlihan, Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer, show a sale and lease-back of the Santa Barbara Drive property to The Irvine Company being discussed. CONFIRMEDPublic Records Act-released document[28] CONFIRMEDCity of Newport Beach official Staff Directory[31]
- The City's August 3, 2026 letter to OCTA states that the City Council “has not discussed” selling that property. CONFIRMEDCity correspondence, August 3, 2026[29]
This has not been independently resolved. If you can help us stay current, please let us know.
Neither of the two conflicting documents has a verified public URL, so no links are provided for them. Houlihan's title is confirmed via the City's public Staff Directory [31].
- The current Santa Barbara Drive building is 49,284 sq ft, built in 1973, and received a 2021 Facilities Condition Assessment rating of "Fair."
- Since the 2021 assessment, recent system failures include sewer backups, electrical/fire concerns, and a generator switchgear failure.
- The building does not meet current seismic standards for "essential" facilities (police, fire, hospitals).
- Only about 20% of the building's interior space has natural light.
- The facility was not designed for modern policing technology needs — data storage, servers, secure networks, and body-worn camera / digital evidence storage.
CONFIRMEDCity of Newport Beach — March 10, 2026 Council Planning Session, Item No. 2 (Public Works staff presentation)[13]
Site comparison — the six options staff presented to Council, with cost and timeline estimates
Current Site (Santa Barbara) — Option 1: Renovate + Expand
- Land
- None
- Construction
- $152M
- Total
- $157M–$172M
- Timeline
- ~6–7 years
- Location
- Near Civic Center
Current Site (Santa Barbara) — Option 2: New 2-Story
- Land
- None
- Construction
- $161M
- Total
- $166M–$181M
- Timeline
- ~6 years
- Location
- Near Civic Center
Current Site (Santa Barbara) — Option 3: New 3-Story
- Land
- None
- Construction
- $168M
- Total
- $173M–$188M
- Timeline
- ~6–7 years
- Location
- Near Civic Center
1201 Dove Street
- Land
- None (City-owned)
- Construction
- ~$150M (incl. demolition)
- Total
- ~$150M
- Timeline
- ~3–4 years
- Location
- Airport Area (not central; increased response times)
Private Land Near Civic Center
- Land
- $80M–$90M
- Construction
- ~$153M
- Total
- ~$233M–$243M
- Timeline
- ~3–4 years
- Location
- Near Civic Center
Note: the City's September 2, 2026 Advisory Committee presentation on the 12 Corporate Plaza site describes a site at Civic Center Drive and Avocado Avenue with a similar placeholder land value ($80–90 million), and staff referred back to this same March 2026 figure during that presentation. CONFIRMED [13] [30] It has not been independently confirmed whether “Private Land Near Civic Center” and “12 Corporate Plaza” refer to the same site or two distinct ones — the March 10 materials do not name the site specifically. UNCONFIRMED The September 2 presentation gave a total estimated cost of approximately $250 million for 12 Corporate Plaza, citing escalation to an estimated 2029 construction start not reflected in the March figures above. CONFIRMED
12 Corporate Plaza, September 2, 2026 presentation: The September 2, 2026 staff presentation studied two options for an approximately 4-acre site made up of three lots and part of a fourth. The office building at 12 Corporate Plaza is owned by Junkins 12 Corporate Plaza LLC, and the parking lot areas by The Irvine Company. Both options would require building 154 replacement parking spaces for surrounding office buildings. Estimated total cost: $250M (Option A) and $248M (Option B), each including an assumed land cost of $85M (as of March 10, 2026). Schedule: 4 years. Staff's key takeaways describe the site as “cost prohibitive” and note that private property “means finding a willing seller.” CONFIRMED [35]
Civic Center Park
- Land
- None (City-owned)
- Construction
- ~$162M (excl. mitigation)
- Total
- ~$162M
- Timeline
- ~3–4 years
- Location
- Civic Center Campus
These figures are from the City's March 10, 2026 presentation. The City's September 14, 2026 presentation estimates $162M to $170M and 5 years across three initial concepts. See “Civic Center Park: three initial concepts” below. CONFIRMED [13] [32]
Note on Santa Barbara Drive options: any rebuild at the current location requires Fire Station #3 to relocate first, adding approximately 3 years before police facility construction can even begin — this is why Santa Barbara's total timeline (~6–7 years) is significantly longer than the other options (~3–4 years).
Note on 1201 Dove Street: the property is currently an income-producing City asset, generating $2,299,913 in gross revenue and $1,190,414 in net annual income. That revenue would end if the building were demolished for a police facility. Alternatively, the property could be sold to help fund construction elsewhere.
Note on “Private Land Near Civic Center”: the option assembles four separate parcels:
- 0.76 acres — $25 million
- 1.0 acres — $20 million
- 1.0 acres — $20 million
- 0.75 acres — $15 million
Combined, the parcels total 3.6 acres, with an appraised value of $80 million–$90 million.
Note on Civic Center Park acreage: the park is made up of a Lower Park of 6.27 acres and an Upper Park of 3.18 acres, a current total of 9.45 acres. Under the police facility option, 3.5 acres would be allocated to the facility, leaving a future park total of 5.95 acres.
⚠ DISCREPANCY Two City-produced documents give the Civic Center Park cost estimate as $162 million, but they do not agree on what that figure excludes. A January 31, 2026 City presentation slide giving the earlier Ad Hoc Committee’s assessment states the $162 million design/construction estimate is “(excluding significant mitigation).” [26] A subsequent public mailer distributed by the City's PR firm states the same $162 million figure without that caveat. [27] The City's official project FAQ separately notes that “current ranges span from approximately $150 million to more than $240 million, depending on the site evaluated... additional analysis and design work will further refine the numbers,” but does not specify what the unrefined mitigation costs might add to the Civic Center Park estimate specifically. [1] This has not been independently resolved. If you can help us stay current, please let us know.
Read the documents yourself: January 31, 2026 presentation slide · City mailer
Civic Center Park: three initial concepts (September 14, 2026)
At its September 14, 2026 meeting, the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee reviewed three initial site plan concepts for the southern portion of Civic Center Park. All three show a 75,000 sq. ft., two-story police building with 275 parking spaces. The City's presentation describes Civic Center Park as approximately 9.45 acres. The presentation does not state what the cost estimates include. CONFIRMED [32] [33]
Concept 1: "Completed Civic Center"
- Approach
- Police station and parking garage side by side
- Overall footprint
- 107,000 sq. ft.
- Share of park
- 24%
- City's note on site constraints
- Impacts CDFW and RWQCB jurisdictional areas and portions of the sculpture garden
- Schedule
- 5 years
- Estimated total cost
- $162M
Concept 2: "Book End"
- Approach
- Side by side, with added access from Avocado
- Overall footprint
- 93,000 sq. ft.
- Share of park
- 20%
- City's note on site constraints
- Impacts small portions of CDFW and RWQCB jurisdictional areas and portions of the sculpture garden
- Schedule
- 5 years
- Estimated total cost
- $162M
Concept 3: "Minimal Footprint"
- Approach
- Police station over parking garage
- Overall footprint
- 64,000 sq. ft.
- Share of park
- 14%
- City's note on site constraints
- Impacts a small portion of the CDFW jurisdictional area and portions of the sculpture garden; requires extensive below-grade structures
- Schedule
- 5 years
- Estimated total cost
- $170M
No formal recommendation was made. According to City Manager Seimone Jurjis, committee members indicated interest in further analysis of Concepts 2 and 3. STATED [34]
The key open question posed by staff on March 10, 2026
"Should the City continue investing in major system upgrades in a building at the end of its useful life?"
Posed verbatim by Public Works staff to the City Council at the March 10, 2026 Planning Session. CONFIRMEDMarch 10, 2026 Council Planning Session, Item No. 2[13]
The timeline: from a 1973 shared facility to a still-undecided 2026 site
- Sep 14, 2026
Advisory Committee reviews Surplus Lands Act, biological study, and park concepts
The Advisory Committee received a staff overview of the state Surplus Lands Act, which applies if the City sells or leases land it no longer needs. It also received the results of a biological resources study of Civic Center Park, and reviewed three initial site plan concepts for the park (see Civic Center Park: three initial concepts). As of October 23, 2026, the City's meeting record still lists the minutes as draft and shows no recorded actions. CONFIRMED [36] [32] [37]
According to City Manager Seimone Jurjis, no formal recommendations were made, and the next meeting, on a date to be determined, will focus on the City-owned property at 1201 Dove Street. STATED [34] As of October 23, 2026, no date for that meeting has been posted on the City's meeting calendar. CONFIRMED [37]
The biological study is summarized in "What City records say about the park site."
CONFIRMEDSeptember 14, 2026 agenda packet, staff presentation, and Legistar meeting record - Sep 2, 2026
Third Advisory Committee meeting
The Police Headquarters Advisory Committee held its third meeting. The agenda packet included the Sierra Club letter opposing the Civic Center Park site. [24] Staff presented two site-plan concepts for 12 Corporate Plaza (a privately owned site requiring acquisition of multiple Irvine Company- and Junkins-owned parcels), with an estimated total cost of $250 million (Option A) or $248 million (Option B). Each total includes an assumed land cost of $85 million plus $165 million or $163 million for design and construction. According to the draft minutes, the estimate includes construction cost escalation to a projected 2029 start. Staff also presented an analysis of police substations as an alternative to a consolidated headquarters. The Committee took no action on either item. CONFIRMEDPolice Headquarters Advisory Committee meeting recording, September 2, 2026 [30] [35] [36]
⚠ DISCREPANCY A public commenter noted that a City handout distributed at the meeting listed the 12 Corporate Plaza cost estimate as $240 million, while the staff PowerPoint presented minutes later in the same meeting gave $250 million. Both figures are confirmed to have been presented at the meeting; the discrepancy between them has not been independently resolved. If you can help us stay current, please let us know.
According to the draft minutes, Chair Sara Weber stated for the record that there is no contract or agreement of any kind with any party to purchase either 870 Santa Barbara Drive or 1201 Dove Street, and that the Santa Barbara site has not been eliminated from consideration. Deputy City Manager Benjamin Zdeba said the Committee's earlier recommendation on the Santa Barbara Drive site has not yet been acted on by the full City Council. Deputy Police Chief Shawn Randell told the Committee that substations are not a substitute for a centralized headquarters, and the Committee took no action on that item. CONFIRMEDdraft minutes, not yet approved [36] [35]
CONFIRMEDAdvisory Committee meeting recording, September 2, 2026 - Jul 28, 2026
Council approves Civic Center Park consultant contracts
The City Council approved consultant contracts tied to the Civic Center Park site. [47] The City’s own “On the Agenda” preview for the July 28, 2026 meeting confirms the three contracts — an agreement for the project’s architectural team, an environmental consultant, and a public outreach and communications consultant — were on the Council agenda. The same preview also confirms the meeting included the 1300 Dove Street Townhome Project (132-unit, for-sale residential) as a separate item. CONFIRMEDCity of Newport Beach City Manager's Office "Insider's Guide" / "On the Agenda" preview [20] Approximately $1,524,410 is currently funded and authorized to proceed: LPA, Inc. Phase 1a conceptual design ($713,080), EPD Solutions SEIR ($346,330), Westbound Communications outreach ($315,000), and an LSA Associates on-call agreement amendment for related biological survey work ($150,000). CONFIRMEDCity Council Staff Report, July 28, 2026, Agenda Item Nos. 18, 19, 20[19] The full potential contract ceiling, if all future phases are authorized, is approximately $13,121,150 — driven primarily by LPA, Inc.'s total not-to-exceed architectural contract of $12,459,820 (covering Phase 1a design through final construction documents and construction support, most of which requires separate future City Council authorization), plus EPD Solutions ($346,330) and Westbound Communications ($315,000). CONFIRMEDCity Council Staff Report, July 28, 2026, Agenda Item Nos. 18, 19, 20[19]
$1,524,410 is what is funded and authorized now; $13,121,150 is the total possible size of the contracts if every future phase were to be fully exercised. The $1,524,410 figure includes the $150,000 LSA Associates amendment; the $13,121,150 figure does not. CONFIRMEDCity Council Staff Report, July 28, 2026, Agenda Item Nos. 18, 19, 20 [19] The Council approved the LPA, Inc. and EPD Solutions/LSA Associates items 6-1, with Councilmember Robyn Grant opposed, and the Westbound Communications contract 5-2, with Councilmembers Grant and Joe Stapleton opposed. CONFIRMED [47] Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.CONFIRMEDCity Council minutes, July 28, 2026; staff report and agenda preview - Jul 21, 2026Second meeting of the Advisory Committee, focused on evaluating rebuilding at the current Santa Barbara Drive site (per Chair Weber's direction at the July 7 meeting).CONFIRMEDofficial agenda
- Jul 7, 2026
First Advisory Committee meeting
CONFIRMEDofficial agenda First meeting of the Advisory Committee, held in the Civic Center Community Room. Unlike other recent City committees (e.g., the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Lower Castaways and Aquatic Facility Committee), this meeting was not video recorded for public posting.
REPORTEDdrawn from written meeting materials, not a recording or transcript Resident member Sandy Meadows was absent. The committee received staff briefings on the history of the City’s past police stations and the current headquarters’ operational needs. Chair Sara Weber set the July 21 meeting’s focus on evaluating rebuilding at the current Santa Barbara Drive site. Committee member Paul Watkins raised questions about financing plans and ground-lease options for the Santa Barbara and Dove Street properties, and asked that the 12 Corporate Plaza site be reconsidered. Committee member Tom Maloney recommended staff attend an International Association of Chiefs of Police training on planning, designing, and constructing police facilities. [11]CONFIRMEDmeeting occurred per agenda; discussion details are REPORTED from written materials - Jun 9, 2026
Adopted Capital Improvement Program funding
The City’s adopted Capital Improvement Program sets aside $1.5 million in the current fiscal year for further study of the Civic Center Park site, $15 million in FY2027–2028 for final design, and $146 million in FY2028–2029 for award of a construction contract. This timeline has been moved up by roughly three years compared to the prior CIP. No explanation for the acceleration has been located in the CIP documents themselves; if a source is later confirmed, this will be updated. [21] [12]CONFIRMEDCity Council Resolution No. 2026-40, adopted June 9, 2026 - Jun 1, 2026Resident-member application deadline.CONFIRMED
- May 13, 2026
Speak Up Newport forum exchange
Former Mayor Keith Curry presented a detailed case against the Civic Center Park site at a Speak Up Newport public forum. Per the Stu News Newport columnist's account, Councilmember Blom's response was reported as "Everything Keith said is wrong," with no further explanation given. Watch the full exchange: Speak Up Newport, May 13, 2026. [9] [10] This quote is sourced to a single columnist's account, not an official transcript or recording.STATEDcolumnist's account; primary event page available - May 12, 2026
Council transitions to a new Police Headquarters Advisory Committee
The City Council unanimously approved transitioning from the prior council-only Assessment Committee to a new Police Headquarters Advisory Committee: 3 councilmembers plus 4 resident members — one with construction / real estate development / architecture / land-use experience, one with real estate financing experience, and two at-large seats with no specialized requirement — to evaluate location, design, and budget and recommend back to the full council. [49] Resident applications closed June 1, 2026.CONFIRMEDCity Council action & resident-committee announcement, May 12, 2026 - Mar 10, 2026The City Council held a study session. Staff presented a cost estimate of approximately $162 million for the Civic Center sculpture garden site; no final site decision was made. CONFIRMEDCity of Newport Beach — March 10, 2026 Council Planning Session, Item No. 2 (Public Works staff presentation) [13] The Council voted 6-1, with Councilmember Robyn Grant opposed, to continue further evaluation of a new police facility in Civic Center Park, including hiring a consultant team for design development, a final concept design and an environmental impact report, seeking further input from the community and the Arts Commission, and returning to the Council for review and approval. CONFIRMED [48] Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.CONFIRMED(note: March 10, 2026 staff presentation and City Council minutes)
- Jan–Mar 2026The council held planning sessions on police headquarters site options. Traffic, environmental review, and cost analysis were all noted as still pending.CONFIRMEDcity project page
- Oct 14, 2025
The fully public process was voted down
The City Council voted on Stapleton's September 23 proposal. Councilmember Weigand pulled the item; Councilmember Blom offered a substitute motion removing public members and creating the closed, council-only Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee (Blom, Weber, Barto) instead. Passed 5–1: Blom, Weigand, Kleiman, Weber, Barto voting yes; Robyn Grant the sole no vote; Stapleton abstaining. [50] The Assessment Committee went on to review several potential sites, as described in the City’s March 10, 2026 presentation. [13]CONFIRMEDCity Council minutes, October 14, 2025; Resolution No. 2025-65 staff report - Sep 23, 2025Then-Mayor Joe Stapleton proposed a fully public site-selection process, including making all committee meetings open to the public. [8]CONFIRMEDCity Council staff report / minutes
- Nov 2022On November 15, 2022, the City Council voted 5-1 to move forward with buying 1201 Dove Street for $30.5 million as a possible future police headquarters site, with a 120-day due diligence period followed by a 30-day closing. [3] Mayor Kevin Muldoon voted no; Councilmember Diane Dixon was absent. REPORTED [45]CONFIRMEDstaff report, Legistar
- Apr 2013City Hall moved from the old City Hall at 3300 Newport Boulevard to the current Civic Center in early April 2013. The City's 2015 close-out report puts the project's final “all-in” cost at $140,214,967, including design, environmental review, project management, construction, inspection, change orders, and furnishings. The same report says the 2009 preliminary all-in budget was $140 million and that the construction bids totaled $106.5 million. [46]CONFIRMED
- Nov 2012Newport Beach voters approved Measure EE, amending the 2008 Charter provision to require most (rather than all) administrative offices to be located at the Civic Center parcel, alongside a number of other Charter housekeeping changes.CONFIRMEDCity Attorney's Impartial Analysis; codified Charter text
- Nov 24, 2009
Council approves Civic Center project and certifies its environmental review
The City Council approved the Civic Center project and certified its Environmental Impact Report. The EIR findings listed preserving the site's existing wetlands as a project objective and reported that the project would remove about 88 percent of the native habitat on the site, an impact the findings concluded was reduced to less than significant through regional habitat plan mitigation. See "What City records say about the park site." [39] [40]CONFIRMED - Nov 24, 2008
City Hall site changed from Open Space to Public Facilities
The City Council amended the General Plan to change the City Hall portion of the Civic Center site from Open Space (OS) to Public Facilities (PF) (GP2008-009, Resolution No. 2008-97). The rest of the park land remains designated Open Space in the City's 2050 General Plan. [44]CONFIRMED - Feb 5, 2008Newport Beach voters approved Measure B, adding a Charter provision requiring City Hall, including the City's administrative offices, to be located on the Civic Center parcel. The amendment took effect March 3, 2008.CONFIRMEDMeasure B official text; Charter amendment record
- 1973The city acquired the Santa Barbara Drive site and built a shared Police/Fire Station 3 facility there.CONFIRMED
Sources for this timeline: the Sep 23, 2025 public-process proposal and the Oct 14, 2025 vote [8] [4], the May 13, 2026 Speak Up Newport forum exchange [9] [10], the July 7, 2026 Advisory Committee meeting [11], Resolution No. 2026-40 adopting the Capital Improvement Program funding [21] [12], and the Nov 24, 2008 and Nov 24, 2009 entries [39] [40] [44].
Newport Beach Police Association: publicly opposed to remodeling the current site
The Newport Beach Police Association has publicly stated that remodeling, reconstructing, or reusing the current Santa Barbara Drive site is not an option it supports. In its stated position, the Association cites the station's age — built more than five decades ago — and its inability to reliably support evidence logging, officer operations, and emergency response for a population that has roughly doubled since it was built. STATEDNewport Beach Police Association public statement[15]
The case each side has made, in their own words
For the Civic Center Park site
Councilmember Blom
In a recorded interview: "I don't want to go out for a bond measure, I don't want to put this all on taxpayers." He also described it as "the final piece to wrap up the civic center," and, addressing the loss of sculpture garden space directly: "I have a three year old daughter, we walk every park in this city and she does love the sculpture garden. But sometimes I have to weigh fiscal responsibility at the same spot. It just seems to be the most responsible way."[14]
Councilmember Weigand
In a written statement: "With two high-profile and significant incidents occurring within months of one another at Fashion Island, it became imperative to me (and others) that we must keep our department's headquarters in and around Newport Center."[14]
Councilmember Weber
Stated she wants the station to remain centrally located, and separately asked staff to look at ways to preserve the sculpture garden rather than treating the tradeoff as all-or-nothing.[14]
City staff cost comparison
Civic Center Park is estimated at roughly $162 million. Purchasing an additional nearby property instead would likely push the cost above $233 million. Rebuilding at the current Santa Barbara Drive site would nearly double the project timeline, pushing completion into the 2030s.[6]
Raising concerns about the process or site
Councilmember Stapleton
Who had proposed the fully public process that was voted down, said afterward: "I think this is going to become one of the most expensive buildings in the history of our city," while also saying of the current Advisory Committee, "I do think the committee is doing a good job now getting out in the public and this will be that first opportunity."[14]
Councilmember Grant
Was the sole vote in favor of a fully public process from the start, and has cited the risk of delays from environmental review or litigation tied to the 2007 ballot measure.
Former Mayor Keith Curry
Has publicly opposed the Civic Center Park site in a moderated public debate.
Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter (Orange County Conservation Committee)
Submitted a letter to the City Council and Advisory Committee opposing the Civic Center Park site, citing habitat fragmentation, altered hydrology, and the park’s wetlands, coastal sage scrub, freshwater marsh, and riparian vegetation, and requesting a transparent comparison of alternative sites before any final decision. [24]
Resident Jim Mosher and others
Have raised questions about the Campus Drive purchase price and site-selection reasoning discussed in the Fire Station section of this site.
What City records say about the park site
Wetlands and native habitat on the site
In 2009, the City's environmental review for the current Civic Center found wetlands and native habitat on the site. The Findings of Fact for the project's Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) list “Preserve and enhance the existing on-site wetlands” as a project objective and describe two natural drainages (wetlands) on the site.
The findings state that the Civic Center project would cause the direct loss of 11.68 acres of native plant communities, about 88 percent of the native habitat on the site. The project preserved 1.56 acres of native plant communities and 0.24 acre of landscaped and disturbed plant communities around the two drainages.
The same findings concluded that mitigation under the regional Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) reduces the habitat impact to a less than significant level. The City approved the project and certified the EIR on November 24, 2009.
These findings describe the site before the current Civic Center and park were built. A newer study describes the site today. LSA Associates' Biological Constraints Analysis (August 21, 2026), presented to the Advisory Committee on September 14, 2026, found that the park's two natural drainages qualify as wetland waters of the State under the Regional Water Quality Control Board and are subject to California Department of Fish and Wildlife authority. They are not under federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction.
The 2026 study mapped 0.30 acre of freshwater marsh, which it says predates the park, 0.16 acre of willow riparian scrub, 1.30 acres of mixed scrub, and 0.28 acre of coyote bush scrub, all treated as sensitive. Most of the area mapped, 8.03 of 11.37 acres, is ornamental landscaping. Focused 2026 surveys found no coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell's vireo, Crotch's bumble bee, or special-status plants, though the report recommends pre-construction surveys because these species could occur in the future. The study says that if any portion of the drainages would be impacted, permits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and compensatory mitigation would be required, and that if the sensitive vegetation types would be impacted, compensatory mitigation would be required.
Height limit: City records disagree
⚠ DISCREPANCY [39] [41] [42] [43] [32] [46]
In 2009, City staff reported that the Civic Center would be located within the area regulated by a “Sight Plane,” a height limit set through the Newport Village Planned Community (PC-27) zoning and Ordinance No. 1596 to protect public views to the ocean and harbor from MacArthur Boulevard. To keep City Hall and the parking structure below it, the City sank them into the ground. In November 2009, staff estimated about $6 million in excavation costs for this. City records differ on how much soil was removed: a February 2011 staff report says about 300,000 cubic yards had been exported, while the City's 2015 close-out report gives the total as about 200,000 cubic yards.
The current PC-27 text, last amended October 24, 2023, still contains the 45-foot limit and the Sight Plane. A September 14, 2026 City staff presentation to the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee states that “Civic Center Park is not within the Sight Plane View Ordinance,” while adding that any structure should be kept low in scale with the Civic Center campus. The records reviewed do not explain the difference.
This has not been independently resolved. If you can help us stay current, please let us know.
How the site is designated and zoned
The City's 2050 General Plan designates the park land north of City Hall as Open Space (OS). The City Hall parcel was also Open Space until November 24, 2008, when the City Council changed it to Public Facilities (PF) through a General Plan amendment (GP2008-009, Resolution No. 2008-97). The General Plan ties the City Hall designation to Section 425 of the City Charter.
In 2009, the site's zoning was the Newport Village Planned Community (PC-27), which assigned the northern and central parcels to Open Space uses. City staff reported that the Civic Center would not be consistent with that use. Staff noted that a city may exempt its own projects from its zoning regulations, and asked the City Council to exempt the Civic Center project rather than rezone the land.
The Civic Ledger has not yet confirmed on the City's zoning map that the park is still within PC-27.
Advisory Committee roster, as confirmed by the City Council on June 23, 2026
Councilmembers
- Sara Weber
- Michelle Barto
- Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom
Resident members
- Tom Maloney
- Sandy Meadows
- Bob Olson
- Paul Watkins
The City Council confirmed this roster on June 23, 2026, as the membership of the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee. CONFIRMEDCity Council action, June 23, 2026[7] The City received 31 applications for the four resident seats. CONFIRMEDCity Council staff report, June 23, 2026, Agenda Item No. 20[17]
Notes & Sources
Numbered references for the claims above. Numbering restarts on each page. How claims are labeled →
- [1]
City of Newport Beach — police headquarters project FAQ
No final site has been chosen and no traffic or environmental study has begun for any site under consideration.
- [2]
Newport Beach City Charter (codified text)
The Charter provision added by Measure B (approved February 5, 2008, effective March 3, 2008) and amended by Measure EE (approved November 2012), which requires most of the City's administrative offices to be located on the Civic Center parcel.
- [3]
City staff report / Legistar
The November 2022 council approval of the $30.5 million purchase of 1201 Dove Street.
- [4]
City of Newport Beach — Legistar staff report, October 14, 2025: "Resolution No. 2025-65: Creating the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee"
The October 14, 2025 formal creation of the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee (Blom, Weber, Barto), the vote against a fully public process, and Robyn Grant's dissent.
- [5]
Stu News Newport
Confirmation of the four resident committee members, the Rubino application question, and the noted appearances of potential conflict.
- [6]
City staff cost comparison, as reported by Voice of OC
Cost estimates: ~$162M for Civic Center Park, above $233M for an added nearby property, and a near-doubled timeline for a Santa Barbara Drive rebuild.
- [7]
City of Newport Beach — City Council action, June 23, 2026
The confirmed roster of the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee: Councilmembers Sara Weber, Michelle Barto, and Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom; resident members Tom Maloney, Sandy Meadows, Bob Olson, and Paul Watkins.
- [8]
City of Newport Beach — Legistar staff report, October 14, 2025: "Resolution No. 2025-65: Creating the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee"
September 23, 2025 proposal by then-Mayor Joe Stapleton for a fully public police headquarters site-selection process, and the October 14, 2025 vote on the substitute motion creating the council-only Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee (Blom, Weber, Barto), passed 5–1 with Grant opposed and Stapleton abstaining.
- [9]
Stu News Newport — column, May 2026
Columnist's account of the May 13, 2026 Speak Up Newport public forum, including the reported 'Everything Keith said is wrong' response attributed to Councilmember Blom.
- [10]
Speak Up Newport — event page
Primary-source record of the May 13, 2026 'New Police Station 2026' forum featuring former Mayor Keith Curry and Councilmember Noah Blom.
- [11]
Police Headquarters Advisory Committee — July 7, 2026 meeting agenda and materials
First meeting of the Advisory Committee on July 7, 2026 in the Civic Center Community Room; staff briefings on past police stations and current headquarters operational needs; attendance and member remarks; setting of the July 21 meeting focus.
- [12]
City of Newport Beach — Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget
CIP appropriations for the police headquarters project: $1.5M in the current fiscal year for further study of the Civic Center Park site, $15M in FY2027–2028 for final design, and $146M in FY2028–2029 for construction contract award; timeline moved up ~3 years relative to the prior CIP.
- [13]
City of Newport Beach — March 10, 2026 City Council Planning Session, Item No. 2 (Public Works Department staff presentation)
Facility condition details for the current Santa Barbara Drive headquarters (49,284 sq ft, built 1973; 2021 Facilities Condition Assessment rating of 'Fair'; recent sewer, electrical/fire, and generator switchgear failures; seismic and daylight limitations; modern policing technology gaps); the six-option site comparison with land acquisition, construction, and total project cost estimates and timelines; the Fire Station #3 relocation dependency for any rebuild at Santa Barbara Drive; the Dove Street property's $2,299,913 gross / $1,190,414 net annual income; the four-parcel breakdown of the private-land option near the Civic Center (0.76 acres at $25M, 1.0 acres at $20M, 1.0 acres at $20M, 0.75 acres at $15M; 3.6 acres total, appraised at $80M–$90M); the Civic Center Park acreage split (Lower Park 6.27 acres, Upper Park 3.18 acres, 9.45 acres today, 5.95 acres after 3.5 acres are allocated to the police facility); and staff's key open question on continued investment in a building at the end of its useful life.
- [14]
Voice of OC — "Newport Beach Leaders Look to Bulldoze Portions of Garden for New Police Station" (March 2026)
Verbatim quotes from Councilmember Blom ("final piece to wrap up the civic center," "three year old daughter," bond-measure/taxpayer remarks), Councilmember Weigand (Fashion Island incidents / Newport Center headquarters statement), Councilmember Weber (centrally-located station, sculpture-garden preservation request), and Councilmember Stapleton ("one of the most expensive buildings in the history of our city") reported from the Civic Center Park site discussion.
- [15]
Newport Beach Police Association — public statement (National Law Review press release, 2026)
The Police Association's public position that remodeling, reconstructing, or reusing the current Santa Barbara Drive site is not an option it supports, citing the station's age (built more than five decades ago) and inability to reliably support evidence logging, officer operations, and emergency response for a population that has roughly doubled since it was built.
- [16]
Stu News Newport — "From City Hall to You" newsletter item, July 17, 2026
A newsletter preview, republished by Stu News Newport on July 17, 2026, indicating that the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee would take up discussion of the existing 870 Santa Barbara Drive site — including potential redevelopment opportunities and the challenges associated with continuing to use that location — at its July 21, 2026 meeting. Source is the City's own newsletter content as carried by Stu News Newport; no independent record of the meeting's substance beyond this preview has been located.
- [17]
City of Newport Beach — City Council Staff Report, June 23, 2026, Agenda Item No. 20 (prepared by City Clerk Lena Shumway)
The number of applications received for the four resident seats on the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee: 31.
- [18]
Los Angeles Times/Daily Pilot — "Newport Beach takes deeper look at Civic Center as possible police HQ site," July 31, 2026 (subscription may be required)
The July 28, 2026 City Council vote details on three contracts tied to the Civic Center Park site: Councilmember Robyn Grant opposed all three (LPA Inc., EPD Solutions, Westbound Communications), and Councilmember Joe Stapleton joined her in opposing only the communications contract. Also reported, citing the same Times article, by Hoodline (AI-assisted), "Newport Beach Police HQ Study Targets Civic Center Park," Sarah Kim, July 31, 2026.
- [19]
City of Newport Beach — City Council Staff Report, July 28, 2026, Agenda Item Nos. 18, 19, and 20
The amounts for the consultant contracts approved July 28, 2026: approximately $1,524,410 currently funded and authorized to proceed (LPA, Inc. Phase 1a conceptual design $713,080; EPD Solutions SEIR $346,330; Westbound Communications outreach $315,000; LSA Associates on-call agreement amendment for related biological survey work $150,000); and the full potential contract ceiling of approximately $13,121,150 if all future phases are authorized (driven primarily by LPA, Inc.'s total not-to-exceed architectural contract of $12,459,820, most of which requires separate future City Council authorization).
- [20]
City of Newport Beach — City Manager's Office "Insider's Guide" / "On the Agenda" preview for the July 28, 2026 City Council meeting
Confirms the three police-headquarters consultant contracts (architectural team, environmental consultant, and public outreach/communications consultant) were on the July 28, 2026 Council agenda, and that the same meeting included the 1300 Dove Street Townhome Project (132-unit, for-sale residential) as a separate item.
- [21]
City of Newport Beach — City Council Resolution No. 2026-40, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Adopting the Budget for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year," adopted unanimously at the June 9, 2026 City Council meeting (Public Hearings, Item 19)
The June 9, 2026 City Council adoption of the FY2026-27 budget, including the Capital Improvement Program funding for the police headquarters project ($1.5M current FY / $15M FY2027–2028 / $146M FY2028–2029). Verified by direct viewing of the June 9, 2026 City Council meeting video and the meeting's published agenda/staff report.
- [22]
Orange County Registrar of Voters — official text of Measure B, City of Newport Beach, February 5, 2008 election; effective date per the City's official Charter amendment record (codepublishing.com)
Voter approval of Measure B on February 5, 2008, adding the Charter provision requiring City Hall, including the City's administrative offices, to be located on the Civic Center parcel, and the March 3, 2008 effective date.
- [23]
City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure EE (Orange County Registrar of Voters, ocvote.gov); current codified Newport Beach City Charter text (codepublishing.com)
Voter approval of Measure EE in November 2012, amending the 2008 Charter provision to require most (rather than all) administrative offices at the Civic Center parcel, along with other Charter housekeeping changes.
- [24]
City of Newport Beach — Police Headquarters Advisory Committee agenda packet, September 2, 2026 (Legistar)
The Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter (Orange County Conservation Committee) letter dated September 1, 2026, emailed to the City August 31, 2026, to the City Council and Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, opposing the Civic Center Park site and requesting a transparent comparison of alternative sites before any final decision.
- [25]
City of Newport Beach — Police Headquarters Advisory Committee meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 (Attachment A, Sept 2, 2026 agenda packet, Legistar)
The Advisory Committee voted 5-0 (motion by Vice Chair Noah Blom, seconded by Councilmember Michelle Barto) to recommend that the City Council cease expending further staff time and resources studying the 870 Santa Barbara Drive site; Chair Sara Weber clarified the motion was to stop spending resources at this time, not to permanently foreclose future consideration. According to the draft minutes of the September 2, 2026 meeting (September 14, 2026 agenda packet, Attachment A), the Committee approved these minutes on September 2, 2026, 4-0.
- [26]
City of Newport Beach — presentation slide 58, “Possible New Police Facility at Civic Center Park,” giving the Ad Hoc Committee’s assessment (copy on file, labeled City Council Planning Session, January 31, 2026)
The Civic Center Park design/construction estimate of $162 million is described as '(excluding significant mitigation).'
- [27]
City of Newport Beach — public mailer distributed by the City's public-relations firm (copy on file)
The mailer states the Civic Center Park estimate as $162 million without noting that significant mitigation is excluded.
- [28]
Handwritten notes from the November 18, 2025 Ad Hoc Committee meeting, authored by James Houlihan, Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer — released under the California Public Records Act. No verified public URL located.
That a sale and lease-back of the Santa Barbara Drive property to The Irvine Company was discussed at the November 18, 2025 Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
No public URL available.
- [29]
City of Newport Beach — letter to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), dated August 3, 2026. City correspondence; no verified public URL located.
The City's statement that the City Council "has not discussed" selling the Santa Barbara Drive property.
No public URL available.
- [30]
City of Newport Beach — Police Headquarters Advisory Committee meeting recording, September 2, 2026. No verified public URL located; cited by name and date only.
The September 2, 2026 Advisory Committee meeting content: staff's two site-plan concepts for 12 Corporate Plaza (a privately owned site requiring acquisition of multiple Irvine Company- and Junkins-owned parcels) at a total estimated cost of approximately $250 million including land, reflecting escalation to an estimated 2029 construction start; staff's analysis of police substations as an alternative to a consolidated headquarters; the Committee taking no action on either item; and the conflicting $240 million (City handout) versus $250 million (staff PowerPoint) cost figures.
No public URL available.
- [31]
City of Newport Beach — official Staff Directory, James Houlihan, Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer
James Houlihan's full title as Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer, as listed in the City's official staff directory.
- [32]
City of Newport Beach, Staff Presentation, Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, September 14, 2026
The three initial Civic Center Park site plan concepts: 75,000 sq. ft. two-story police building with 275 parking spaces; park size of approximately 9.45 acres; each concept's approach, footprint, share of park, site-constraint notes, schedule, and estimated total cost.
- [33]
City of Newport Beach, Attachment C, Civic Center Park Initial Concepts, September 10, 2026
Site plan drawings and details for the three initial Civic Center Park concepts.
- [34]
City Manager Seimone Jurjis, "From City Hall to You" column, as published in Stu News Newport, September 22, 2026
That no formal recommendation was made on September 14, 2026 and that committee members indicated interest in further analysis of Concepts 2 and 3.
- [35]
City of Newport Beach, Staff Presentation, Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, September 2, 2026
The two 12 Corporate Plaza options: approximately 4-acre site of three lots and part of a fourth; ownership (Junkins 12 Corporate Plaza LLC and The Irvine Company); 154 replacement parking spaces; $250M (Option A) and $248M (Option B) totals, each with an assumed $85M land cost (as of March 10, 2026); 4-year schedule; staff's key takeaways.
- [36]
City of Newport Beach, Police Headquarters Advisory Committee agenda packet, September 14, 2026 (includes draft minutes of the September 2, 2026 meeting as Attachment A, not yet approved)
Chair Weber's on-the-record statement that there is no contract or agreement to purchase 870 Santa Barbara Drive or 1201 Dove Street and that the Santa Barbara site has not been eliminated; Deputy City Manager Zdeba's statement that the full Council has not yet acted on the Committee's Santa Barbara Drive recommendation; no action on substations; and the September 14, 2026 agenda items (Surplus Lands Act overview, biological resources study, initial park concepts). Attachment B, LSA Associates, Biological Constraints Analysis, August 21, 2026: both drainages qualify as wetland waters of the State and are under CDFW authority (packet PDF pp. 22 to 23); 0.18 acre of wetland waters of the State and 0.52 acre under CDFW authority (PDF p. 65); permits and compensatory mitigation required if any portion would be impacted (PDF p. 27).
- [37]
City of Newport Beach, Legistar meeting record, Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, September 14, 2026, viewed October 23, 2026 (root domain only)
That the September 14, 2026 minutes are listed as draft and no actions are recorded; that no Police Headquarters Advisory Committee meeting after September 14, 2026 is listed on the City’s meeting calendar.
- [38]
City of Newport Beach, "Facility Options," Proposed New Police Headquarters website (accessed September 28, 2026)
That no future facility location has been selected or approved; the four locations being evaluated; that renovation and rebuilding scenarios at the current headquarters remain under evaluation; that the Advisory Committee does not make final decisions for the City; and that the process is expected to take several years.
- [39]
City of Newport Beach, City Council Staff Report, November 24, 2009, Agenda Item No. 24, "Newport Beach Civic Center Project: Resolution Certifying the Environmental Impact Report for the City Hall and Park Development Plan" (staff report pp. 6-7; attached CEQA Findings of Fact pp. 2 and 21). Root domain only.
The 2009 EIR Findings of Fact (wetlands objective, two natural drainages, 11.68 acres of native plant communities lost, preserved acreage, NCCP/HCP mitigation finding); the Sight Plane under PC-27 and Ordinance No. 1596; and the PC-27 Open Space zoning, inconsistency, and exemption request.
- [40]
State Clearinghouse, CEQAnet, Notice of Determination, City Hall and Park Development Plan Project, SCH No. 2009041010, approval date 11/24/2009
The City's approval of the project and certification of the EIR on November 24, 2009.
- [41]
City of Newport Beach, City Council Staff Report, November 10, 2009, Agenda Item No. 19, "Civic Center Update," p. 3. Root domain only.
The staff estimate of about $6 million in excavation costs to keep City Hall and the parking structure below the Sight Plane.
- [42]
City of Newport Beach, City Council Staff Report, February 22, 2011, Agenda Item No. 16, "Newport Beach Civic Center Project: City Hall Office Building, Central Library Expansion, & Parks, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), Phase Three," p. 2. Root domain only.
That about 300,000 cubic yards of soil had been exported from the site by February 2011.
- [43]
City of Newport Beach, Newport Village Planned Community Development Plan (PC-27), Section II, Note 13; amendments through PA2023-0122 (Ordinance 2023-015, October 24, 2023)
That the current PC-27 text still contains the 45-foot limit and the Sight Plane.
- [44]
City of Newport Beach, 2050 General Plan, Land Use Element (May 2026), Table LU-1, Anomaly 75 (p. LU-12), and Figure LU-13, "Statistical Areas F1, L1, L2, M1-M5," including its General Plan amendment table
The Open Space (OS) designation of the park land north of City Hall; the November 24, 2008 change of the City Hall parcel to Public Facilities (PF) (GP2008-009, Resolution No. 2008-97); and the tie to Charter Section 425.
- [45]
Stu News Newport, "City moves forward with purchase of $30.5 million property," November 18, 2022
The November 15, 2022 vote count (5-1) on the 1201 Dove Street purchase, Mayor Kevin Muldoon's no vote, and Councilmember Diane Dixon's absence.
- [46]
City of Newport Beach, "The Newport Beach Civic Center Close-Out Report and Lessons Learned," City Council Study Session, January 13, 2015, by Dave Kiff, City Manager, and Steve Badum, Assistant City Manager (pp. 1, 7, 11-12)
The early April 2013 move from 3300 Newport Boulevard to the Civic Center; the final all-in cost of $140,214,967 and what it includes; the 2009 preliminary all-in budget of $140 million; construction bids totaling $106.5 million; and about 200,000 cubic yards of soil removed.
- [47]
City of Newport Beach, City Council minutes, July 28, 2026, Items 18, 19 and 20 (File No. 26-2673, August 25, 2026 agenda)
Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.
- [48]
City of Newport Beach, City Council minutes, March 10, 2026, Police Headquarters study session item (File No. 26-1977, March 24, 2026 agenda)
Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.
- [49]
City of Newport Beach, City Council minutes, May 12, 2026, Item 16, Resolution No. 2026-29 (File No. 26-2323, May 26, 2026 agenda)
Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.
- [50]
City of Newport Beach, City Council minutes, October 14, 2025, Item 8, Resolution No. 2025-65 (File No. 25-1355, October 28, 2025 agenda)
Independent coverage of this has not yet been located.