September Mayor's Corner

By: Mayor Joe Stapleton

For decades, Fire Station No. 1 and Balboa Branch Library have served as vital public safety and learning hubs on the Balboa Peninsula. Today these facilities are aging, outdated and no longer meet the needs of residents, visitors or staff.

I’m pleased to share that we are making significant progress toward replacing both with a modern, integrated facility that will serve the Peninsula for generations to come. The City expects to bring a construction contract to the City Council for approval this month, with construction anticipated to begin later this fall. The new combined fire station and library will be located on the current site at the corner of Balboa Boulevard and Island Avenue. The $18 million project will create a state-of-the-art, 9,170-square-foot building, including about 5,400 square feet for a new fire station and 3,770 square feet for a new branch library. The new facility will address longstanding deficiencies with the current, 1950s-era fire station. It lacks the modern infrastructure, equipment space and safety standards required for today’s emergency response operations. The library, which was added in the 1960s, no longer meets accessibility standards or the expectations of a 21st-century learning space. Rebuilding both in a shared location will create efficiencies in design and construction and improve the delivery of vital fire services. To maintain uninterrupted fire service during construction, the City will operate a temporary fire station nearby in a portion of the public parking lot off Balboa Boulevard. This temporary facility will remain in place for about 18 months until the permanent
station is complete.

I want to thank the many residents who participated in public meetings and provided input during the design phase. This critical feedback helped shape a facility that reflects the character of the Peninsula while meeting modern needs. We look forward to breaking ground this fall.

The City is also preparing to transition to a new city manager in December. Grace Leung, our top executive since 2018, decided to retire after a 30-year career in municipal government. In July, the City Council appointed her successor, Assistant City Manager Seimone Jurjis, a proven leader with deep institutional knowledge, a results-driven mindset, and a clear commitment to public service. Please join me in thanking
Grace for her service and welcoming Seimone to his new role.

Mayor Joe Stapleton is serving his first term as Mayor of Newport Beach.

Follow on IG @newportstapleton

jstapleton@newportbeachca.gov