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Community Members:
Flock cameras have been installed at several Newport Beach roadway intersections, the first of nearly 70 that will be placed at Newport Beach inbound and outbound gateways as part of a comprehensive technology plan to improve public safety in our community.
The first eight cameras were installed last week, to be followed by 61 additional cameras installed over the next several weeks. The Flock cameras (also known as ALPR, or automatic license plate readers) will be used as part of crime investigations and will not be used for traffic enforcement.
The cameras scan license plates and vehicle characteristics as vehicles pass through their field of view on public roadways. The images captured by the ALPRs are then processed, encrypted and uploaded to a secure database where they can only be accessed by the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD). The database allows police officers and investigators to search by date, time, location, direction of travel and vehicle description to identify vehicles used in crimes.
The system includes access to nationwide data and flags “hotlisted” vehicles that have been used in crimes. The NBPD will receive alerts on stolen vehicles, Amber Alerts, missing and endangered persons, and more.
With respect to privacy concerns, the cameras only identify vehicles and do not include facial recognition capabilities. The locations and camera angles are fixed and only monitor roadways.
The Flock camera system is part of a series of recommendations presented to the City Council in May by the Public Safety Technology Ad Hoc Committee. The committee spent several months evaluating new technologies used by neighboring police departments and visited agencies where some of the proposed technologies are now in use, prior to making its recommendations.
The goal of these improvements is to equip officers and civilian police staff with the latest tools to gather and analyze crime information to improve decision-making, which will aid in crime prevention, the apprehension of criminals, and the recovery of stolen property. Deployment of the technology will also act as a deterrent for individuals and groups who evaluate potential crime targets, increasing overall community safety.
Other technology upgrades, which will be adopted in the coming months, include a Crime Information Center to serve as the central technology hub for real-time intelligence gathering and assessments, FUSUS software to boost the department’s pre-approved access to video surveillance, and the development of a drone program to monitor and investigate crime incidents.
City Manager, Grace K. Leung
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 Voting is now underway for the November 5 election. You can vote in person at any Vote Center in Orange County. You can also drop off your ballot at any Vote Center.
- The Vote Center in the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room, 100 Civic Center Dr., opened for in-person voting on October 26.
- All Vote Centers throughout Orange County will be open from November 2 to November 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on November 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Drop off your ballot at the Registrar of Voters office, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana, and at select Vote Centers.
Visit the City's website for full voting information, and watch a short video here.
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 The now-completed 38th Street and Lake Avenue Improvement Project beautifies the entrance to Newport Island.
The project upgraded the 38th Street beach area to provide better beach access. It included installing new stairs, a stone cladding system and concrete cap to the existing retaining wall, a landscaped planter with a fence, a new foot wash station, and a trash receptacle.
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 On Saturday, October 26, the Public Works Department’s parks and trees team and student volunteers from Stanbridge University beautified Bonita Canyon Sports Park by planting over 800 new native plants and trees.
The City looks forward to future partnership opportunities with the university’s outREACH Program and its “Root for Change Tree Planting Initiative.”
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 Road paving operations on Balboa Boulevard and 32nd Street will continue through Friday, November 8.
The paving operations are during the day, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Balboa Boulevard (24th Street to W. Coast Highway) and 32nd Street (Balboa Boulevard to Marcus Avenue).
Road and lane closures are in place during working hours.
Please observe and follow all temporary traffic control signs and personnel. Upon completion of the paving operations, additional work, such as signage, striping and utility adjustments, are expected to be finalized by December 6.
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 The City's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program recently celebrated the completion of its latest training session with a disaster simulation and graduation ceremony.
Congratulations to our newest CERT graduates, whose dedication to training and emergency preparedness adds strength and resilience to our community.
CERT coordinator David Gibson, along with Emergency Services Coordinator Katie Eing, and various Fire Department staff from all divisions, played key roles in supporting the program, underscoring the department’s commitment to equipping residents with the knowledge and training to help themselves in emergencies and keep our community safe.
Visit our website for more information on CERT and to sign up for Spring 2025 classes!
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City Fire and Lifeguard staff members were excited to join Newport Beach families for Halloween festivities at the Spooktacular event October 26.
Firefighters and lifeguards shared essential safety tips while passing out treats, helping families celebrate responsibly while enjoying the Halloween spirit.
The Newport Beach Fire Department extends its gratitude to everyone who made this weekend special. From Halloween safety tips to new CERT members, classic cars, and community art, these events reinforce the strong bond between the department and the Newport Beach community.
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 The Balboa Island Museum unveiled a stunning new mural across from Fire Station 4, at Marine and Park Avenues.
The mural celebrates the history and charm of the island and includes a beautiful mosaic of the original Balboa Island fire station, built in 1931. A special thanks to the Balboa Island Museum for creating this lovely piece of public art that honors the community's heritage.
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 The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) had a fantastic weekend connecting with the community!
The department kicked things off Friday, October 25 with the NBPD Mobile Café at Harbor View Elementary, where officers, parents and students enjoyed donuts and a chance to engage with officers as they took photos.
On Saturday, October 26, officers attended the Newport Beach Classic Car and Truck Festival to ensure safety and provide support. The Knights of Columbus Balboa Council hosted the 6th Annual Car Show, raising money for charities.
Officers then paid a visit to the annual Spooktacular event, where our trunk-or-treat jail brought a Halloween twist complete with treats and giveaways for all our visitors.
The NBPD is grateful for every chance to engage with our community and share in these special events.
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 Join us on Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at the Newport Beach Central Library, Friends Meeting Room, 1000 Avocado Ave., to meet celebrated environmental journalist and author Rosanna Xia.
Xia's "California Against the Sea: Visions For Our Vanishing Coastline" explores sea level rise along the West Coast, focusing on California’s coastline imperiled by the rising Pacific Ocean.
Xia’s investigation spans from the Mexican border to the North Coast, highlighting the voices of various stakeholders advocating for climate-wise coastal stewardship. The narrative emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change to secure a sustainable future for coastal communities in California.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit nbplf.foundation.
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Youth ages 4 to 12 are invited to join a reading challenge sponsored by In-N-Out Burger, now through November 16.
Read 5five books or for 300 minutes by November 16 and earn a free hamburger or cheeseburger at In-N-Out (up to 3 burgers).
Visit any Newport Beach Public Library location to sign-up.
If a child is unable to read on their own, a parent or guardian may read to them.
For more information, visit the library website at: www.newportbeachlibrary.org
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 The Newport Beach Public Library is pleased to present a Meet the Author event featuring Michael Cannivet, CFA, author of "The Four-Minute Retirement Plan" on Tuesday, November 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Library Friends Room, 1000 Avocado Ave.
The book offers an accessible, straightforward and efficient approach to retirement planning for everyone from young professionals to those on the brink of their retirement years.
The first 25 guests to arrive will receive a free copy of "The Four-Minute Retirement Plan." Books will be available for purchase and signing.
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 This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
- Provided crisis intervention support for a recently housed person.
- Continued to shelter people. 22 people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard, which includes key monthly and yearly data on the City's homeless response.
Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.
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WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
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