Assessment District 118-2 Utility Undergrounding Petition Controversy
Newport Beach
Summary
Residents continued fighting the undergrounding petition drive, reading a letter about lost neighborhood charm and detailing thousands in private conversion costs homeowners would bear.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 10
- Last 30 days
- 2
Rising — discussed at 4 meetings since Sep 8, 2026, up from 2 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
Homeowners would bear private conversion costs, including electrical panel conversions of roughly $36,500 or more, that cannot be financed through the assessment bond.
Undergrounding proponents and eventual aesthetics of the district if the petition proceeds.
Newport Heights homeowners face large out-of-pocket costs and potential damage to mature trees and historic cottages.
Mentions & discussions (6)
City Council — October 27, 2026
Multiple speakers opposed a proposed undergrounding assessment district, citing up to $50,000 assessments, alleging petition irregularities, and playing a video of an elderly resident who says the cost would force her from her home.
Harbor Commission — October 14, 2026
Residents continued fighting the undergrounding petition drive, reading a letter about lost neighborhood charm and detailing thousands in private conversion costs homeowners would bear.
City Council — September 22, 2026
Newport Heights residents say the undergrounding petition was edited by proponents to include legally false language about how Prop 218 protest ballots are counted, and that the $50,000-$70,000 per-home assessments would hurt fixed-income residents. City staff say the process is resident-driven and the council will only act once petitions are delivered.
City Council — September 8, 2026
Multiple residents accused the city and undergrounding proponents of manipulating the AD 118-2 petition process — altered petition language, a digitally faked neighborhood image, and a possible Elections Code 180-day deadline that may void the petition. Homeowner costs could exceed $70,000 per property.
City Council — August 25, 2026
Neighbors are battling over a petition to underground utilities in Newport Heights at an estimated $49,900 per property. Supporters including Mike Hen say hundreds of signatures are in hand; opponents like Rick Weiss and Lynn Lorenz say the cost is unsustainable for fixed-income and older-home owners.
City Council — August 18, 2026
A resident-driven petition could impose roughly $50,000 or more per household to bury power lines in Newport Heights, an area speakers called low fire-risk but earthquake-prone. The city manager stressed the city is not pushing the project; opponents say seven prior versions failed at the polls or in petitions.
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