Mayor’s Memo: September 2026

September 2, 2026

Lauren Kleiman

Mayor of Newport Beach

Dog Adoption Event on Saturday, September 12th

If you’ve been thinking about adding a four-legged member to your family, now may be the perfect time! On Saturday, September 12, the Newport Beach Animal Shelter is hosting a Dog Adoption Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with all dog adoption fees waived. Our Animal Shelter team does an incredible job caring for the animals who come through their doors and preparing them for their new homes. Every adoption includes a veterinarian exam, vaccinations, spay or neuter, flea treatment, and a microchip.

New Pesticides Policy

I’m pleased to announce that the City Council supported our Pesticide Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation to discontinue the use of synthetic herbicides on all Newport Beach-maintained athletic fields. This new program is effective immediately and is a tremendous win for the health of our community.

Red Car Revival

The first summer with our new open-air red cars was a success! During the first 11 weekends of operation this summer, the trolley has carried nearly 22,000 riders, which is an increase of 33%, compared with the same period last summer. Additional trolleys are on order for a citywide expansion by next summer. As a reminder, our trolley program is almost 80% funded through grants from OCTA.

Connectivity Updates

After Spectrum’s acquisition of Cox, all network and local operations have officially transitioned to Spectrum. Customers will have the choice of staying on their current plan or upgrading to discounted bundled services.

At Our Beaches

This summer heat has continued to drive visitors to our coast, which also means staggering rescue statistics at our beaches. Over the weekend, NBFD Lifeguards recorded 425 rescues – 209 in a single day, a record high for this summer. For perspective, they performed 100 rescues on the prior Tuesday, and 96 rescues on the 4th of July.

And, if you’ve been down to the Wedge lately, you have surely observed the receding condition of the sand. The continual high tides and high swells have been really tough on the berm, even though we recently reinforced it. To address this, we are planning to bring in bigger machines to grab sand during lower tides and place it on top and in front of the entire berm footprint, making it wider and taller to mitigate potential flooding.

The city is closely monitoring a developing storm system which is currently expected to remain offshore, but has the potential to bring tropical swells on Saturday or Sunday. While impacts remain uncertain, residents who would like to take extra precautions can pick up free prefilled sandbags at the City’s Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave. Empty sandbags are also available at Newport Beach fire stations.

Beachgoers are encouraged to use extra caution throughout the weekend. Always swim near an open lifeguard tower, follow posted warnings and be aware that ocean conditions can change quickly. The City will continue monitoring weather forecasts, surf and beach conditions throughout the week and will provide updates as the forecast becomes clearer.

Lastly, this weekend will be fully-staffed with NBPD officers and outside agency support to ensure a safe and orderly Labor Day weekend for all.

Mayor’s Youth Council Now Accepting Applications

If you have a Newport Beach high school student interested in civics, the City is taking applications for our Mayor’s Youth Council now. Selected participants are paired with a city staff mentor, assist with City special events, and create their own service project.

Police Headquarters Ad Hoc Committee Meeting on September 2nd

Residents are encouraged to attend the next police headquarters committee meeting on September 2nd, at 3:00pm.

Safety Spotlight: NBFD Lifeguard Caden Devincenzo

Fourth-year lifeguard Caden Devincenzo was one of the heroes involved in the intense family rescue at the beginning of the summer, when we experienced record swells and strong rip currents.

Like his peers, he loves the ocean, working with amazing watermen, and the diversity of calls on the beach. The medical side of lifeguarding is what has driven him to pursue a career in EMS, and he has his sights set on becoming a fire medic to pursue a career in helping people in the pre-hospital setting.

“I am thankful for the community that surrounds the lifeguard division in Newport. The amount of support we get is unreal, and I couldn’t be happier with where I work and who I work with and for.”

Safety Spotlight: NBPD Officer Chad Robbins

NBPD Officer Chad Robbins says he feels like law enforcement chose him. “I had my own experiences with law enforcement which made me think about how I could have a positive impact on people’s lives, especially the next generation.” This has been his biggest motivation throughout his 17-year career in law enforcement. He wants to help our youth and other officers make good decisions and become strong, capable men and women, which is how he earned Officer of the Year and Leadership of the Year awards at his previous Department.

In his three years with NBPD, he has worked as a Homeless Liaison Officer and now with the Special Enforcement Team, focusing on quality-of-life issues throughout the city. In his off time, you’ll find him spending time with his family, playing golf, or in the water, surfing.

“We’re here to help, and I think it’s important that people feel comfortable talking with us – whether that means answering a question, addressing a concern, or simply having a conversation. NBPD officers are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to serve a community that supports us and the work we do, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”

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