Newport Beach is about to kill Councilman Noah Blom’s buzz. After discovering Blom has been drinking wine during council meetings, the dais could consider a proposal by Diane Dixon to amend council policy and the city’s municipal code.
Blom confessed to imbibing on the job last week after a resident approached his trash can and smelled wine in his cup. Blom refused to apologize, saying “I never apologize for who I am.” But he did vow to stay off the hooch from now on.
“As the world has discovered and it was discovered up here, sometimes after dinner, I do enjoy a glass of wine and I did so at a council meeting before,” he said. “I fully recognize how that was not what we want to be doing up here, as I’ve heard it from many people from different accords.”
“From this point forward,” he added, “I think all you’ll ever see up here is some iced tea, maybe a beautiful cappuccino or a glass of water for me, as it’s no longer in the decorum of what the public would like.”
There’s nothing in the city code that prohibits drinking in public buildings or council chambers.
“Part of our issue in the city is that we probably need to clarify and define the appropriate Council decorum so people understand what it is because it has not been clarified,” Dixon explained. “So we don’t leave anyone guessing as to what that is, and the use of alcohol in our public buildings.”
Dixon will need support from three members to get the item on the agenda. The soonest it would be taken up is January.