December 30, 1997

Mr. William Steiner,
Chairman Orange County Board of Supervisors
10 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Dear Mr. Steiner:

I was very pleased to see your remarks about an open, public planning process contained in the recent newsletter put out by the EL Toro LRA staff. All of us at the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority applaud your call to get "as many facts as possible on the table so that all of us can participate based on honest information as we go forward." The debate about an airport at El Toro has been dominated for too long by misinformation and a shortage of straight facts.

As you may have heard, we at the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority have been seeking copies of some studies from your consultants pertaining to a variety of airport design issues. Although we believe these reports are public records, your staff has, thus far, refused to provide them. In any event, we believe that everyone in Orange County would benefit by the open airing of these reports. These reports, which are already in your staff’s possession, address many of the key questions that have been central to the debate about the viability of the proposed airport. They have been prepared by your own official consultants and should therefore have some credibility with the public. No matter what they say, it is time to share these important reports with the public. Continued delays and legal stalling tactics create the unfortunate impression that County Government is trying to hide something.

Please communicate your policy position regarding an open process and getting the facts on the table to your staff. All of us work for the people of Orange County. Those people will not be well served by costly litigation, with one public agency suing another, to compel the release of reports that you rightly note should be put on the table and shared. Everyone in Orange County will benefit by the release of this "honest information."

I would very much appreciate your assistance in resolving this problem. Please release these important reports to the public now. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Eckles Executive Director

Cc: ETRPA Board Members Joel Kuperberg Reuse Executive Management Team

Attachment: Copy of William Steiner letter regarding open planning