June 21, 2002

Ms. Cynthia P. Coad, ED. D.
Chair of the Board
Supervisor, Fourth District
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Orange County Hall of Administration
I0 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92101

Dear Madam Chair:

    I am pleased to tell you and the other Members of the Board of Supervisors that the Department of the Navy and the City of Irvine are very close to completing a conveyance strategy and land use plan that I believe will best meet the interests of the taxpayers of the Nation and the voters of Orange County. We have been working closely with the staff of the City of Irvine and the office of the Chief Executive Officer of the County of Orange to insure that the interests of all parties involved are considered.

    As of now, our strategy will be to divide the Base into logical parcels that will meet the development goals of the City and simultaneously attract the highest number of qualified developers. We will then offer the parcels at public auction and sell them to the highest bidder. We will use the City of Irvine's regulatory and zoning authority to guide us in achieving the highest value for the property while keeping faith with Measure W.

    To assure that the highest value is achieved for the taxpayers while simultaneously assuring that all legal obligations of a sale are met, we plan to defer the closure of the sale until after the property is annexed to the City and the requisite land use entitlements have been secured. Consequently, we view the successful annexation of the Navy's property to the City of Irvine as a critical element of the conveyance strategy.

    We understand your key role in the development process and know -that the Board of Supervisors must approve a tax transfer agreement as part of the City's annexation application to LAFCO. We understand also that you and the City have been working towards reaching this agreement. I urge you to vote affirmatively for a tax transfer agreement so that we can proceed expeditiously to sell the property and begin the real redevelopment process that will ultimately integrate the former air station into the County's economic base.

    I appreciate the strong partnership that has been created between the County, the City and the Navy-Marine Corps team. Together, I trust that we will quickly return El Toro to productive civilian reuse in keeping with the spirit of Measure W. I have sent identical letters to each of your fellow Board members.
 

With utmost respect,

H. T. Johnson