Thomas W. Wilson
Mr. Wilson is an Orange County supervisor representing the 5th district.

In 1994, a candidate for county treasurer informed anyone who would listen that the investment schemes of the current treasurer, Bob Citron, would lead to immense losses based on the current risky practice. No one listened to the challenger. Instead, they chalked it up to election-time politics. On Dec. 4, 1994, the citizens of Orange County learned the vivid truth with the declaration of bankruptcy. For the last 2 1/2 years, I have argued my opposition to the county's airport plans for El Toro, based in large part on the planning process. The planning process, to put it bluntly, is not a valid planning process. Now, don't get me wrong, the process didn't start out that way. In fact, it started out as a legitimate process, including the cities of Irvine and Lake Forest and representatives from the county of Orange.

This inclusive approach, formed as a joint-powers authority and called the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, began to map the future of El Toro. Yet around the same time that Citron's investment dealings were beginning to unravel, something bit more sinister took place: Measure A.

Proponents of an airport claim that the narrow passage of Measure A was proof that Orange County residents mandate an airport. There could be nothing further from the truth. At the time, Measure A was packaged and sold as an economic boost during a lengthy and costly recession.

What Measure A did to the planning process was to take it from a legitimate, open and honest public process to a closed-door, special-interest dominated, steamroller approach.

The motto of the current planning process: It's our way and the runway! Those most impacted by any reuse of El Toro, the communities surrounding the base, have been left out of the planning process with no choice but to fight for themelves.

Since then this so-called planning process has spent tens of millions of dollars on plans that change almost on a regular basis. Since the approval of the draft Environmental Impact Report in 1996, there has been no substantive release of information about the effects of an airport. Figures that have been released do not coincide with current plans.

I would argue that we have more schematic drawings of terminal designs and park landscaping than hard information on environmental impacts. Add to this point the repetitive delay in disclosure of information by county staff, exclusive meetings in Washington, D.C., and an advertising/public information budget which stretches into the millions.

I am not the only person who believes there are many problems with the current planning process -- and that is why I bring up the point. More and more people realize that the El Toro planning process is wrong for Orange County. Recently, U.S. Rep. Chris Cox criticized the planning process for excluding south Orange County residents.

So true. Congressman Cox is the latest in a string of people to call for changes to be made. Cox, in his criticism of the county, claimed the county failed to live up to its promise to him and the county has "shown the back of its hand to the locally affected residents." With all of the recent revelations regarding the county's airport plans, the next question is naturally: Who will the county fail next? As we learned in 1994, failures by the county can be costly.

What is to be done?

First, the county must admit officially what many know already: The current planning process is flawed. Privately, many ardent airport supporters admit that fact.

Second, I propose that Chairman Charles V. Smith, Rep. Cox and myself sit down to discuss a future process for the county to follow. Privatization is always a viable option, but, as always, the county must have its key interests represented -- Smith for the airport proponents and myself for those opposed. Third, I propose that we clear the deck and eliminate the misnamed and ineffective El Toro Citizens' Advisory Commission (CAC), a group whose advisory function is inherently biased from its strong, near majority pro-airport membership. The CAC is a constant reminder of the exclusive planning process recently in place.

Fourth, we need to remove any "mandate" that El Toro must be a commercial aiport. Measure A turned planning upside down and removed all rational and logical planning tools by designating El Toro to serve civilian airport needs. Yes, by all means, amend the general plan. Amend it to allow the highest and best use -- either through privatization or government means -- to be the reuse of El Toro.

Finally, we need to ensure that the process from this day forward is open and forthright with all residents of Orange County. No longer should individual supervisors or interest groups be privy to information over another. If the county is to continue the planning of El Toro, the El Toro Master Development Program should report directly to the Board of Supervisors, not the county executive officer. The CEO should concentrate on the daily management of the county aand not be distracted by the El Toro issue. The duly elected Board of Supervisors, under the chairman, should have oversight over this critical issue. If it is determined that privatization is the answer to the future of El Toro, then the Board of Supervisors should make that decision.