NEWS - February 2004

Today's Headlines - click on date for story
El Toro Info Site editorial, February 29, 2004
Remember to vote on Tuesday

Daily Pilot, February 28, 2004
"Turning the base into an airport, an idea that sparked a heated debate, is one step closer to fading away."

El Toro Info Site report, February 27, 2004
SCAG forecasts passenger demand by county

ETRPA Press Release, February 26, 2004 - updated February 27
Multiple Lawsuits Regarding El Toro Settled in "Global Agreement"

El Toro Info Site report, February 26, 2004
ALUC: One year and still stalling

OC Register, February, 25, 2004
"Suit filed in El Toro annexation"

LA Times, February 19, 2004
"Commissary at El Toro to Remain Closed"
"Reps. Cox, Sanchez and Royce vow to keep pressure on Pentagon to reopen the discount store for service personnel. The military says a store is not viable."

OC Register, February 18, 2004
"Proposals pouring in for Great Park"
"Racetrack, American Indian museum, sludge treatment plant among the ideas

El Toro Info Site report, February 16, 2004
Resistance to SCAG's plan keeps heat on O.C.

El Toro Info Site report, February 15, 2004
What's next for El Toro?

El Toro Info Site Report, February 13, 2004
ALUC Chairman Snubs Supervisor

El Toro Info Site report, February 12, 2004
El Toro boosters not giving up

El Toro Info Site report, February 12, 2004
Newport Beach links

El Toro Info Site report, February 11, 2004
Irvine and AWG hearing today

El Toro Info Site report, February 10, 2004 - updated
Irvine and AWG back in court

El Toro Info Site report, February 9, 2004
SD mayoral candidates want it both ways on airport site

El Toro Info Site editorial, February 6, 2004
Remember El Toro?
Remember "Just the Facts"? Cristich seemingly forgot.

OC Register, February 6, 2004
"Regional plan envisions more airports"
"The facilities would be built outside Orange County. The agency's report also recommends a high-speed train system." 

El Toro Info Site report, February 5, 2004
2003 Regional aviation demand is tallied

El Toro Info Site report, February 4, 2004
Court date today delayed

Irvine World News, February 1, 2004, web posted February 2
"Mears named chair of Great Park"

Daily Pilot Editorial, February 1, 2004
"Newport shouldn't be discouraged by Wilson's remark"

Click here for previous news stories


El Toro Info Site editorial, February 29, 2004
Remember to vote on Tuesday

Viewers have asked us for recommendations on "safe" anti-airport candidates. This website has a long-standing policy against taking a position in election campaigns unless a definitely anti-El Toro candidate like Chris Norby is running against a pro-airport candidate like Cynthia Coad. It is our one litmus test.

That is why we won't take sides in the heated Assembly race between Tom Wilson and Mimi Walters. Both are actively and consistently anti-airport.

We are not so sure about a couple of candidates in other important races who only recently adopted anti-airport postures. They are allowed to change their minds, but are they safely on our side or will they change back under pressure from their supporters?

We can't quite forget the past pro-airport positions of Senate candidate Ken Maddox (endorsed by Chuck Smith) and of Assembly candidate Cristi Cristich. We wonder how much of their change of heart was just political expediency. We want committed reps, who will fight for our cause in Sacramento.

Many who post opinions on our message board seem to share these concerns.

This is particularly the case with Newport Beach businesswoman Cristich's reversal of position and her recent conclusion that El Toro is bad for Orange County. It is good news but a little late in the game. Bill Kogerman - one of a handful of anti-airport leaders who have graduated from grass-roots volunteers to paid political advisor operatives - has endorsed her born-again airport politics. He says he will be paid to politically advise her Sacramento consultants on the El Toro issue if she is elected. If so, let's hope they act on the advice.

Daily Pilot, February 28, 2004
"Turning the base into an airport, an idea that sparked a heated debate, is one step closer to fading away."
 
"NEWPORT BEACH — In the wake of the settlement of an El Toro lawsuit, one major player in the longtime airport battle is expanding its focus as another is gladly approaching extinction.

"After settling litigation over Measure W on Thursday and as the end nears on two other pending lawsuits, Airport Working Group President Tom Naughton said that the group will continue to pursue its long-term goal of seeking solutions to growing airport demand in the region."

"At the same time, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which was created to oppose a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine Air Base, is close to closing up shop. 'This week's settlement is probably one of the last nails in the coffin of an El Toro Airport,' said Meg Waters."

"On Thursday, one of the last lingering battles over an El Toro Airport was resolved when . . .  parties arrived at a settlement to close the door on several outstanding lawsuits." Airport Working Group forfeits the right to appeal and in return, received a $100,000 settlement. Click for comments by the vice-Chair of ETRPA.

"Two other El Toro-related lawsuits by the Airport Working Group are still pending but could be resolved as soon as next week."

"'Ideally we would like to seem them forced to produce a supplemental [environmental impact report],' Naughton said."

Website Editor: The requirement to produce a supplemental EIR and circulate it for public comments is an extreme remedy and would create months of delay. If the judge accepts the AWG allegations, he alternatively might issue a much quicker "fix-it ticket".

El Toro Info Site report, February 27, 2004
SCAG forecasts passenger demand by county

Planners and consultants for the Southern California Association of Governments forecast that regional air passenger demand will double by 2030. SCAG has not published its projections for any county other than Orange. This week the organization provided a more complete breakdown of the data at this website's request.

SCAG forecasts O.C. passengers to climb  to 32 MAP in 2030. SCAG has not published an estimate of current O.C. demand which this website estimates to be about 14 MAP.

SCAG Regional Transportation Plan forecast by county:

County
2030 MAP
(Origin & Destination Passengers)
% of Regional O&D Total
Los Angeles                    
 89.6
61
Orange
 32.0
22
San Bernardino
 13.0
  9
Riverside
   8.2
  6
Ventura
   4.2
  3
Total
147.0


Connecting passengers and those in transit are forecasted to add 23 million annually to the total.
ETRPA Press Release, February 26, 2004 - updated February 27
Multiple Lawsuits Regarding El Toro Settled in "Global Agreement"

One of the last vestiges of the fight over the reuse of the former El Toro Marine base has come to a resounding halt today as the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), The City of Irvine, The Airport Working Group (AWG), the Orange County Regional Airport Authority (OCRAA) and a number of private parties agreed to a global settlement which closes the door on several outstanding lawsuits.  The agreement ends litigation challenging Measure W, the County initiative enacted in 2002 that prevents use of El Toro for airport purposes.

According to ETRPA Chairman Mimi Walters, “We are very pleased to have resolved these lawsuits. The global settlement agreement means that Measure W stands and cannot be challenged  The county can never go back to planning an airport at El Toro, as Measure W, which prohibits an airport at the former base, is now the law of the land.  This gives us great comfort that the battle over El Toro is nearly over.”

The agreement also settles litigation regarding Measure W’s title and summary, litigation regarding an attorney’s fees claim and Measure F, and a challenge to Irvine’s EIR for the Millennium Plan (the original non-aviation plan for El Toro).  The agreement requires each of these cases be dismissed with prejudice by all parties which means that Measure W  cannot be challenged again as the statute of limitations has run out.
 
Other terms of the agreement include ETRPA paying the following fees:
The agreement does not include current challenges by AWG to the City’s of Irvine’s EIR concerning the Great Park, or by AWG against LAFCO over the annexation of the base by the City of Irvine.  However, with Measure W resolved, even if the challenges to LAFCO’s decision prevailed, an airport would not be possible since Measure W prevents use of the property for aviation purposes.

Website Editor: Click here for the text of the settlement agreement.

The website's Litigation section contains additional updated information on the various suits settled by this agreement and those still outstanding.

The Times reports, February 27, "Settlements Nearly End El Toro Fight."


El Toro Info Site report, February 26, 2004 - updated
ALUC: One year and still stalling

On February 25, 2003, the Board of Supervisors rescinded the county's plans for a commercial airport at El Toro. The Board action included a resolution to the Airport Land Use Commission to change the Airport Environs Land Use Plan (AELUP) to reflect this fact. The AELUP is a set of noise, height and crash hazard restrictions imposed on development in the area surrounding El Toro.

The ALUC has refused to follow Board policy. For a year now, the renegade commission chairman, the commission majority and its staff have stalled, snubbing the Board and all requests that the commission deal realistically with the El Toro issue.

Supervisor Wilson recently sent his explanation of the situation, with additional details, to one of our website viewers.

The commission's meeting for this month was cancelled.

OC Register, February, 25, 2004
"Suit filed in El Toro annexation"

"The Airport Working Group has filed suit in state court, challenging LAFCO's approval of Irvine's annexation of the former El Toro Marine base."

"The Airport Working Group charged that Irvine's environmental impact report on converting the base into a Great Park inadequately addresses the dust and pollution generated by the demolition of the base and the 900 acres of runways, taxiways and building pads."

"The plaintiff made essentially the same charges in a suit challenging the environmental report. The judge in that case has indicated that he will rule early next month."

LA Times, February 19, 2004
"Commissary at El Toro to Remain Closed"

"Reps. Cox, Sanchez and Royce vow to keep pressure on Pentagon to reopen the discount store for service personnel. The military says a store is not viable."

"In its strongest language yet, the Defense Department reiterated that it had no plans to reopen the commissary at the closed El Toro Marine base."

 
"In a Jan. 22 letter, Deputy Undersecretary John M. Molono wrote that after several reviews, 'no further action is contemplated to establish a commissary or combined store.' "

"Their letter noted that federal law authorized the defense secretary to operate commissary operations on up to 10 closed bases. Cox said only seven were in operation."

" 'None of us have yet received a responsive letter,' Cox said Wednesday of their earlier challenges. 'Far from putting the matter to rest, this simply further energizes three members of Congress.' "

Click here to read David McKibben's complete story.


OC Register, February 18, 2004
"Proposals pouring in for Great Park"
"Racetrack, American Indian museum, sludge treatment plant among the ideas"

"The ideas, that is, for what could be included in the Great Park."

"Auctioning of the 3,600 acres of the old El Toro military base is several months away, and yet at least 50 proposals have been presented so far to Irvine for what could be included in the Great Park – the mix of museums, farms, athletic fields, wilderness areas, schools, houses, businesses and other uses planned for the site."

"An American Indian museum? Sounds promising."

"An 1850s-style ranch? Could be."

"A sludge treatment plant? No, but thanks for asking. "

"A racetrack? Well, maybe."

Click for Jeff Rowe's complete story.


El Toro Info Site report, February 16, 2004
Resistance to SCAG's plan keeps heat on O.C.

Our predictions for 2004 say:
In 2004, Mayor Hahn's plan for restricting the growth of LAX will generate more controversy. LA's push to reallocate much of the regional air passenger capacity to other airports will encounter resistance. Interest in using El Toro will persist.
The SCAG Aviation Task Force will meet this Wednesday and discuss objections from March Inland Port and Bob Hope (Burbank) airports to their allocation of projected passenger service for 2030.

SCAG assigned 8 MAP of 2030's passenger service to March but the March Joint Powers Commission prefers a number closer to 2 MAP.  SCAG staff used the opportunity to point out that "without El Toro", Orange County would generate about 29% of March's 8 MAP. "The loss of El Toro" is a term repeatedly cited at SCAG meetings.

SCAG assigned 10.8 MAP of 2030's service to Bob Hope. That airport's commissioners called the assumptions employed "neither viable nor realistic". Most of the traffic assumed for Bob Hope is predicted to come from communities northwest of, but relatively close to LAX and from Ventura County. 
El Toro Info Site report, February 15, 2004
What's next for El Toro?

A month has past since last we visited the question "What's next?"

Settlement of the litigation brought by the Airport Working Group against Measure W inches forward. This week, a political campaign piece reported that one of the parties to the lawsuit "recently signed a global settlement for the existing airport litigation" and others reportedly also have signed on to the language of an agreement that would make Measure W unchallenged law.

Airport Working Group's lawsuit against the City of Irvine over the Great Park environmental impact report had its day in court on February 11 and the judge expects to rule in early March.

The AWG threatened to sue LAFCO over that commission's approval of the Irvine annexation of the base. A lawsuit looks likely. Whether a judge would undo the annexation is debatable. It is AWG's style to hold off filing litigation until the last possible moment so as to maximize any delay that is created. The group tries to fund new lawsuits by settling old nuisance suits for money.

The Navy and General Services Administration are still working on base cleanup issues with the State of California's Environmental Protection Agency before launching the land sale process. We suspect that the AWG may be muddying those waters. The pro-El Toro group has paid environmental lawyer Greg Hurley and his firm a sum well into six figures for a variety of reports, legal services, and hatchet jobs on the Great Park.

The pro-airport game plan is delay, delay, and delay. Meanwhile, airport opponents keep moving towards their runway demolition party.

El Toro Info Site Report, February 13, 2004
ALUC Chairman Snubs Supervisor

On January 20, Supervisor Bill Campbell wrote Airport Land Use Commission Chairman Gerald Bresnahan requesting an explanation for Bresnahan's refusal to schedule discussion on ALUC's obsolete land use plans for the area around El Toro. Bresnahan did not respond to the supervisor's letter.

At the commission's December and January meetings, Breshnahan bluntly refused to agendize debate on the El Toro Airport Environs Land Use Plan. He rejected a written request to do so from Commissioners O'Malley and Harris, the Board of Supervisors' appointees to ALUC.

That led Campbell to write to Bresnahan. "Currently, I am unaware of any rule which would prevent a commissioner from placing a relevant airport land use issue on the agenda for discussion purposes. I was hoping you would explain the basis of your decision to refuse Commissioner Harris' request to my office.  Specifically, please inform me of which ALUC rules you were following when you denied the request. Thank you in advance for providing clarification to me on [this] matter."

Bresnahan's rude failure to answer Campbell is no surprise. ALUC has rejected a year-old Board of Supervisors' resolution requesting that the obsolete plan be changed. Bresnahan has not answered letters from Congressmen Chris Cox and Ken Calvert and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Wayne Arny, all requesting that the land use restrictions be removed to reflect that El Toro is no longer an airport.

Bresnahan is John Wayne airport's appointed representative on ALUC. His staff, including Executive Director Joan Golding, are employees assigned to ALUC by John Wayne Airport Manager Alan Murphy.

It is time for Board Chairman Tom Wilson and the Supervisors to take whatever action is necessary to remove Bresnahan from the commission. John Wayne Airport's representative and its publicly-paid employees should carry out county policy.

El Toro Info Site report, February 12, 2004
El Toro boosters not giving up

El Toro boosters, including the Airport Working Group and Orange County Regional Airport Authority, are not giving up. Representatives of the groups have met in Los Angeles in recent attempts to resurrect a possible takeover of El Toro by Los Angeles World Airports.

The AWG/OCRAA will try every means to delay the sale of the property including a planned legal attack on the Local Agency Formation Commission, LAFCO's, approval of the Irvine annexation.

Proponents hope that delay will provide time to win support in Sacramento for legislation to overrule Orange County voters. Elected representatives from the area around LAX, like George Nakano and Ken Murray, have pushed for more runways in Orange County. While the Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG, has removed El Toro from its 2004 transportation plan, key SCAG leaders still would like to see the O.C. airport built.

In some quarters, there is hope that the upcoming national election might produce a change in administration in Washington more favorable to an LAX takeover of El Toro. Residents of the area around LAX are predominantely Democratic while Orange Countians favor the Republicans.

El Toro Info Site report, February 12, 2004
Newport Beach
links

Visit the City of Newport Beach's website at http://www.city.newport-beach.ca.us/home.htm and click on the home page's drop down menu for General Information. The listed links include one for El Toro Airport.

A click on El Toro Airport links to an Orange County Regional Airport Authority page hosted by Newport Beach at http://www.city.newport-beach.ca.us/OCRAA.htm

There you will find OCRAA's pro-El Toro airport message including "Research shows that by the year 2020, Orange County land use will generate air passenger demand of 33 million annual passengers " Not even SCAG uses such an aggressive guesstimate any longer. The page goes on to state, "The County has provided links to both sides of this issue on their web page, which can be accessed by clicking on the link provided below."  Both sides?

At the bottom of Newport's OCRAA page is the old County "Opportunities Ahead" logo now linked to the AWG PAC website. The link is there only because the folks who run the City website included it.

These interconnected relationships with AWG are a reason why we are suspect of Newport Beach running John Wayne airport or influencing the Airport Land Use Commission.

El Toro Info Site report, February 11, 2004
Irvine and AWG hearing today

The hearing on AWG's lawsuit against the Irvine Great Park environmental impact report was held this morning. The judge indicated that he expects to issue a ruling during the first week in March.

El Toro Info Site report, February 10, 2004 - updated
Irvine and AWG back in court

The hearing on AWG's lawsuit against the Irvine Great Park environmental impact report, rescheduled for today, now has been rescheduled to tomorrow by the judge. Stay tuned.

El Toro Info Site report, February 9, 2004
SD mayoral candidates want it both ways on airport site

The Sunday San Diego Union Tribune interviews mayoral candidates for their opinions on the search for a new SD airport site. "Most of those sites [being studied] are owned by the military, but the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce and others are, at the same time, lobbying in Washington against the closing of any military bases."

Read the opinions and it appears that they'd like it both ways. Lobby to not close any military bases because they contribute to the economy; turn some or all of a military base into a commercial airport because it will contribute to the economy.

El Toro Info Site editorial, February 6, 2004 - updated
Remember El Toro?
Remember "Just the Facts"? Cristich seemingly forgot.


We remember the days, not long ago, when someone could not get votes for dogcatcher in South County if they supported El Toro airport. In 2002, one candidate ran for the non-political office of County Auditor by opposing the airport.

Those days seem to be forgotten. Former airport boosters are seeking to win friends by distancing themselves from their own recent pasts. To some degree they are finding support amongst those who are quick to forgive and forget.

Maybe it is good to put the airport behind us. We would if the Airport Working Group and their allies would stop trying to revive it. AWG is suing right and left to keep the runways in place.

Similarly, the Airport Land Use Commission is retaining land use restrictions in the flight path footprint in case the City of Los Angeles or the State Legislature makes another attempt to resurrect the project.

The airport is almost dead but its backers haven't given up. Until they do, Orange County needs all the dedicated, focused and well-informed anti-airport representation it can get in Sacramento. We need people who understand the issues, not just which way the political wind is blowing this season.

That is why we are uncomfortable with the candidacy of Ken Maddox for the State Senate. Maddox backed the airport but now says he'll support the will of the people. His opponent, John Campbell opposed the airport all along.

We also are uncomfortable with the candidacy of Cristi Cristich of Newport Beach for the California Assembly. She backed the airport, but now claims to have seen the light. Her opponent, Chuck DeVore of Irvine consistently has been on Irvine's side of the debate.

Today, Cristich's credibility took a big hit when Congressman Chris Cox, leveled criticism at her for "deceptive campaign mail claiming a phony 'endorsement'" of her candidacy. In a press release, fellow Republican Rep Cox stated today: "I am deeply disappointed that the Cristich campaign has intentionally misled the voters in the 70th Assembly District by resorting to unethical and deceptive tactics. She has taken a letter plainly stating I would not endorse her, and turned it into its opposite. She then signed my name to it. It is pure counterfeit."

OC Register, February 6, 2004
"Regional plan envisions more airports"
"The facilities would be built outside Orange County. The agency's report also recommends a high-speed train system."

"More Orange County residents will be catching flights in the future in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to a preliminary study by the Southern California Association of Governments. The regional transportation plan recommends building airports in those two counties, using the airport at Palmdale and expanding Ontario International Airport to cope with an anticipated doubling of regional passenger traffic by 2030. Southern California airports served about 78 million passengers in 2002, twice the number served in 1980. The report acknowledges that El Toro is gone as a commercial-airport option."

"If Ontario and the new airports are built out according to plan, John Wayne Airport would serve only about a third of the passengers originating or bound for Orange County. Much of the rest of the O.C. demand would go to Ontario and March via a high-speed train."

Website Editor: We estimate that O.C. generated approximately 14 million passengers last year. See yesterday's report below.

SCAG forecasts the 2030 Orange County demand to more than double to 32 Million Annual Passengers, MAP and assumes that John Wayne airport will remain capped at 10.8 MAP.
Regional planners have sought to identify future areas of maximum passenger origination.

Click for the complete Register story.

El Toro Info Site report, February 5, 2004
2003 Regional aviation demand is tallied

Air passenger service at the six airports in the Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG region totalled 78,905,518 last year. That is a 1.4% increase over 2002.

We continue to estimate that Orange County origin and destination passengers amounted to approximately 14 million with 8 million of them using John Wayne and about 6 million using other airports, principally LAX.

Click here for the SCAG projections for 2030 that include bringing substantial passenger service to Palmdale, March, San Bernadino and Southern California Logistics Airport near Victorville.

El Toro Info Site report, February 4, 2004 - update
Court date today delayed

The hearing scheduled for today on the Airport Working Group's legal challenge to the Great Park Environmental Impact Report has been delayed at the court's request to February 10 at 10:00 AM.

Park supporters would like to see the case resolved as quickly as possible to remove this legal cloud over the project. If the court orders any changes to the EIR, then the sooner the "fix-it ticket" is issued by the judge and dealt with, the better. The judge will have up to 90 days from the hearing to rule.

Irvine World News, February 1, 2004, web posted February 2
"Mears named chair of Great Park"

"Chris Mears was selected as chair of the board of directors of the Orange County Great Park at the board’s meeting Thursday. The nine board members also were assigned to various committees aimed at focusing on the planning process and discussed a general time line for the next 12 months."

"Board member Michael Pinto was elected as vice chair. Pinto is also a board member for the Laguna Canyon Foundation."

"Allison Hart, city manager and CEO of Orange County Great Park Corp., and her staff met with Department of the Navy officials last week to hash out details for a timeline for the next year."

"The Navy is still completing an environmental report for the base [Findings of Suitability for Transfer, FOST, and resolutions of issues with the California Environmental Protection Agency] before it can sell the 3,600-acre former Marine Corps base, Hart said."

"The Navy is expected to start taking bids on the property in six or seven months. The process is expected to last two months."

"Near the end of the year, escrow should close and the developers and the city can enter into development agreements by early next year."

"In the next year, the board also will try to identify companies to break up and recycle the concrete runways on the base, which is expected to take five years." Click for more . . .

Website Editor: Readers of this website know that we have been reporting that the project is behind its original city and Navy schedule and progressing slowly. This newspaper article is one of the first published reports that the sale will not begin before summer nor close until 2005.

Daily Pilot Editorial, February 1, 2004
"Newport shouldn't be discouraged by Wilson's remark"

Supervisor Tom "Wilson threw a bit of cold water on the idea of Newport Beach taking control of the [John Wayne] airport this week."

The Pilot editorializes that "There was no small amount of bad blood generated by Wilson's South County constituents toward the people of Newport Beach, who were largely in favor of an airport."

"So now, despite any merit the John Wayne idea — or any idea for that matter — may have, South County forces are determined to say no to Newport Beach."

"Wilson, who is running for a state Assembly seat, most likely recognizes that and will probably do nothing that would anger or raise suspicions among his anti-Newport, South County constituents."

"Maybe in the end of the day, the evidence will make it clear that the county should continue its control of John Wayne. But that decision should be based on neutral facts and lengthy discussions, not at the political whims of Newport's enemies."

Website Editor: Perhaps Wilson should end the Pilot's paranoia that this is just a South County vendetta against Newport by agendizing the matter for Board of Supervisors debate. Let's see how all five members vote.


Click here for previous news stories