NEWS - February 2006
El Toro Info Site report, February 27, 2006
Jim Davy, Tireless
El Toro Volunteer, Passes February 26, 2006
El Toro Info Site report, February 26, 2006
Planning for OC's
future air travel needs
San Diego Union-Tribune, February 25, 2006
"Navy boss says no
to civilian base use"
LA Times, February 24, 2006
"O.C. Park
Appointee Triggers Tension"
El Toro Info Site report, February 23,
2006
More from GPC board
meeting
El Toro Info Site report, February 23, 2006
Bill Kogerman
selected to Great Park Board
OC Register, February 23, 2006
"Great Park panel
to fill vacancy"
El Toro Info Site report, February 22, 2006
Great Park board
meets Thursday
El Toro Info Site report, February 22, 2006
Great Park
expenditures
El Toro Info Site report, February 21, 2006
SCAG to look at 2035
El Toro Info Site report, February 19, 2006
Everyone gets to
party on V-W Day
OC Register, February 18, 2006
"Report says
crowded areas at LAX attractive to terrorists"
The San Diego Union-Tribune February 17, 2006
“Navy: 'We will
cooperate' on new airport site” – or will they?
OC Register, February 17, 2006
"Builder proposed
for JWA project"
El Toro Info Site report, February 16, 2006
Airport opponents
celebrate
OC Register, February 15, 2006
Articles in print
but not yet online
El Toro Info Site report, February 14, 2006
Santa Ana Heights
in the takeoff path of JWA
[San Diego] North County Times, February
13,
2006 - updated February 14
“Committee: Drop
North County from airport search”
El Toro Info Site report, February 12, 2006 -
updated February 13
Regional airport
plans face conflicts
SD North County Times, February 11, 2006
“Board member says
San Diego Marine depot could solve airport needs”
Media release, February 10, 2006
John Wayne airport
releases January statistics
El Toro Info Site report, February 9, 2006
GPC interviews
candidates
LA Times, February 9, 2006
"Next, he'll build
a canyon"
LA Daily News Editorial February 7, 2006,
website
posted February 8
"Regionalizing air
traffic requires tough, no-nonsense leadership"
OC Register, February 7, 2006
"Funds for fighting
airport went to mailer"
El Toro Info Site report, February 5, 2006
Anti-airport
contributions wind up in political slate mailer’s coffers
El Toro Info Site report, February 4, 2006
Regional airport
bill dies
Associated Press, February 3, 2006
"LAX Gets More
Federal Funds for Runway Project"
OC Register, February 2, 2006
"Great Park will
test Smith's management skill"
El Toro Info Site report, February 1, 2006
Airport statistics
for 2005
LA Times, January 31, 2006, posted February 1
“SFO has early lead
in race to handle super-jumbo jet”
Click
here for previous news stories
El
Toro Info Site report, February 27, 2006
Jim Davy, Tireless
El Toro Volunteer, Passes February 26, 2006
Jim Davy suffered a heart attack and passed away Sunday February 26,
2006. He led the volunteer signature-gathering effort for both Measure
F and Measure W. Under his leadership, a county record of 195,000
signatures were gathered to place Measure F on the Ballot.
Jim Davy was 80 years old and was recently honored by ETRPA as
one of the outstanding leaders of the grass roots effort to stop the
airport. He was a resident of Dana Point and is survived by
his wife, Phyllis. Jim Davy will remain in our thoughts and
prayers.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Laguna Niguel
Presbyterian Church, 30071 Ivy Glenn, Laguna Niguel. It is suggested
donations be made to the Heart Association or Hospice Care of
California in lieu of flowers.
Memories and thoughts of Jim
can
be posted here.
El Toro
Info Site report, February 26, 2006
Planning for OC's
future air travel needs
Orange County and San Diego County have similar populations,
and each
operates a county airport with a single commercial runway on roughly
5-600 acres. The two
counties are addressing future air travel demands in very different
ways.
San Diego is actively working to add capacity The San Diego Regional
Airport Authority is maximizing the physical utilization of Lindbergh
Field. In addition, a major search is underway to find a second county
airport site - either in county or in an adjoining county - to augment
or replace Lindbergh Field.
In Orange County, plans for increasing JWA acreage and lengthening the
commercial runway
were
developed by the county in 1999 and made an alternative in EIR 573.
A proposal to expand JWA to serve as many as 25 million passengers was
part of a
political strategy to scare up central county support for building El
Toro airport.
Once the El Toro fight ended, so did discussion of a major increase in
John Wayne passenger service.
In 2002, the Board of Supervisors approved
a new
John Wayne EIR 582 which did not incorporate the growth
alternatives of the earlier EIR 573. The terminal will be
expanded. However, the Board agreed to extend artificial limits on
JWA's utilization to 10.8 MAP until 2015. If needed, additional
passenger service would have to come from some unspecified airport
elsewhere.
Runway capacity in the region is ample. The challenge is getting
passengers to the runways. Discussion of ground access for Orange
County travelers to out-of-county airports has been left largely to the
Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG. However, SCAG and
Los Angeles World Airports have shown relatively little interest in
accommodating OC air passengers.
LAX, in its FlyAway planning for airport transport, considered over 30
routes with none intended to bring passengers to and from Orange
County.
As
a Los Angeles World Airports official spokesperson said, "Orange
County needs to address its own airport demand."
Until recently, it was impossible to examine Orange County's future air
travel needs objectively while the supervisors and voters were severely
polarized by the El Toro debate.
Since voters finally rejected plans for an El Toro airport in 2002,
Orange County has not undertaken a fresh review of its future airport
demand and options. The time may be ripe to revisit the issue.
San
Diego Union-Tribune, February 25, 2006
"Navy boss says no
to civilian base use"
"The Pentagon yesterday issued its highest-level opposition yet to the
proposed use of any San Diego military installation for a civilian
airport, a message that comes even as consultants unveiled an
'outside-the-box' concept for collaborative operations at Miramar air
station."
"In a letter to a congresswoman, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter
flatly rejected proposals for joint use at Miramar, Camp Pendleton and
North Island Naval Air Station."
“'National defense requirements preclude making any portion of these
installations available for a new or dual use commercial airport,'
Winter said in his letter to U.S. Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-San Diego."
Click
for two articles on this development in San Diego's search for a new
airport site.
LA
Times, February 24, 2006
"O.C. Park
Appointee Triggers Tension"
"William G. Kogerman, 67, of Laguna Hills was picked Thursday to
replace former Irvine Co. executive Richard G. Sim on the nine-member
Orange County Great Park Corp.'s board of directors. Sim resigned
abruptly in May after accusing park board leadership of wasteful
spending and muddy priorities."
"Just as Sim left the park board amid controversy, Kogerman's selection
sparked similar tension. He was opposed by two board members who
questioned his ties with public affairs giant Forde & Mollrich of
Newport Beach, which last year denied allegations of bill-padding in
its $1.2-million contract with the park board."
"Kogerman said he worked for the company four years ago during the
fight to kill plans for a commercial airport at El Toro. He is
currently managing the supervisorial campaign of Laguna Niguel
Councilwoman Cathryn de Young, who separately employs Forde &
Mollrich as her chief strategist."
"Kogerman said he would abstain from future votes on Forde &
Mollrich's contract if he believed there was a conflict of interest. He
vowed to be an independent voice on the park board."
El
Toro Info Site report, February 23, 2006
More from GPC board
meeting
It was reported that agreement had been reached for Lennar to contract
for runway demolition and that “recycling will be well underway this
summer.”
GPC staff is working on a “Last Tour” open house for the general public
with particular attention to those “who have some connection with the
base.” There will be shuttle bus tours, an oral history activity,
memory board, speakers and the assembling of a time capsule.
A ground breaking will take place in late summer.
El
Toro Info Site report, February 23, 2006
Bill Kogerman
selected to Great Park Board
Bill
Kogerman, long-time anti-airport leader and Chairman of the successful
Yes on Measure W campaign was selected today from amongst 23 applicants
and three finalists to fill the vacant seat on the Great Park Corp
board. Kogerman brings a unique background in business, military
leadership, and El Toro's legacy to the position.
He is a Laguna Hills resident, a political conservative and has not
shied away from crossing swords with Larry Agran in the past -
attributes that might add some balance to the board.
Kogerman is committed to "fulfilling the promise of Measure W",
creating a veterans' memorial at the park, and is likely to work for
appropriate recognition of the grass roots efforts that led to the park
becoming a reality. We congratulate him.
The 6-2 vote on his selection was not without the controversy that
marks much of what transpires between Irvine council members. Board
member Choi questioned Kogerman's previous employment by, and current
working relationship with Forde & Mollrich, why Kogerman had not
revealed it during the application process, and how he would handle the
political consulting firm's contracts with the GPC.
Member Shea praised former member Sim for the business experience he
brought to the table and for "not being part of the political majority
on this board." We should not be choosing "just another political
friend." Shea expressed disappointment that Kogerman listed himself as
retired when he is actively working as a political consultant on a team
with Forde & Mollrich. (The live audio of the meeting was
interrupted during much of her comments.)
Finalist Bill Campbell, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors - who
submitted his application with the full backing of his fellow
supervisors - was praised by the GPC board members. Despite the praise,
not one of the board's, "political majority" (to borrow Shea's term)
stepped out of line to vote for him. It was thought by many observers
that Campbell had no real chance of being chosen. He had criticized the
governance of the Great Park and was thought to favor more countywide
influence in how the Irvine-run corporation conducts its affairs.
OC
Register, February 23, 2006
"Great Park panel
to fill vacancy"
Irvine paper recommends a choice.
"The Great Park Corp. board faces a pivotal choice today that will
influence big decisions looming on design and financing of what is
planned as one of biggest metropolitan parks in the nation."
"The new member will affect the political makeup of the board led by
longtime Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran."
Website Editor: Agran's majority of
allies on the board is so strong that the presence of a different
viewpoint - such as Dick Sim's - could not be "pivotal" on any
decision. It is unlikely that the board would select anyone
unacceptable to Agran.
"The Register asked Alan Saltzstein, a retired political science
professor at California State University Fullerton, to analyze the
candidates' résumés and letters.
Click
for his assessment.
The Irvine World News adds comments from Sarah Catz who will be
teaching a course at UCI on the Great Park.
The
IWN also comes out in support of Mark Steiman in an editorial.
"Steiman is the unknown, at least publicly, but he shows the promise to
be a director who will bring a different voice to the enterprise as
well as additional expertise in managing money and people. Mark
Steiman ought to be the board’s choice today."
El Toro
Info Site report, February 22, 2006
Great Park board
meets Thursday
The Great Park Corp board meets tomorrow, Thursday at 1:00 PM
at Irvine City Hall. The meeting can be watched on-line through the
city's web site at
http://www.cityofirvine.org/ . Click on ICTV30 Watch It Now in
the left frame. Irvine residents can watch on Channel 30 TV.
The board will discuss, and possibly choose, someone to fill the open
seat that has been vacant for nine months.
The
three finalists for the seat vacated by Dick Sim are Bill
Kogerman, Bill Campbell and Mark Steiman.
The board will get an update from Manager of Engineering Christina Lo
on the staff's recommendation to choose Bovis Lend Lease as the project
manager for the Great Park. The firm would be an extension of the Great
Park Corp. staff, coordinate with Ken Smith's design team on
construction plans and oversee construction of the Great Park.
The board will receive an update on plans for a groundbreaking ceremony
at the former base this spring.
There also will be a report on the
runway demolition and concrete recycling project.
El
Toro Info Site report, February 22, 2006
Great Park
expenditures
The Great Park
Corp budget for this Fiscal Year July1, 2005 through June 30, 2006
was increased in December to $10,504,926.
The increase is for the "amortization of pre-formation costs", i.e.
Irvine expenses
which were capitalized on the advice of auditors and will be treated as
an expense of the Park each year for 5 years. The city already
has been
reimbursed from development fees paid by Lennar.
The city received $66,666,666 from Lennar so far - one-third of the
total due. Irvine holds the funds until they are transferred to the
Great Park Corp.
As of November 30, 2005, the city deducted various startup costs and
advances totaling $14,417,841 leaving $52,248,825 for ongoing Great
Park activities. The accounting is as follows:
Irvine ETRPA dues (final payment)
|
645,091
|
Entitlement & Planning Contract
Services
|
1,245,991
|
December 9, 2003 Advance
|
250,000
|
March 22, 2005 Advance
|
2,122,250
|
Environmental Insurance Premium
|
2,900,794
|
Personnel Reimbursement Agreement
|
4,056,179
|
Community Facilities District (CFD)
Planning/Startup Staffing Costs
|
124,394
|
CFD Planning/Startup Contract Costs
|
2,870,000
|
Interest on Advance
|
203,142
|
Total Startup and Repayment of City
Advances
|
14,417,841
|
The magnitude of the transfers to the city from what has simplistically
regarded as "park money" adds to questions about the relationship
between the Great Park Corp board and the city council.
As Former Irvine
School Board President Hank Adler recently wrote, "The Irvine city
council members sit on the Great Park Board, select the other board
members, and have veto power over any bylaw changes." The city holds
the money, controls the books, decides which costs like ETRPA dues to
charge to the park, and operates the GPC in many ways as another city
department.
A discussion of the relationship between the Great Park Corp and the
city is on
the
GPC Board agenda for Thursday.
Irvine is a safe attractive city with good parks and a well regarded
school system. Having Irvine Great Park beats Irvine International
Airport.
El Toro
Info Site report, February 21, 2006
SCAG to look at 2035
The Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG, reconvenes
its Aviation Task Force this Thursday to begin work on a 2008 Regional
Transportation Plan. A new Regional Aviation Capacity and Forecasting
Study will be undertaken along with an Airspace Analysis.
The ATF
will update its regional
airport plan, extending its horizon to 2035.
The Aviation Task Force also will be asked to approve a new
regional
airport management/governance structure to improve coordination
between the region's several airports.
El Toro
Info Site report, February 19, 2006
Everyone gets to
party on V-W Day
Sunday, March 5, 2006 is the 4th anniversary of the victory of Measure
W.
All
anti-airport volunteers are invited to an informal celebration
from
1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Laguna Hills home of ETRPA Chairman Allan
Songstad.
Pass the word around. Come on out to see your friends.
Click here
for details, directions and how to respond to the invitation.
Supervisor
Bill Campbell published a group of photos from the February 15
ETRPA event in his email bulletin.
OC
Register, February 18, 2006
"Report says
crowded areas at LAX attractive to terrorists"
"Crowded public areas at Los Angeles International Airport are
attractive targets for terrorist bombs, according to a report released
detailing airport security."
"The 64-page report released Friday recommended that airlines add
ticket agents and the federal Transportation Security Administration
hire more screeners to speed travelers to secure gate areas."
"The study urged the city to build permanent checkpoints at the
airport's six entrances to reduce the risk of car-bomb attacks - a
proposal it originally made in 2004."
Read
more including the LA Times report, "3rd Risk Warning for LAX in 3
Years."
The San
Diego Union-Tribune February 17, 2006
“Navy: 'We will
cooperate' on new airport site” – or will they?
The San Diego paper raised hopes that a military base might be made
available for civilian aviation, reporting “A senior Navy official told
airport agency members yesterday that the Navy is willing to be ‘part
of the process’ of helping San Diego find a location for a new regional
airport. The meeting with Navy Assistant Secretary BJ Penn in
Washington, D.C., was requested by San Diego County Regional Airport
Authority members to inform him about their interest in sharing a
military airport, said Joe W. Craver, chairman of the authority's
board.”
“Penn did not commit to using the sites, nor did he preclude using
Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, its East Miramar installation, Camp
Pendleton or North Island Naval Air Station.”
Shortly thereafter, the San Diego Regional Airport Authority issued a
"follow-on" media release adjusting the spin:
"Assistant Secretary Penn said that there were three criteria he
applied to all decisions: is this solution best for the sailors and
marines, the Department of Defense and the country."
"While Assistant Secretary Penn told our officials he clearly
understood the problems, Mr. Penn stated that all solutions presented
seem to jeopardize training for Sailors and Marines and therefore he
could not support any of the proposals. He said he could not be
teammates with the Airport Authority but would continue to provide
information, as requested."
Click for both items.
OC
Register, February 17, 2006
"Builder proposed
for JWA project"
"Turner Construction Co. should handle day-to-day operations of the
$512 million expansion and refurbishment of John Wayne Airport, the
Orange County Airport Commission decided Wednesday evening."
"The airport director would negotiate a contract with Turner and return
to the supervisors for approval."
"John Wayne's 15-year-old, 440,000-square-foot terminal will add
300,000 square feet. The number of permanent gates will go from 14 to
20, and a 2,500-slot parking lot will be built with other improvements.
Construction, to begin this year, will take five years."
El
Toro Info Site report, February 16, 2006
Airport opponents
celebrate
Wednesday evening, a happy mix of elected officials, ETRPA and city
staff and consultants, and grass roots activists celebrated their
success at defeating plans for an El Toro commercial airport. ETPRA and
a group of business sponsors hosted what will be the first of several
events marking the end of the long fight.
A crowd of hugging and handshaking celebrants at the
Irvine Marriott milled around greeting old friends. Several former
local activists flew in from the East and Midwest to join their
comrades in the grass roots campaigns. ETRPA consultants came
from all
over the county to join in.
Leaders of the campaign received trophies they once thought might be
impossible to have – a piece of runway concrete incased in plastic.
ETRPA produced a video history of the El Toro reuse story that was
shown at the event and is available on DVD without cost to anyone
contacting
t.fitzpatrick@etrpa.com by
March 2 with
their regular mail address.
Another party is scheduled for Sunday afternoon March 5 – the
anniversary of the passage of Measure W – in Laguna Hills.
Everyone who
worked as a volunteer in the effort is welcome. Details will be posted
shortly.
The Great Park Corp staff is working on plans for a “Last Tour” of the
former base in May - open to everyone.
Left to right: Bill Kogerman, Allan
Songstad, Len Kranser, Tris Krogius, Carol Simon and Jim Davy.
ETRPA Chairman Songstad made the presentations.
OC
Register, February 15, 2006 - revised
Articles in print
but not yet online
In today’s Register, Former Irvine School Board President Hank Adler
writes “You cannot serve two masters . . . Sitting on the Irvine
council and the Park Board creates a conflict.” Adler’s Orange
Grove opinion piece suggests ways in which the interests of the city
and those of the Great Park might conflict.
"The Irvine city council members sit on the Great Park Board, select
the other board members, and have veto power over any bylaw changes."
In a separate article, the
Register reports that Irvine Mayor Beth Krom delivered a 90-minute
State of the City address on Tuesday that “was interrupted 28 times by
applause, down from last year’s 43 clapping episodes.” Krom said the
state of the city was excellent with “great progress on the Great
Park.”
El Toro
Info Site report, February 14, 2006
Santa Ana Heights -
in the takeoff path of JWA
The
Register reports today that Newport Beach “eyes annexing the area”
which sits squarely in the takeoff path of John Wayne airport. The
unincorporated area is in Costa Mesa’s state-designated sphere of
influence.
The annexation of Santa Ana Heights and the takeover of the Santa Ana
Heights Redevelopment Authority is seen as part of
the
city’s strategy to block future airport expansion.
One
concept for lengthening John Wayne’s runway involves extending it
over Bristol Street and relocating equipment to the golf course in West
Santa Ana Heights.
A January Daily Pilot column quotes Newport Beach Councilman Heffernan
saying "Talks are going on right now between the city and the county
about the fate of John Wayne when the present agreement expires."
Presumably county staff is discussing the "sphere issues" raised by
Newport Beach, including greater city control of what happens in Santa
Ana Heights and the airport neighborhood.
[San
Diego] North County Times, February 13, 2006 - updated February 14
“Committee: Drop
North County from airport search”
“North County likely will be scratched as a site for a supplemental
airport to San Diego's Lindbergh Field if an advisory committee gets
its way.
A
four-member panel of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
voted unanimously Monday to recommend dropping North County from
further consideration.”
“Monday's vote came after a consultant said that supplemental airport
costs are virtually equal to those demanded by a full-size airport and
that those now in a handful in metropolitan areas around the country
take decades to become financially viable.”
The consultant, Bob Hazel of the airport planning firm Eclat
Consulting, concluded "Secondary airports take years to become
successful. . . You're competing in a world economy with expectations
that there will be an airport close to the major business and
population center."
“Hazel also pointed out that 54 percent of passengers that fly into San
Diego are tourists, with the majority staying in the city, another
concern for airlines and passengers.”
“After having studied more than 30 potential new airport sites, a
Lindbergh [Field] expansion appears to be gaining momentum with some
authority board members as increasing doubts are expressed about the
viability of shared use on a [military] base. It also would be cheaper
than the estimated $17 billion to $19 billion costs and distances of an
airport in Imperial County or at Campo.”
“Board member William Lynch summed up that sentiment. ‘Downtown is a
vital center for this region,’ Lynch said. ‘People want convenience.’"
Click
for this report and several others dated February 14.
Website Editor: San Diego planners
are reconsidering expanding Lindbergh Field, their equivalent of former
Los Angeles Mayor Riordan's LAX plan. Riordan proposed squeezing as
many as 110
million annual passengers into LAX.
El Toro
Info Site report, February 12, 2006 - updated Februiary 13
Regional airport
plans face conflicts
Another
SCAG long-range
regional airport plan is in the works for 2007-8. It is likely that
plans will change every several years as the region faces conflicts
between airports' physical capacities and the desires of those who live
near them to restrict their use.
Each airport has intentionally fashioned or unintentionally fallen prey
to its own unique service restrictions.
John Wayne Airport restricts passengers by agreement between the county
and Newport Beach. JWA will add 68 percent more terminal space and 6
passenger gates (a 42 percent increase). However, under the negotiated
agreement, airport utilization only can expand by 11 percent over the
next 10 years, from 9.6 million annual passengers (MAP) in 2005 to 10.8
million in 2015.
A
county EIR says JWA runways can handle 13.9 MAP but SCAG presumes
the negotiated limit of 10.8 in 2015 will continue in effect
indefinitely.
Long Beach Airport legally restricts the number of allowed flights
unless planes get quieter. The airport served 3.0 million passengers in
2005 with
25
daily regional jet slots mostly unused. Long Beach is
debating
an
Enviromental Impact Report, EIR for a significant expansion of its
terminal including more gates.
Last year, an executive for JetBlue was quoted saying, LB Airport
"could have 7 million annual passengers within the current noise
ordinance if carriers began using larger aircraft like the Boeing 767."
Airport Manager Chris Kunze recently told SCAG's Aviation Technical
Advisory Committee that the airport could serve 5 million but SCAG
planners presently use a limit of 3.8 MAP.
LAX proposes to restrict passenger gates in an effort to limit the
airport's use to 78 million travelers. To settle a lawsuit, Los Angeles
and its neighbors have agreed to eliminate up to 10 passenger gates if
the airport gets busy - when the gates are most needed. The airlines
have not supported the scheme. Airport officials told SCAG's Aviation
Task Force
the
runways can handle 89 million annual passengers but SCAG is
sticking with the 78 MAP number.
Burbank restricts terminal size and parking. Agreement has been reached
between the city and airport
not
to expand Bob Hope Airport's terminal or add to its 14 gates for ten
years. SCAG projects traffic at the airport to double by 2030, an
assumption that some local officials dispute.
Ontario has ample capacity but is restricted by how one gets there.
SCAG assumes that passenger volume will quadruple if ground access is
improved. Since not enough passengers find it convenient to reach ONT,
not enough airlines find it economical to offer flights. Consequently,
airport bus and shuttle costs are high. It is a "What comes first, the
chicken or the egg" situation.
Meanwhile, San Diego County is pushing utilization of Lindbergh Field
to its maximum physical capacity
even
as it systematically looks for runway space
elsewhere.
SD
North County Times, February 11, 2006
“Board member says
San Diego Marine depot could solve airport needs”
“A proposal for
a
commercial airport in North [San Diego] County that would serve as
a supplement to increasingly crowded Lindbergh Field in San Diego may
soon be grounded.”
“A report prepared for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
suggests that the costs of building a single-runway supplemental
airfield at one of two North County sites that were examined, as well
as a lack of marketability with airlines, render the proposal
challenging at best.”
"’The projected 2030 North County population base in itself will not
make a supplemental airport viable given the presence of other airports
in the region,’ the report from airport planners Eclat Consulting
reads. ‘Any supplemental airport project will require extensive
subsidies from San Diego International and measures to attempt to force
flights to the supplemental airport.’"
“Recent comments from airline officials suggest a supplement [to
Lindbergh Field] site or a remote airport would not be met with favor.”
"’It comes down to costs for them . . . Where's the market and how
close is the access?"
“Planning committee members on Monday [will be asked] to reopen the
idea of taking over the land now occupied by the 388-acre Marine Corps
Recruit Depot immediately adjacent to the 671-acre Lindbergh Field.”
“A San Diego Unified Port District study issued in 2001 suggested
taking over the recruit depot for a second runway at Lindbergh would
provide enough room to handle up to 28 million airline passengers a
year.”
Click
for the entire article and another on the topic from the San Diego
Union-Tribune.
Website Editor: San Diego’s
systematic exploration of remote airport sites, their subsequent
rejection for poor economics, and the resurfaced interest in expanding
downtown Lindbergh Field may provide a lesson for Los Angeles. For decades,
SCAG region planners have viewed Palmdale as a needed alternative
to expanding LAX but airlines and passengers haven't shown up.
Media
release, February 10, 2006
John Wayne airport
releases January statistics
In January 2006, the airport served 697,403 passengers, a decrease of
1% when compared to the 704,106 passenger count of January 2005.
Commercial carrier flight operations showed a decrease of 1.7%, while
commuter carrier (air taxi) operations showed an increase of 1.6%.
El
Toro Info Site report, February 9, 2006
GPC interviews
candidates
This afternoon, the Great Park Corp board interviewed three finalists
for the director's position vacated by Dick Sim. 23 candidates were
narrowed down to nine semi-finalists, and today the board interviewed
three finalists, Mark Steiman, Bill Kogerman and Bill Campbell. The
board will make its selection at its next regular meeting.
Click
here for a first hand report on how the meeting progressed.
In separate matters, it was learned that progress is being made between
Lennar and Irvine regarding management of
the
runway demolition which could begin in April.
The Great Park Corp staff is preparing plans for a "Last Tour" and open
house at the base in May. Because of the length of today's meeting, the
board did not act on the proposal.
LA
Times, February 9, 2006
"Next, he'll build
a canyon"
"With a postmodern penchant for plastic flowers and a
résumé of urban park space, Ken Smith isn't the first
landscape architect you'd think of to design the Orange County Great
Park."
"Smith knew how precarious such projects could be when he was invited
last summer to compete for the job of designing a 1,300-acre Orange
County Great Park that may wind up costing $1 billion. Despite the
cachet of his MoMA commission, and impressive partners, Smith saw
himself as the avant-garde underdog pitted against bigger firms 'who
could point out that I'd never done anything on this scale before.'"
"His priority upon returning home [from California] is to arrange for
an office back in Irvine, preferably in one of the peeling-paint
military buildings on the base, so he can quickly build huge models of
the park, then get some soccer fields done, then start moving earth for
the canyon."
Click
here for Paul Lieberman's in depth report on the recently selected
designer of the Great Park.
LA
Daily News Editorial February 7, 2006, website posted February 8
"Regionalizing air
traffic requires tough, no-nonsense leadership"
"For Southern California, airport regionalization is . . . an idea
everyone supports, in theory, but one few care to make a reality.
So while most all public officials pay lip service to the idea of
diverting air traffic from LAX to outlying airports, we've seen little
effort to actually make it happen."
"Now comes state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys,
who proposes
creating a regional airport commission that would, effectively,
supersede Los Angeles World Airports. The commission would be charged
with studying the travel needs of booming North Los Angeles County and
elsewhere in the region, and could order necessary changes in
air-traffic distribution."
"Ultimately, the commission could order the expansion of the long
under-utilized Palmdale Airport, or even the construction of a new
facility in the area."
"Commissions
and studies are fine, but they're no substitute for leadership," says
the Daily News.
Website Editor: Can "tough,
no-nonsense leadership" get travelers to pass up closer airports like
Burbank and shlep out to North Los Angeles County?
OC
Register, February 7, 2006
"Funds for fighting
airport went to mailer"
"Funds left over from two anti-El Toro airport campaigns were
transferred to a political slate mailer owned by a political adviser to
Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran."
"A required state filing late last month shows $29,000 was transferred
in July from Safe and Healthy Communities Fund . . . which was
organized by Ed Dornan, a political adviser to Agran . . . to the
Hometown Voters Guide."
"And while moving the funds is legal, it has angered some anti-airport
contributors."
"Writers on anti-airport activist Len Kranser's Web site,
www.eltoroairport.org, criticized the transfer of funds to the Hometown
Voter Guide."
"Kranser said he would like the money to be donated to charity or the
Great Park Conservancy."
"[Instead] the money was designated as a "deposit on a future slate
mailer."
Website Editor: The money should not have gone for unspecified
political mailers. The HTVG Form 401 shows that most of what the
business collected during the report period was paid out to Kenny the
Printer, Dornan's preferred supplier.
"Hometown Voter Guide has been controversial for years. Agran's
political adversaries have questioned how the guide raises and spends
money."
See article below.
More
from the Register . . .
El Toro
Info Site report, February 5, 2006 - updated
Anti-airport
contributions wind up in political slate
mailer’s coffers
When Ed Dornan formed the Safe and Healthy
Communities
Fund during the Measure F election – competing for money with the official
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities campaign committee
- some predicted it would morph into a
fundraising device for Dornan’s political allies and projects.
For years, the two groups - CSHC led by Bill
Kogerman from its campaign headquarters in Laguna Hills and the
"Fund" run by Dornan from Irvine - maintained an uneasy alliance in
the fight against the common enemy, El Toro
airport.
Data reported in recent days reopens the
question of how
the "Fund" used some of the contributions that it raised.
The 2005 California Slate Mailer
Organization
Campaign Statement, Form 401 for Dornan’s Home Town Voters Guide (HTVG)
shows
$29,000 transferred on July 20, 2005 from the Safe and Healthy Fund
that he ran to his HTVG political mailing business. The stated purpose
was “deposit on future slate mailer”.
This brings to mind an earlier transfer of
$51,400 from Dornan's Safe and Healthy Fund to the HTVG on December 19,
2000. There were
no El Toro issues on the ballot. The stated purpose of the money
transfer was
to support two measures dealing with the county’s allocation of Tobacco
Settlement proceeds.
At about that time, HTVG mailed slates
supporting Larry Agran
for Mayor and his allies for city council in an Irvine election.
Agran did not pay for the
campaign support. As required by law, the HTVG Form 401 listed Agran as
a
“candidate supported” from whom HTVG “did not receive a payment of $100
or
more.”
In our view, any citizen contributions left in
the
anti-airport group’s treasury after the Measure W campaign should have
been preserved
for a victory celebration. None should have been transferred to the
HTVG for
political mailers.
El Toro
Info Site report, February 4, 2006
Regional airport
bill dies
We received this terse report on Assembly Bill 1197 from the California
Legislative Counsel's web site.
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk
pursuant to Joint Rule 56. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c)
of the Constitution.
During the contentious final battles over El Toro airport,
former
Assemblyman Mike Gordon's AB 1197, to create a "Southern California
Regional Aviation Commission", was viewed as a possible move towards
taking control of the former airbase from the voters of Orange County
and transfering it to a Los Angeles dominated regional authority. The
bill lay dormant after Gordon's untimely death and the legislated
regionalization movement lost steam as El Toro progressed towards a
non-aviation reuse.
Today, the focus of regionalization is on the potential transfer of LAX
load to Ontario and Palmdale plus voluntary efforts between Los Angeles
World Airports and other facilities to encourage the spreading of air
traffic.
Associated
Press, February 3, 2006
"LAX Gets More
Federal Funds for Runway Project"
"Los Angeles International Airport will receive an additional $29.5
million in federal funds for a runway safety project, bringing the
total federal contribution to $68.3 million,
officials
announced Thursday."
"The airport has had one of the worst runway safety problems in the
nation for several years. The $250-million project will improve safety
on the airfield's south side, where most of the close calls between
aircraft have occurred."
"'Fixing the runway will make this a safer airport,' U.S.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said. He said the federal
government would probably end up paying $100 million of the project's
cost."
"Work is expected to begin in July and be completed in late 2007,
airport officials said."
Website Editor: El Segundo has
fought against the project because the runway will be moved 55 feet
closer to the city. The city and other neighbors blocked the work with
a lawsuit that recently was settled.
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and
his airport director Lydia Kennard are pressing forward with necessary
improvements to the airport. Former Mayor James Hahn let LAX problems
go unsolved while he pushed for a reliever airport at El Toro and a
huge $9-11 billion remodel of LAX that
few people outside of his
administration, consultants and the construction labor unions really
wanted.
OC
Register, February 2, 2006
"Great Park will
test Smith's management skill"
"A small volunteer project turned out to be emotionally pivotal in the
selection of a master designer for the Great Park and illustrative of
what will guide the park's creation."
"The project that helped tip the votes to Smith in the design contest
was a 16-foot memorial pool in the American Express building in New
York remembering the company's employees killed in the World Trade
Center attack. That won over Great Park Corp. Chairman Larry Agran when
he visited Smith in New York in November. Then, after the board
agonized for two meetings over the three designer finalists, Agran
described how the American Express project had moved him to tears."
"But this project and others by New York architect Ken Smith also raise
questions about the skills, experience and architectural values he
brings to the design of the Great Park - the mix of wilderness areas,
athletic fields, museums, farms, schools, shops and houses planned for
the former El Toro Marine base."
"Engaging as the plans may be, questions remain about Smith's ability
to pull together multiple themes and to pull together all of them on a
far-larger project than he previously has developed."
"Few seem to question Smith's creativity; it's the practical work of
assembling such a big project that likely will keep Great Park Corp.
board members nervous for a few years."
More
. . . .
El
Toro
Info Site report, February 1, 2006 - updated February 6
Airport statistics
for 2005
Data for the region’s six commercial airports
show that
each, with the exception of Los Angeles International, had record
passenger volume in 2005.
LAX experienced a new high in international
travelers but
overall, the region’s major airport lagged its 2000 record by almost 6
million
passengers. The decrease came as domestic travelers chose to use one of
the
other airports in the post 911-era.
Comparison
– Year ending December 31
Airport
|
2000 passengers
|
2005 passengers
|
Passenger change
|
Percent change
|
LAX Total
|
67,303,182
|
61,489,398
|
-5,813,784
|
-8.6
|
LAX Domestic
|
49,887,433
|
44,003,135
|
-5,884,298
|
-11.8
|
LAX Intl.
|
17,415,749
|
17,486,263
|
70,514
|
0.4
|
John Wayne
|
7,772,801
|
9,627,032
|
1,854,231
|
23.9
|
Ontario
|
6,739,329
|
7,213,528
|
474,199
|
7.0
|
Burbank
|
4,748,742
|
5,512,619
|
763,877
|
16.1
|
Long Beach
|
637,853
|
3,034,032
|
2,396,179
|
375.7
|
Palm Springs
|
1,281,073
|
1,419,087
|
138,014
|
10.8
|
Regional Total
|
88,482,980
|
88,295,696
|
-187,284
|
-0.2
|
LAX traffic figures were released as Mayor
Antonio
Villaraigosa “outlined
his vision for the region's air traffic system, calling for
airlines to
concentrate international flights at LAX while shifting some new
domestic
travel, particularly short-haul flights, to other airports.”
“Airports in
the region, including Ontario and Palmdale Regional Airport, must pick
up some
of the growing air traffic so that LAX does not become a nuisance, with
traffic, noise and other problems, to its neighbors.”
Website
Editor: So far, the large shift from LAX appears to
be the result of passenger choice - travelers selecting more
user-friendly regional
airports and airlines for their domestic flights - rather than the
product of government
regional planning.
JetBlue's marketing decision to grow at
Long Beach and Burbank, and Orange County's raising of the caps on John
Wayne airport were major factors.
Failure of former Mayor James Hahn's administration to deal with LAX
ground access problems, security delays and outdated terminal
facilities also fueled travelers' defections. A spokesman for LAWA,
when asked today for his explanation of why nearly 6 million annual
passengers had left LAX for other airports, said he was unaware that
this had occurred. "We don't have those figures. . . . I've never heard
anyone say that around here."
LA
Times, January 31, 2006, posted February 1
“SFO has early lead
in race to handle super-jumbo jet”
“With ample seating in its spacious international terminal and six
gates equipped for double-decker jets, not to mention a fine selection
of restaurants,[San Francisco’s] airport is ready for the massive
555-seat A380 airliner.”
“Los Angeles International Airport, known as LAX, has none of the
above.”
“While Southern California officials dickered during the past decade
about how to modernize LAX, San Francisco built a gleaming $1 billion
international terminal specifically designed to accommodate the new
Airbus super-jumbo jet.”
“The stark contrast between San Francisco International Airport and LAX
- which plans to modify two gates for the double-decker plane at the
already cramped Tom Bradley International Terminal - has led to
speculation that San Francisco will woo A380 flights away from LAX.”
Click
for the entire article.
Click
here for previous news stories