Today's Headlines - click on date for full story
Newport Beach Light, June 27, 2002 posted June 29, 2002
"El Toro spending chopped from [NPB] budget"
"City spent $3.7 million last year for a second airport, but will spend nothing in 2002-03"

OC Register, June 28, 2002 - updated
"Navy returns as the landlord"

OC Register, June 26, 2002 posted June 27
"Laguna Woods - Lawsuit still on"

El Toro Info Site report, June 26, 2002
Good news and bad news on the Nakano bill

LA Times, June 26, 2002
"Supervisor's Vote Shift May Delay Sale of El Toro"
"After a deal to fund parkland fails, Cynthia Coad withdraws support for annexation of base by Irvine. Property's fate may be unclear until next year."

OC Register, June 26, 2002
"Group drops effort to put Northern Sphere to a vote"

El Toro Info Site report, June 25, 2002 updated
Coad: "I'm changing my vote."

El Toro Info Site report, June 25, 2002
Supervisors approve extension of JWA caps

LA Times, June 25, 2002 updated
"Coad May Withdraw Support of Irvine's El Toro Annexation"

El Toro Info Site report, June 25, 2002
Nakano bill faces State Senate Committee vote today

Daily Pilot, June 24, 2002
"A closer look -- Heading in for a landing"
"Long-sought JWA settlement agreement appears to be just about in place, though there could be turbulence ahead."

OC Register, June 22, 2002
"It's crunch time for Coad in El Toro vote"
"Board of Supervisors chair who has waffled on annexation to voice decision"

OC Register, June 22, 2002
"Annexation a must, Navy says"
"It won't sell former Marine base until after Irvine takes over land."

LA Times, June 21, 2002
"Group Wants Irvine Project Put to a Vote"

OC Register, June 20, 2002
"Cities finding freer budgets after campaign"
"El ToroFunds that had been used for fighting or pushing for Measure W can be spent elsewhere."

OC Register, June 20, 2002
"Lawsuit against Navy is latest in a long line of court battles "
"Many were slowed or put on hold after approval of Measure W. "

OC Register, Breaking News,  June 19, 2002
"Airport group sues Navy over El Toro"
"The Airport Working Group take issue with environmental review."

OC Register, Commentary, June 19, 2002
"Land-use bonanza"

Daily Pilot, June 19, 2002
"Newport leaders seek JWA curfew through 2020"
"City officials are proposing five more years of night flight bans than originally discussed during talks to extend the airport's settlement agreement."

LA Times, Orange County Perspective, June 16, 2002
"Coad Threat to Base's Future"

OC Metro, June 13, 2002 posted June 15
"The CSUF-El Toro Connection"

LA Times, Inland Valley, June 14, 2002
"Airport board move could benefit Ontario"

LA Times, June 13, 2002
"Housing, Business Plan Approved by City Council"

Daily Pilot, June 12, 2002
"V-plan leader quits group"
"Remaining members vow to continue fight to bring alternative airport idea to a countywide vote."

El Toro Info Site report, June 11, 2002 - updated
Measure W lawsuit update

LA Daily News June 10, 2002
Some say secession offers no relief from [Van Nuys] airport noise

Daily Pilot, June 10, 2002
"Newport Beach's spending plan so far faces little controversy as the City Council prepares to approve it.

LA Times, June 9, 2002
Letter to Editor backs regional strategy

LA Times, Burbank section, June 8, 2002
"L.A. wants [BUR] airport commission seat"
"Council members ask Airport Authority for inclusion in decision-making, say impact on L.A. is greater than Burbank."

El Toro Info Site Report, June 7, 2002
V-Plan promoter Niewiarowski quits

El Toro Info Site Report, June 6, 2002
What is SCRAA?

El Toro Info Site report, June 5, 2002
Eltorofacts.com now points to this website

OC Register, June 5, 2002
"Parks trust fund moves forward"

El Toro Info Site report, June 4, 2002
BOS continues Irvine deal; votes money for SCRAA

LA Times, June 4, 2002
"Irvine Is Given More Time on Park Parity Plan"
"Supervisors Chairwoman Coad waits to hear how a green opportunity at El Toro will translate to the same in North County."

El Toro Info Site report, June 4, 2002
3rd anniversary of flight demonstrations

LA Times, June 2, 2002
"Airport Talks in Two Cities Questionable"
" Newport Beach and Irvine councils say they were justified in holding closed-door sessions. Public-interest group's attorney disagrees."

OC Register, June 1, 2002
"Parties positive on base's fate"

Click here for earlier news.

"Last year, Newport Beach was embroiled in the battle for an airport at El Toro and city leaders doled out more than $3.7 million to the cause. This year, the battle over El Toro appears to be over as far as the city is concerned, and its reflected in the money allocated for the proposed commercial airport - zero dollars - in the budget adopted Tuesday."

"'We're not in the El Toro business any more,' said Mayor Tod Ridgeway. 'We lost. ... We don't agree with Measure W; nonetheless we have to accept it and have to move on.'"

"Ridgeway said $700,000 to $800,000 spent on El Toro will go toward trying to extend the agreement with the county to limit flights and noise at John Wayne Airport."

Website editor: It is misleading to imply that Newport Beach taxpayer spending on El Toro has ceased. The Airport Working Group and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy reportedly retained several hundred thousand dollars of the $3.7 million at the end of the Measure W campaign. This public money from last year's budget apparently is funding the current litigation against Measure W. 

"The Navy will become the landlord of the former El Toro Marine base again, now that Orange County's proposal for an airport there is dead."

"Starting Sunday, the Navy will handle maintenance of the 4,700 acres, plus leasing of farms, buildings and other facilities, Assistant Navy Secretary H.T. Johnson said Wednesday."

"The county asked the Navy to resume management of the base after voters passed Measure W on March 5 . . .The Navy now plans to sell the base and let Irvine annex it for a park as promised to voters."

Website editor: A June 26 letter from William Carsillo, Real Estate Contracting Officer in the Base Realignment and Closure Office states that "Our goal is to dispose of substantially all of MCAS El Toro through a public sale as soon as possible within the next year." It makes no note of a pro-airport federal lawsuit attempting to block the Navy's action, nor of Supervisor Coad's flip flop on support for Irvine annexation which is the Navy's planned precondition for the sale.

"Measure W cut language from the county's general plan mandating an airport at the former El Toro Marine base, but the county last week decided to pursue a lawsuit against Laguna Woods for doing the same with its general plan. The county's [stated] concern is if Measure W is overturned on appeal the city's general plan has insufficient environmental data"

Click here for more information on this year-old litigation.

The bill failed to be passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday.  The vote was 7-3 in favor with 8 votes required for approval. However, it will be back for reconsideration next week. 

"A plan to speed Irvine's annexation of the closed El Toro Marine base collapsed Tuesday after [Board Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad] withdrew her support, a move that could hamper the property's transfer and delay its sale by the Navy for six months or more."

"Coad said her original vote for annexation was based on a pledge by Irvine that it would provide $800,000 a year [for 100 years] from the development of El Toro for purchase and maintenance of parks in her north Orange County district. After Irvine passed three deadlines to deliver a legally binding agreement for the money, Coad said Tuesday she was giving up."

"Irvine Councilman Chris Mears on Tuesday accused Coad of promoting 'her own narrow-minded airport agenda' by delaying the process . . . The Navy wants to sell the property in cooperation with Irvine and use the proceeds to support the nation's military budget, Mears said."

"In a letter sent to county officials last week, the Navy's assistant secretary for installations urged the county to approve the annexation so the property can be redeveloped by the new owners without delay."

"Irvine said in April that it hoped to begin the annexation process formally in September, armed with a preannexation agreement signed with the county. The city now believes it cannot begin the process until December at the earliest." See more reporting on the Board action  below.

See the Register's analysis "What Coad's Decision Means"in the Early Bird news.

"A Newport Beach environmental group has bowed out of the fight to put the 12,000-home Northern Sphere development before Irvine voters, saying they couldn't battle the deep pockets and political influence of City Hall."

"Defend the Bay leader Bob Caustin said he was unable to generate enough support from the community."

"The city issued a statement last week saying Defend the Bay was funded by pro-airport forces in Newport Beach. Any development on the agricultural fields next to the base could hamper attempts to keep an airport plan alive." It has been rumored that Barbara Lichman and the Airport Working Group were involved in the effort.

Click here for the Irvine June 20, 2002 press release.

Supervisor Coad withdrew her support for Irvine annexation and the matter will follow the state-mandated Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) process. Her action left county staff seeking clarification on several aspects of what happens now. One official suggested that the lack of Board direction helped the staff to do what is necessary to process the Irvine annexation plan in the normal fashion.

Cancellation of the facilitating pre-annexation agreement may delay the eventual Irvine annexation and sale of the property by several months.

In a June 21 letter, the Navy said that it will sell the property after the Irvine annexation takes place.

Supervisor Spitzer pointed out that Coad's action also might kill negotiations for park money for North County and for transfer of over 100 of the El Toro acres to the county for public use. Coad said, "That's the end of the parks, evidently."

Coad returned repeatedly to her mantra that Irvine had not provided her with a legally binding agreement and she would just allow the annexation to proceed through normal steps without the pre-annexation agreement that she apparently killed . . . at least for now.

Looking ahead to an anti-airport, pro-annexation board, Supervisor Silva noted that "Let it go to next year. Irvine can count to three." Coad responded that "One never knows who will win [Spitzer's seat] in District 3."

In a related matter, the Board approved a draft agreement with the Department of the Navy for termination of the El Toro Master Lease. The Chair is authorized to sign the final document when received if there are no material changes.

Supervisors voted 5-0 today to amend and extend the John Wayne Airport settlement agreement until 2015 and to continue the night curfew until 2021.

The agreement will increase the number of allowed passengers from 8.4 million per year to 9.8 MAP beginning in 2003. Permitted cargo flights will be increased from two to four per day. The number of passenger gates may be increased by four.

The agreeement must now be sold to the airlines and the FAA.

"Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad, whose pivotal vote helped Irvine win early support to annex the former El Toro Marine base, may withdraw that support today because she is skeptical of the city's promise to create a trust fund for parks in her district."

"Chris Mears, an Irvine council member, said Coad 'has it within her power to throw a three- to four-month-long monkey wrench in the annexation process.... But she certainly isn't going to stop annexation or the sale of the base.'"

"The Navy, which still owns El Toro, plans to sell the land to the highest bidder. Last week the Navy wrote the board to say Irvine's annexation of the former base is critical to the sale." Editor: Annexation would bring the property under Irvine zoning and is seen as producing higher sale values for the Navy.

"H.T. Johnson, assistant secretary of the Navy, also urged the board to vote for a tax transfer agreement that will be part of Irvine's annexation application to the Local Agency Formation Commission. Mears said the Navy's message is that the board should not hinder the city's annexation progress."

The Nakano bill, AB2333, will be heard in the Senate Transportation committee today. Click here for the latest analysis of this much-amended bill to advance the concepts of "fair share" and "environmental justice" in locating airports in the region.

"JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- Almost two years after embarking on an extension of flight restrictions at the airport, Newport Beach leaders appears to be nearing the end of the road."

"Orange County Supervisors are poised to approve an agreement Tuesday between the city, county and two activist groups to push back the expiration of the flight limits for another dozen years."

"However, it may not be smooth sailing, even if county supervisors endorse the deal on Tuesday. An influential airline trade group has spoken out against the settlement, saying only the FAA can grant flight restrictions."

"South County cities once at odds with Newport Beach about an airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station readily supported it."

"'From South County's perspective, I think there's a unified front,' said Laguna Hills Councilman Allan Songstad. 'We are on record as supporting it.'"

"'Unless we get an agreement with the FAA and the airline industry, this settlement agreement is meaningless,' Costa Mesa Councilman Chris Steel said. 'If we don't, they're likely to sue to increase the flights, which would be very detrimental to the city of Costa Mesa.'"

See The Early Bird News to read Paul Clinton's complete story.

"For two months, Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cynthia Coad has played poker with Irvine, the Navy and her colleagues, threatening to pull her support for the Irvine annexation of El Toro if the city didn't ante up money for north-county parks."

"Now the other players at the table are calling her bluff, and at the county board meeting Tuesday, Coad promises to announce her final decision on the proposed annexation. "

"Coad's lame-duck status. Defeated in March, she leaves office at the end of the year, after which any roadblocks she might throw before the annexation drive would likely disappear."

"If Coad should choose to vote against annexation, the effect would be mostly to delay, not kill it, most observers believe."

"Irvine Councilman Chris Mears said that even though Coad is six months from leaving office, the city is working to provide park funds because it's a noble goal - providing more parks in an underserved part of the county - and to end uncertainty about El Toro."

""I don't think we're talking about a significant sum of money," Mears said. "But what we're also trying to do here is encourage Chair Coad to leave her vote on annexation alone."

Read the enire Peter Larsen story in the Early Bird News.

"The Navy will divide El Toro into a handful of large parcels and auction those to the highest bidders, but not until the former base is annexed by Irvine - a process that postpones the sale until at least spring of next year."

"The Navy statement increases pressure on supervisors not to waver in support of annexation. Board Chairwoman Cynthia Coad has threatened to oppose annexation on Tuesday unless Irvine provides more north-county parks funds"

"Coad, who had not seen the letter, said her support for annexation remains dependent upon Irvine and the county striking a deal. 'All I know is that north Orange County needs parks,' she said."

See the Early Bird News for the complete story.

"An environmental group is circulating petitions to force a citywide vote on a massive development in north Irvine."

"On Wednesday, representatives of Newport Beach-based Defend the Bay began gathering the approximately 8,000 signatures needed to place on a ballot a referendum asking voters to overturn the annexation. 'It's a regional concern, and [the pollution from the development] will flow downstream to Newport Bay,' said Bob Caustin, the group's director. 'When you have an extra quarter-million car trips each day, it affects everyone. There's more fumes, more cars idling on the roads, more oil droppings, more of everything.'"

"Irvine Mayor Larry Agran called the effort the work of outsiders who could open the door for proponents of a commercial airport at the former El Toro Marine base and scuttle the city's plan to build a "Great Park" there instead. 'This is all about whether we here in Irvine will be able to control our own destiny,' Agran said."

"In a prepared statement, Agran and Councilman Mike Ward questioned whether there was a link between Defend the Bay and backers of an airport at El Toro, which Irvine strongly opposes. 'Before any residents sign a petition, we believe they should demand to know more about who is behind this drive, who is financing it and their real motives,' they said."

Read the complete story in the Early Bird News and contribute to the Message Board discussion..

"Cities that have devoted taxpayer dollars over the years to El Toro are starting to see some relief this budget season."

"Newport Beach last year spent more than $3.7 million to push for a commercial airport at the former Marine Corps base. When the council examines the 2002-2003 budget Tuesday, it will find nothing set aside for El Toro."

"In south county, the heart of airport opposition, cities are cautiously optimistic about El Toro finances. City officials said they still have money budgeted for membership in the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, the coalition of south-county cities that battled the airport."

"Laguna Woods was expected to approve a budget Wednesday that includes $400,000 for membership in ETRPA."

"The Orange County Regional Airport Authority, which represents 14 cities, approved a $55,000 budget last week -- down from this year's $240,000 budget."

See the Early Bird News for the complete story.

"The lawsuit filed by airport backers Wednesday is the latest in a long line of court battles over the former El Toro Marine base."

"After voters approved Measure W in March and killed the county's long-planned airport proposal, many of the lawsuits still pending slowed to a crawl or were put on hold."

"'I think everybody recognized with the passage of Measure W and the actions of the Board of Supervisors that it made sense to step back and let the dust settle and try to figure out exactly what was happening,' said Rich Jacobs, an attorney for a coalition of anti-airport cities."

"Jacobs said the anti-airport cities and the county have discussed ways to reach 'a global settlement' that could end most of the outstanding El Toro lawsuits."

Click here for the entire OC Register story and to see the lawsuits that remain active court files.

Complete Peter Larsen and Joel Zlotnick OC Register story,"Airport backers sue Navy "

Airport Working Group of Orange County press release

"The main supporters of an El Toro Airport filed suit today against the Navy over its environmental review of proposed development at the former Marine base."

For Peter Larsen’s story click here.

"Perhaps exhaustion explains the lack of attention most Orange County residents have paid to ongoing negotiations between the Department of the Navy and the city of Irvine over the reuse of the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station."

"The battle over the proposed airport was so long and bitter that after the pro-park Measure W passed, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors agreed to let the city of Irvine annex the land, most residents and politicians were glad to move on to other things."

"There are still a number of interesting developments to watch, however. Some airport supporters, a few of whom are still challenging Measure W in court, argue that the former base will eventually resemble the rest of Irvine, with its abundance of subdivisions with beige stucco homes and tile roofs, commercial centers and retail complexes."

"Park supporters claim otherwise, but it's clear that a lot more development will be allowed on those 4,700 acres than were called for under the Great Park plan. An Irvine annexation takes the land out from the Measure W straitjacket, thus leaving future development up to current city officials as well as future city councils."

"One thing that's becoming increasingly clear is that the Department of the Navy believes in promoting the most economically viable uses of the property, and is shying away from the city of Irvine's efforts to lock up as much land as possible in 'public' uses. The Navy doesn't want to give any land to Irvine, but wants to sell it to the private sector."

"In a letter to the Board of Supervisors on May 22, the Navy's Assistant Secretary H. T. Johnson wrote: "[T]he only logical way to achieve the plan is to dispose of the base through a public sale, using our sister agency, the General Services Administration (GSA), as our agent. At this time, we do not plan to give any property directly to the city of Irvine. Most likely, if it receives any property, it will be from the developer, or developers, who buy the property from the Navy."

"That's good news. The more market uses for the land, and the less of it tied up in the big-government uses specified in the Irvine plan, the better. The county has a housing shortage. There's certainly room to meet those needs and still have a sizable park."

"As the Register and U.S. Rep. Chris Cox, R-Newport Beach, have argued all along: the market can develop 4,700 acres in south Orange County. Perhaps everyone would be less exhausted had the county board taken that approach in the first place."

Reactions to and discussion of this issue can be found on the message board..

"City leaders have added five years to the nighttime curfew in a proposal to extend flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport, potentially securing protection against the roar of jets over houses in the city through 2020."

"Under the terms of a proposed extension, which would continue the flight limits through Dec. 31, 2015, the airport's curfew couldn't be changed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors until Dec. 31, 2020. That gives the city five more years than was included in the first draft extension that was tentatively approved Feb. 26. Adding to the curfew provision was intended to give residents living under the flight path more peace of mind, officials said."

"County supervisors and the City Council are scheduled to consider the extension deal at separate meetings on Tuesday. The Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport, both part of the original agreement, must also sign off on the deal."

"Despite the local optimism, concerns still remain over public threats by an airlines trade group to sue to overturn any extension of flight limits."

For the complete story see the Early Bird News.  Click here to see the 1985 JWA settlement agreement.

LA Times, Orange County Perspective, June 16, 2002
"Coad Threat to Base's Future"

"It's time for Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad to drop her ill-advised bid to generate funds for parks in north Orange County by holding hostage Irvine's plan to annex the former El Toro Marine base. Coad wrongly has tied her support for the annexation to a demand that the city turn over up to $800,000 a year for 100 years to help fund park improvements in the north."

"Coad is threatening to rescind her April vote supporting annexation if Irvine doesn't deliver a funding proposal by June 25. Coad's demand jeopardizes the already complex process of turning El Toro from an abandoned military base into a community asset."

"There are sound reasons why Irvine, whose city limits eventually will surround the base, should annex El Toro and supervise the redevelopment . . ..  If Irvine can't annex the land, the county would be charged with developing the former base under the guidelines of the voter-passed Measure W."

"Now that a commercial airport has been rejected, the city should be in the lead when it comes to El Toro's future. Its proximity to the base and expertise at land-use planning in the environs give it sound credentials as redevelopment authority under federal base reuse guidelines. But the city in April hurriedly agreed to Coad's park-funding demand, apparently in an effort to provide a united front during negotiations with the U.S. Navy."

Viewers' comments and the complete editorial are on the Message Board.

Measure W included space for a major university campus at El Toro as one of its major elements.

"On Aug. 26, the [Cal State Fullerton] Mission Viejo campus will move to a new location on the former El Toro Marine air station, just in time for the fall semester. Housed in a single elegant Spanish-style building built in 1988, the new facility will offer 24 academic programs ranging from criminal justice to nursing to 2,400 upper division and graduate students."

"The CSUF administration discovered an attractive, 46,000-square-foot building just off the Sand Canyon entrance of the former El Toro marine base. Only 14 years old, the structure was built much like a school, with an open atrium and ample parking. Following the failure of the El Toro airport, the university acted quickly, and signed a three-year sublease with the county, with provisions for two more years."

"The university is asking the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Education for 400 acres on the north end of the former base, adjacent to the new campus building. 'By 2010, we anticipate 14,000 students could be enrolled.'"

"Many of the existing buildings on the site, such as a gymnasium and a cinema, could be put to new use, but the university also hopes to build a housing development on the property."

Click here for the entire article.

"A move by two Los Angeles City Council members to put a Los Angeles resident on the Burbank Airport Board could spark more interest in Ontario's longtime quest to gain representation on the [LA] agency that oversees the operation of Ontario International Airport."

"Tom LaBonge and Wendy Greuel, the two L.A. City Council members whose districts border the Burbank airport, are pushing for their city's inclusion on the Burbank board . . .. But although they are willing to discuss it, LaBonge and Greuel won't commit to supporting similar representation for Ontario on the Los Angeles Airport Board, which oversees ONT."

"'If they expect to be on the board in Burbank, then what about us?' [Councilwoman Debbie] Acker said. "This airport sits in the middle of Ontario. We deserve to be part of the policy-making process."

"'The city of Ontario has a lot at stake,' [Ontario Councilman Jerry] DuBois said. 'The airport is in our city, but we have little to say about it.'"

"Ontario sold the airport to Los Angeles for $1.2 million in 1967. DuBois said Ontario made the right decision in ceding control of the airport to Los Angeles, since that city has the money and clout to help its growth. ONT would be a smaller airport today if it were controlled by Ontario, he said."

Website Editor: This is the sort of situation that Orange County residents face if Los Angeles ever gains control of El Toro. It is for this reason that we warn against organizations like the Southern California Regional Airport Authority and against state legislation such as the Nakano bill AB2333 that would weaken local control.

Click here to take action against AB2333.

"An Irvine Co. plan to build 12,350 homes plus business and research facilities north of the city won final [Irvine] City Council approval Tuesday."

"The city now can begin a long-planned annexation of the so-called Northern Sphere--7,700 acres bordering the closed El Toro Marine base. Of that, 3,600 acres will be developed. Most of the land is now used for farming. The remaining 4,100 acres will be protected open space."

"Construction of the first 400 homes could begin within the next 18 months."

"Suffering a severe case of airport-issue burnout, Russell Niewiarowski has quit the group he helped launch to support an alternative El Toro airport."

"That plan, created by retired Newport Beach engineer Charles Griffin, has found little support outside a small cadre of dedicated volunteers."

"[Bob] McGowan said other group members will pick up the slack and continue the initiative drive. After several fits and starts with earlier ballot measures, the group is now aiming for a countywide ballot in the spring of 2003." 

At a conference with lawyers for both sides today, the judge set July 17 as the earliest likely date for the next status conference. Frederic Woocher, lawyer for OCRAA, the Airport Working Group and the Nestande-led Citizens for Jobs and the Economy intends to file a motion claiming that the federal government and state legislature have delegated land use authority over El Toro to the Board of Supervisors and not to the voters.

Additional plaintiffs including the cities of Seal Beach and Stanton may join against Measure W.

Woocher argued the other side when he defended Measure A. Woocher intends to seek a quick hearing on the issue of whether the state base re-use statute (AB 37) delegates authority over El Toro exclusively to the Board of Supervisors.  His objective is to slow the City of Irvine's annexation momentum.

AB 37 was passed by the Legislature after Measure A to resolve disputes around the state regarding which local agencies should have the lead for base re-use planning.  It established the entity designated by DOD as the re-use authority for El Toro.  It also said that the statute did not preempt local land use authority and was only intended to resolve disputes about what agencies have a lead role for base re-use planning.

"U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, already has the entry marked on his planning calendar. 'Nov. 6: If secession prevails, call (Federal Aviation Administration) regarding transfer of Van Nuys Airport to new city.'"

"If voters approve San Fernando Valley cityhood on Nov. 5, ownership of Van Nuys Airport will depend on the federal government's consent, and that in turn will depend on the influence of Valley congressmen like Sherman, whose newly redrawn district will include the airport next year."

"The [730-acre] airport is among the most controversial issues in the Valley. Neighbors have struggled for years to limit flights and reduce the noise, while companies and business groups have fought to preserve their rights and stave off restrictions."

"The federal government bought the airport in 1942 for military use and then sold it to the city [of Los Angeles] for $1 in 1949, with a number of restrictions encouraging aviation use."

"The Local Agency Formation Commission -- a state-created agency with jurisdiction in Los Angeles County -- decided on May 22 to place Valley secession on the November ballot, with a provision that the airport would transfer from Los Angeles subject to FAA approval. Los Angeles officials have objected to the airport's transfer, saying LAFCO does not have the power to give away a city asset without consent or compensation."

"Congressman Berman, whose district boundaries will change under redistricting so that Sherman's district will have the airport, said he too would work to ensure the new city gets ownership of the airport. He . . . has experience working with a situation where local residents have no political say in an airport in their community. The Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena Airport has no representation from the city of Los Angeles, yet borders on communities like North Hollywood and Sun Valley."

Website editor: Van Nuys airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a city department rumored to have some interest in taking over El Toro.

"Newport Beach -- The proposed $142.1-million city budget could pass with little or no controversy -- a rarity in most years, not to mention one in which times are tough.

"Their first priority, one City Council members have also endorsed, is extending the John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement."

A letter to the Times from a Newport Beach resident lays out elements underlying the post-Measure W pro-El Toro airport strategy. Get Los Angeles to takeover Orange County through state legislation.  Then build a regional airport to relieve LAX and potentially replace John Wayne.

Robert M. Beard writes, "The necessary action that must be taken--[is] the creation of a true Southern California Regional Airport Authority. The SCRAA must be a state agency, not a voluntary association of cities and counties, like the current SCRAA, or the larger Southern California Assn. of Governments.

". . . it's probably up to the governor and state legislature to save El Toro, either through legislative action or a regional ballot initiative. The entire region should be empowered to vote on regional airport issues."

Post your comments on SCAG and Regional Transportation

"L.A. City Council members . . . submitted a motion to their City Council Thursday, asking that the [Burbank] Airport Authority amend its Joint Powers Agreement to include an L.A. commissioner. The agreement gives legal authority to the three cities that have governed the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport for 25 years."

"Burbank officials questioned whether L.A. would reciprocate by opening up the boards of Ontario Airport and LAX to neighboring communities that are not represented."

"'Certainly the Airport Authority is keenly aware that there are impacts of an airport over a broad region,' Airport Authority spokesman Victor Gill said. 'I hope one thing that would come out of this is enhanced dialogue with individual [L.A.] council members who have valley constituents.'"

Website Editor: Now reread the article about the Southern California Regional Airport Authority. Will this growing airport regionalism eventually lead to a move by Los Angeles to take control over the fate of more aviation facilities in the area, including El Toro? Los Angeles World Airports already owns LAX, Ontario, Palmdale and Van Nuys.

In an e-mail dated June 7, 2002, Russell Niewiarowski writes, "Effective June 12, 2002, I will no longer be serving as President of The New Millennium Group (TNMG, Inc.), the California Non-profit corporation co-founded by myself and Charles Griffin and incorporated by Charles Griffin, Ann Watt, and myself.

"I relinquish all duties and responsibilities on said date, including the editing and hosting of the web site ocxeltoro.com, and hereby terminate all affairs and participation in the Group."

The V-plan proponents apparently failed in their efforts to get the alternative airport plan onto the November ballot.

At Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Smith moved and the board voted 3-0, to give $50,000 to the Southern California Regional Airport Authority. What is SCRAA's purpose and need for the money?

We have cautioned repeatedly that SCRAA is a device for imposing a "regional airport solution", just as the Air Quality Management District imposes regional pollution rules.

A new website page gives Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe's insider's view of the role of SCRAA.

Please note this 2001 quote from Supervisor Charles Smith who represents our county's interests on the SCRAA board. "What we ultimately do in Orange County impacts the rest of Southern California. And what happens at LAX or March, for example, affects us. We cannot afford to just come up with our own isolated plans and not consider how they will benefit or burden the rest of the region on many different levels," Smith said.

When the county closed its "Just the Facts" website it also abandoned the web address www.eltorofacts.com. That URL now has been acquired by the El Toro Info Site and automatically forwards to this site's homepage at www.eltoroairport.org.

The county spent approximately $200,000 to create the eltorofacts website presence and it seems a shame to allow the brand name to go to waste. Some individuals still may follow links or bookmarks to the address, seeking information about El Toro. The El Toro Info Site provides current news about the reuse of the former Marine base. There will be no special content connected to the eltorofacts.com address and no attempt to imitate the previous county website.

It is unusual that no one acquired the abandoned address during the past several months while it was available. The El Toro Info Site paid $35 to register it, and now owns several addresses related to its mission.

"Irvine and the county have reached a tentative agreement to create a trust fund with El Toro property taxes to provide more parks in north Orange County."

"Irvine would agree to delay creating a redevelopment area for El Toro. By letting the Navy sell the property first, its taxable value would increase and the county could get more property-tax revenue from the land. The county would then dedicate the first $800,000 of that tax revenue to a north-county parks trust fund."

"The trust fund would continue 'until parity in the number of parks per capita in the north part of the county equals that in the south of the county, and thereafter to provide park maintenance funding for these new parks as needed,' [Irvine City Manager Allison] Hart wrote."

Website Editor: Apparently the "Great Tax" drain scare, created by opponents of Measure W and endorsed by Coad, has now evolved into a great countywide park funding opportunity.

"In a separate matter, county supervisors voted, 3-0, with Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer absent, to pay $50,000 in dues to the Southern California Regional Airport Authority. The authority was revived last year when the county still hoped to build an El Toro airport. Now, the group's members say they intend to move forward with planning for future regional airport needs without an El Toro option." More below.

Supervisor Coad noted that the City of Irvine met her deadline for a signed letter of agreement regarding park funds for North County. She moved continuance of the item until June 25, her "drop dead" date. If she does not have a binding legal document by then, she will "absolutely reverse" her April 16 vote in favor of Irvine annexation of El Toro.

Mark Miller of Mission Viejo spoke in favor of continuance and George Margolin, Roger Griffin and Shirley Conger urged Coad to reverse her position now.  Conger said that the Board should not "cave in to the City of Irvine" and its "singularly ambitious mayor with grandiose plans."

Griffin asked the Board to put his V-plan initiative on the November ballot. Referring to the signature gathering process for initiatives, Griffin said, "People shouldn't have to go out and do what you people should do."

Griffin also got into a short exchange with the County CEO and JWA airport manager who disagreed with his interpretation of the impact of AB2333. Finally, Griffin suggested that the JWA runway be extended to accommodate 767 aircraft.

Supervisor Smith's motion to provide $50,000 of funding for the Southern California Regional Airport Authority passed without any objections. The money will come from John Wayne airport's professional services fund.

"Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad will give Irvine more time to come up with a way to pay for its promise to fund North County parks from redevelopment of the former El Toro Marine base."

"Coad said in May that, by today, she wanted details from Irvine of a plan to set aside $800,000 a year from El Toro for 100 years. Without that, she said, she was prepared to rescind her April vote allowing Irvine to begin to annex the 4,700-acre base."

"Coad said she has been encouraged by some constituents to rescind her vote and keep the base under county control."

"In a letter sent to county officials earlier Monday, Irvine City Manager Allison Hart said the city's pledge to set aside El Toro funds for North County parks had been based on its hope that Irvine would become the owner of the base property and control future leases and other revenue."

"But the Navy has since announced that it does not intend to let Irvine acquire the property . . .. Without such control, the city can only offer to share property taxes when it annexes the land, Hart said."

Website editor: Also on today's Board of Supervisors' agenda is a Chuck Smith request to give the Southern California Regional Airport Authority $50,000 of county funding. SCRAA is involved in the multi-faceted push to spread airport capacity regionally. Die-hard El Toro proponents in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, including Assemblyman Nakano, departing OCRAA head Art Bloomer, SCAG officials, and El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon appear to be supportive of the SCRAA regional approach.

Some officials in Newport Beach are opposed to giving SCRAA power which could include influence over John Wayne airport. It will be interesting to see how Supervisor Jim Silva, who represents Newport, votes on the funding.

On June 4 and 5, 1999 the county conducting flight demonstrations at the former Marine base. While planners had hoped to limit the noise by restricting planes to a narrow path, into and out of El Toro, the demonstration was a public relations disaster.

The reaction doubled the rate at which residents signed petitions for Measure F.

Click here for a compilation of complaints received at this website.

"Elected officials in two of the cities engaged in Orange County's airport wars have met behind their respective closed doors to discuss critical projects and hire consultants without public review, saying exemptions in their city charters and the state's open-meeting law allow it."

"The Newport Beach City Council . . . agreed during closed sessions--under the heading of pending litigation--to spend a total of $55,000 a month for two lobbyists to push locally and in Washington, D.C., for a renewal of John Wayne Airport's limits on flights and noise. The lobbying contracts total $455,000 and end Dec. 31."

"[Irvine] City Council held a closed-door session under the heading of real estate negotiations to discuss the Navy's plans to sell to private developers 3,700 acres of the closed El Toro Marine air base. City officials, who want to annex the land, have hired design and engineering consultants to work on an evolving plan for parkland and other public uses at El Toro, but they haven't yet made it public."

"Under the state's open-meeting law, the public's business must be conducted in public. Terry Francke, an attorney with the California First Amendment Coalition [said] . . . the state's open-meeting law . . . doesn't allow a city council to meet in closed session to approve the hiring of lobbyists, or discuss issues involving property that it isn't planning to buy, sell, lease or exchange."

"Irvine City Atty. Joel Kuperberg said the closed session on El Toro last week was appropriate because, even though the city doesn't intend to buy or lease any of the base property, it hopes to get future parkland at El Toro from whoever does buy land there. Irvine is negotiating concessions through the Navy that could help the city acquire the property, he said, through conditions of escrow or property rights conveyed to the city."

Click here for the entire report.

"Irvine and Navy officials did not meet their goal of settling on a plan for disposing of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station by Friday, but said they are working well together and hope to strike an agreement by mid-June.

"'There's a lot of give and take, going back and forth on these issues,' said Irvine Councilman Chris Mears. 'We're very close to having a final agreement with them.'"

"Next week, Irvine officials go to Washington for more talks with the Navy, he said."

"H.T. Johnson, Navy assistant secretary, wrote local leaders last week, noting that 'good progress' has been made toward the eventual sale of El Toro."

Meanwhile, the Irvine Planning Commission approved plans this week, for a large development of homes and businesses along the former base's northern borders. "The 7,700 acres, called the Northern Sphere and owned by the Irvine Co., would make up about one-third of the city, where more than 12,000 homes will be built and more than 4,600 acres set aside for open space."

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