News - 1997

December, 1997

OC Register, December 31, 1997
"Irvine Threatens to Punish Newport Beach for El Toro Stance."
"Irvine Mayor Christina Shea told Newport Beach officials... that she was prepared to renege on a deal to swap land [in Bonita Canyon] with Newport Beach if the coastal town tries to foil Irvine's plans to annex El Toro."  After Irvine cooperated on transfering the 343 acre parcel to Newport Beach, "'They're...trying to stab us in the back,' said Shea."

Newport Beach recently hired former county supervisor Don Salterelli to help block Irvine's effort to annex the El Toro base property. 

December 30, 1997
ETRPA's Eckles asks Supervisor Steiner to back words about an open planning process with deeds.
Click here to read Eckles' letter.  ETRPA prepares to sue to obtain copies of county secret airport documents.

December 30, 1997
Federal Express gets an earful over their support for interim cargo flights.
Tom Wilson sends a strong message to FedEx executives. Cargo flights from El Toro are an unacceptable foot in the door for an airport.
.
Residents are urged to read our FedEx page for background and to send their own statements of opposition.. 

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, December 30, 1997
City ponders creation of nonprofit El Toro group
Move would give city firepower to fight South County opponents of airport at soon-to-be-closed Marine base.
Click here to read about Newport Beach's latest move to prevent the expanded use of John Wayne - by pushing for an El Toro airport.  ETRPA Chairman Richard Dixon questions that city's motives. 

E-mail, December 30, 1997
We are not alone
New message from residents near Reno/Lake Tahoe Airport rings a familiar chord. In Letters section.

LA Times, December 28, 1997
“Decision on El Toro Plan is Waiting in the Wings”
“After a decade of controversy, airport backers and foes alike will have to lay out the specifics.”
“Wrangling over the future of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station comes to a head in 1998, “ when both sides are scheduled to reveal their detailed plans for the 4,700 acre base.

“Next year’s elections - in which three seats on the county Board of Supervisors are up for grabs - will also give both sides a chance to influence the board’s precarious 3-2 split in favor of an airport.”

“The most heated race is expected in District 4, where Steiner is retiring... one already-declared candidate, La Palma Councilman Paul F. Walker, has expressed strong reservations about an airport.” “In District 2... Supervisor Jim Silva is facing another challenge from an anti-airport candidate, former Costa Mesa mayor Sandra L. Genis.”

“The board will review the county’s master plan in April - two months before the supervisorial election.” The plan will lay out in detail the type of airport that the county wants to build. “If the plan is approved, county officials will prepare a final environmental impact report. This report will then be submitted to the board for approval or rejection early in 1999 - after the elections.” 

LA Times, December 27, 1997
"There's a stigma to his job..."
"Randall Bell is a self-styled specialist dealing with properties that have been scarred..."
Mr. Bell is a nationally recognized expert on real estate that has lost value because of murders, suicides and other adverse happenings. The Times article discusses his clients, including the owners of the Heavens Gate mansion, the Nicole Brown Simpson condo and the house where JonBenet Ramsey was killed.

The Times overlooks Mr. Bell's study of the detrimental impact of airports on property values. Click here for his analysis of prices near LAX, John Wayne and Ontario Airports, where he found that residential values suffered by an average of 27.4 percent. 

LA Times, December 24, 1997
"Newport Hires Ex-Supervisor to Help Foil El Toro Annexation
Saltarelli will look at ways to block Irvine's anti-airport strategy."
"Former County Supervisor Donald J. Saltarelli has been hired to advise Newport Beach officials on ways to block Irvine from annexing El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Saltarelli, who served on the board from 1995 to last January and voted to build a commercial airport at El Toro, was hired as a consultant in November for $15,000, according to city documents. Hiring Saltarelli underscores the importance of the El Toro issue to the city of Newport Beach, which strongly supports a commercial airport at the 4,700-acre base."  Newport Beach sees an airport at El Toro as a way to avoid the increased use of John Wayne Airport.

"The Irvine City Council recently voted to try to annex the military base as part of a strategy to derail the proposed airport after the Marines pull out in 1999. City officials figure that putting the surplus base within city limits would give them, and not the county, power over land-use options at the base."

"News of Saltarelli's consulting role angered Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea, who said she's never heard of one city trying to block another city's annexation bid. 'It's surprising and it borders on the ridiculous,' Shea said. 'It sounds like they are quite desperate.'"  "Until they have been out of office for one year, county ordinance prohibits former supervisors from lobbying current county officials. Saltarelli said he has not lobbied county officials, serving in a strict consulting capacity." 

LA Times, December 21, 1997
“El Toro Cargo Plan Divides Area Businesses”
“While Orange County officials push a plan for commercial cargo flights at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, some business leaders are expressing doubt whether local cargo service is needed.” “No potential agreements have been discussed with carriers to gauge their interest in using El Toro in 1999, when the Marines pull out. And there's less than universal enthusiasm for cargo flights among local firms.”

“Key business leaders such as Western Digital, one of the world's largest computer disk drive manufacturers, say the need for local cargo service has been exaggerated by airport supporters. Delays caused by shipping products through Los Angeles International Airport are insignificant, Western Digital spokesman Michael A. Cornelius said. ‘For most companies, that's not a real issue,’ he said, adding that the negative impact a commercial airport would have on the quality of life in South County communities around the airport outweighs any possible benefits.”

“Two key groups backing the cargo plan are the Orange County Business Council, the county's largest coalition of businesses, and the El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission, whose members include powerful businessman George Argyros.”

“Sources at the Irvine Co., which deals extensively with manufacturers and service companies seeking to rent in the Irvine Spectrum and other prime commercial areas developed by the giant landowner, say they are unaware of any groundswell of support for a cargo operation at El Toro.”

"‘The business community is not monolithically for the airport,’" said Laurie Casey, vice president of Irvine-based Rainbow Technologies. ‘Our needs are being met by current services.’. Casey co-founded the Orange County Business Coalition to counter the pro-airport business group. The coalition has about 50 member companies, all of which oppose an international airport at El Toro, Casey said.”

“Irvine-based Interpore International Inc. ships more than $1 million of its synthetic bone marrow each month, often by overnight air to get it into hospital operating rooms the next day. ‘But Federal Express handles it all for us, and we have no problems,’ the company's president, David Mercer, said. ‘I don't see how it would help us’ to have an air cargo terminal at El Toro, Mercer said.” “A representative of Fluor Corp., an international engineering and construction services giant headquartered in Irvine, said the company sees no benefit from air cargo flights at El Toro. Shippers have told Fluor's mailing department that the ability to fly cargo out of El Toro wouldn't improve rates or the speed of service.”

“So far, only Federal Express has stated an interest in flying cargo at the airport... Other carriers, including UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, are uncommitted. ‘We are very excited about Orange County's plans for El Toro,’ Graham R. Smith, vice president in charge of Federal Express properties and facilities, stated in a letter to county supervisors. ‘Federal Express supports the county’s program for seeking interim use at El Toro MCAS.’”

Viewers interested in contacting Mr. Smith at Fed Ex can do so by fax at 901-395-5303.

“Critics say the county is pushing swiftly on the cargo issue to get a foot in the door to transforming the base into a civilian commercial airport. ‘The quicker they can get an airplane landing at El Toro, the sooner they can begin building an airport,’ said Richard Dixon, chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, (ETRPA). ‘They are desperately trying to get that done.’”

In a related editorial, “Packaging El Toro”, the Times wrote, ”At year’s end, the county [is] still fumbling reuse plans.” The editorial says the Board of Supervisors must, “First, jettison the early cargo flights idea and declare that nothing will be done to disturb the trend to reasonableness that began to take hold when the study of non-aviation uses took on a new priority.” 

OC Register, December 19, 1997
"Flying blind at El Toro"
"...airport supporters persist in trying to push the project forward at a speed that outpaces the mechanics of sound and evenhanded study..." The Register editorial asks, "Why not first examine John Wayne Airport and the possibility of accomodating more cargo there?" 

OC Register, December 18, 1997
Website Direct, December 17, 1997
“Airport foes threaten suit over reuse reports”
“Cities say the public is being kept in the dark about planning”
Directors of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority voted “to sue the county for release of consultants’ reports on base-reuse planning, claiming important information is being kept from the public.” “Among other things, the cities asked for reports on potential annual aviation demand and on whether El Toro and John Wayne Airport can operate together and a noise analysis.”

In November, Paul D. Eckles, Executive Director of ETRPA, while visiting aviation industry groups in Washington, learned that county officials had been secretively discussing changes in the runways and flight paths for El Toro and whether there was “feasibility of operating two airports.” Eckles wrote to El Toro program manager, Courtney Wiercioch, asking that the public be advised whether such major changes were under discussion. Wiercioch’s response was evasive.

Therefore, Eckles made very specific document requests, in accordance with the California Public Records Act. which requires disclosure of such information. Eckles asked for studies and reports that should have been available by now, based on the timetables built into the county’s aviation consultant’s contract. He also asked for the consultants billing to verify that the reports were done. Click here to see Eckles’ letter.

Wiercioch responded on December 3 saying that, “because of the need to search for and collect the records” she requests 10 additional working days, which the records act allows. On December 16, approximately ten minutes before the deadline, Orange County Deputy Counsel Richard D. Oviedo sent a fax to Eckles saying that the documents would not be provided.

The county letter says, “The County claims that disclosure of the requested records at this time would jeopardize the County’s decision making or deliberative process in formulating an Airport System Master Plan for MCAS El Toro and JWA. The County is still in the process of formulating policy on the issues which are the subject of the requested records.”

Eckles noted that, “County staff must have gone to the Sadam Hussein School of Public Information.” to withhold such key information. Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog said, “They are afraid to let people know what is going on.” The ETRPA board promptly decided to file suit under the public records act to force disclosure of the information. 

LA Times, December 18, 1997
“El Toro Chief: Base-Sharing Plan Won’t Fly”
“Commander dismisses county idea of cargo flights before military squadrons depart. But he will review any specific proposal.”
“Marine Brig. General Robert Magnus, commander of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, said Wednesday that it is ‘highly unlikely’ the military will support the county’s idea to allow commercial cargo flights out of the base before the Marines pull out.... [joint use] would interfere with our training and operations and could pose safety problems’ he said in his first interview since the idea was raised.”

He left open the possibility of interim us after Marine squadrons had left. “The earliest this could happen is April 1999.”

El Toro Reuse Planning Authority Chairman Richard Dixon said, of the county’s interim cargo use study, “It is a stereotypical Orange County staff end run doing whatever they can do to guarantee that there is an airport at El Toro.” 

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, December 17, 1997
"Argyros throws big-dollar fund-raiser for Silva
Announcement that Sandy Genis may be getting in race to oppose airport is fueling support for county supervisor."
Click here for the complete story on how Newport Beach is seeking to influence the supervisorial election in another district. It has to do with El Toro. 

Website Direct, Revised December 17, 1997
LA Times, December 17, 1997
OC Register, December 17, 1997
Heavy agenda at LRA meeting
The Board of Supervisors, meeting as the Local Redevelopment Authority for El Toro, had a full agenda.  Courtney Wiercioch provided the supervisors with a project status report. In order to counter unspecified “misinformation” from airport opponents, (including this website), county staff and public relations consultants will be releasing a newsletter, press kit, speaker’s bureau and an updated website of their own.

The supervisors heard a report that it might cost about $10 million to bring utilities at the Marine base up to safety codes. They were also advised that the fuel supply problem for a commercial airport was still under study.

A report was submitted on possible cargo use of the Marine airstrip prior to shutdown. The study was instigated at the request of the Citizen’s Advisory Commission, a pro-airport group.

The report was received, and while there was no vote taken, a majority of supervisors favored continued study and negotiations for "interim" cargo use of the base. Some dispute arose over the distinction between “joint use” cargo flights, while the Marines are still operating at El Toro, and “interim use” flights after the Marines cease operations but before the base is turned over to the county.  The Register reported that, "The Marines would consider allowing cargo flights... as early as March 1999."  but Congressman Cox has produced federal legislation that appears to bar such use.

Airport proponents seem anxious to keep El Toro continuously in use as an airport for legal reasons. Opponents saw the move as a way to cut out environmental impact report safeguards.

Eight members of the public spoke and expressed dissatisfaction with the supervisors’ planning for an airport. Questions included one from Dave Kirkey who asked why the airport planning contracts were not rebid when the contractors raised their prices from $13 to $20 million for the project.

Gail Reavis challenged the need for more cargo flights.  Limits on cargo flights from John Wayne airport will expire in the year 2005.  She distributed copies of several letters - to county officials from air transport industry sources - that previously had received little or no public exposure. While the Times quoted a Federal Express official as saying, "We have expressed our interest at various times. We would sure be interested in discussing it further.", written comments from the carriers were less supportive of the county's claimed need for additional cargo flights.

• A January 23, 1996 letter from UPS stated that, “UPS has spent a substantial amount of time and money in securing operating rights at John Wayne Airport. It will be years before we are able to recoup our investment. As we have consistently stated, we do not anticipate any need for more than the one flight we currently operate.” UPS has their west coast air hub at Ontario.
• A February 22, 1996 letter from FedEx stated that, “We do not expect to relocate facilities from LAX in order to serve El Toro. At the present time our plans do not include handling international cargo from El Toro or John Wayne Airports.” 

  ---

LA Times, December 14, 1997
"Landing Directly in the Line of Fire"
"Courtney Wiercioch, El Toro conversion project manager, is no stranger to airport controversy,"
The Times provides an in-depth report on Ms. Wiercioch and her background. Her former UCI political science professor Mark Petracca, "one of her staunchest defenders", observes that she "has been given the job of executing public policy without being allowed critical analysis." 

OC Register, December 13, 1997
"Airport backers: What's going on?"
"They say a public-information program isn't measuring up."
"Some airport supporters are wondering if Orange County is getting enough for the $329,000 it is spending on a public-information program for El Toro base reuse. 'There's no informing of the people as to what is going on with the program,'  said Newport Beach Councilman Tom Edwards, an airport supporter, Friday. 'That's lot of money and they should be getting some product.'''

"The county hired Irvine-based Nelson Communications in August [on a 3-2 supervisorial vote] to handle public information on base-reuse planning. Among its duties was public outreach, preparing a newsletter, creating a speakers bureau and working with the media."

``'Why is it that when (the airport opposition) comes out with a product on their non-aviation alternative, its seems to get four times the exposure?' asked Gary Proctor, a John Wayne Airport commissioner and chairman of the county's [pro-airport] El Toro Airport Citizens' Advisory Commission."

Courtney Wiercioch, said, "A county El Toro reuse newsletter will begin next week, a media kit is being distributed and the speakers bureau has been set up...  The El Toro reuse program also has developed a new logo — a stylized purple airplane arcing around a green globe — and a motto, ``Opportunity Ahead.''

Editor:- The costly county newsletter will be long on hype about "opportunity" and "airport community" but short on news.  It will avoid answering citizens' questions like:
*Is the county still planning to close John Wayne to commercial traffic?
*Why is the county still spending money on an airport plan that both major pilots unions oppose for safety reasons?
*Why did they ignore residents' concerns and rush to spend $3 million on an environmental impact report that a judge say underestimates the negative impacts of an airport?

OC Register, December 11, 1997
Residents Disagree with Board Majority on Mittermeier

The Register's "County Line" asked its readers to respond to the question: "Do you agree with the supervisors' vote of confidence in Jan Mittermeier?" Supervisors Wilson and Spitzer voted "No". Supervisors Steiner, Smith and Silva voted "Yes" on the CEO's performance.

The Register received 2,818 responses, far more than usual for its polls. 97% said "NO" and  3% said "YES".

In a related article, the Register printed an op-ed piece by Supervisor Spitzer, Supervisors relinquish control of their jobs.  He explains why the supervisors must maintain accountability and responsibility for governance. Spitzer warns that the County CEO is seeking more power to issue large contracts of up to $100,000 without board approval. Click here to read.

LA TImes, December 11, 1997
"Agency Unveils 3 Non-Aviation Plans for El Toro"
"The first public unveiling of alternative plans for the El Toro Marine base drew more than 100 people Wednesday night, many of whom complained that the ideas lacked pizazz." The planning consultants for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) gave the public a first look and opportunity to comment on what were admittedly three "very preliminary" concepts. By January, the ETRPA board will chose one of the three scenarios to be developed and submitted to the county by April.

Concern was expressed privately, that while ETRPA might be seeking to plan the best possible use for the base, the county was focussing on marketing its ideas, no matter how flawed.

For example, the minutes of the county's pro-airport Citizens Advisory Commission's last meeting on November 13, 1997 contain several requests for "renderings" that can be shown to the public. Mr. Ahfeldt [of P&D Consultants] said that "as soon as the the planning team has some images that can be responsibly presented, they would be anxious to present them."  Courtney Wiercioch expressed that the aviation portion of the reuse plan was still "uncertain" and, "She was concerned about creating unrealistic expectations."  However, Commissioner Tom Wall stated that "ETRPA would try to convince the voters that their non-aviation rendering is superior to any aviation renderings that have yet to be prepared" and he pressed for "concept plans that will get people to think about the positive impacts of an aviation use on the community." 

LA Times, December 10, 1997
“Newport Beach Names Official to Push Airport Plan for El Toro Base”
“Striving to play a larger role in the future of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, the city has chosen an official to be a full-time advocate for building a commercial airport at the retiring military base.” Newport Beach “residents favor the commercial airport plan, believing it will relieve pressure to expand John Wayne Airport.” 

LA Times, December 10, 1997
“Mittermeier Keeping Full Power After Narrow Vote”
Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer sought to limit the CEO’s authority but came out on the short end of a 3-2 vote. “The long-awaited showdown stemmed from Mittermeier’s refusal last month to provide Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson with information about future trips scheduled by planners working to convert the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport.”

The Register reported that, "Supervisor Todd Spitzer disagreed with the majority, and had an `unacceptable' evaluation placed in Mittermeier's personnel file. 'Time and time again she has withheld information from the board or given us bad information,' Spitzer said after the session."

OC Register, December 9, 1997
“Air cargo: mixed bag for El Toro”
"The county’s El Toro master plan staff prepared the report [on air cargo use of the base] for the El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission, which had asked about initiating air cargo service before the Marines leave in 1999.”

“The preliminary assessment projected demand at 1.6 million tons of cargo a year by 2020.” The figure is from the environmental impact report for El Toro which also projects a demand for 38 million annual passengers and 447,000 annual aircraft operations. “Only two cargo flights a day are allowed at John Wayne Airport.”

“A law sponsored by Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach, bars air cargo service at El Toro while the Marines are there."  Click here to write to Cox.

"Bill Kogerman, head of [Taxpayers for Responsible Planning] said [TRP] will fight interim airport use.”

March Air Force Base in western Riverside County is available to handle a large volume of civilian air cargo, is seeking this type of business, and is seen by many as the solution to Orange county’s cargo needs.

Supervisor Tom Wilson blasted county staffers for analyzing joint use when it is forbidden by federal law. 

New York Times, December 7, 1997
“Many Killed as Jet Crashes on Russian Town”
A cargo plane “smashed into an apartment complex in southern Siberia on Saturday.”. “The crash of the plane, seconds after it took off fully loaded with fuel, turned a quiet residential area near the city of Irkutsk into a raging fire that swallowed up apartment buildings and stores. Russian officials feared that the death toll could exceed 80, with scores more injured Among those reported hospitalized were children from a nearby orphanage.”

“The transport plane had barely left the runway when it began to lose altitude. Witnesses said that [the] plane had fallen rapidly and that the crew might have been trying to direct it into an open area. If so, they failed. After only 20 seconds in the air, the plane crashed into a four-story apartment building.”

“Russian television showed the tail of the transport embedded in the side of the apartment building, which was said to be on the brink of collapse. The impact set off the conflagration that followed... Most of those killed appeared to be on the ground.”

“The local authorities, however, sought to comfort the public with the suggestion that the tragedy could have been worse. They said an even greater disaster had been averted only because residents were out shopping on a Saturday. If the crash had occurred several hours earlier, as many as 500 might have perished.”

The environmental impact report for the proposed commercial airport at El Toro has heavy cargo planes taking off to the north-northwest. Click here for flight path information. County planners are looking into beginning cargo flights before the Marines leave in 1999. 

Los Angeles Times, December 7, 1997
“County picked moderate path to financial health”
“By contrast, San Diego County, in its own crisis, opted to privatize services and run government like a business.”
“When Orange county went bankrupt, three years ago this weekend, there was excited talk about turning the beleaguered county government into a ‘laboratory’ for radical change.” “Hire an executive from the private sector to whip the bureaucracy into shape, experts said. Run the government like a business. Sell county assets such as the airport...”

Instead, “The current chief executive officer, [Jan] Mittermeier, is a former airport director and longtime county employee.”

“The county emerged from bankruptcy in June 1996 by selling $800 million in bonds and using the proceeds to pay off creditors. The county will pay off the new debt over the next 30 years by diverting...revenue that had previously been dedicated to public transportation, harbors, beaches and parks, as well as to flood control projects.” 

Irvine World News, December 6, 1997
"Non-aviation uses for El Toro will be aired at Wednesday meeting"
"A public meeting to present three non-aviation scenarios for the future of the Marine Corps Station... is set for 7-10 p.m, [December 10],. in the conference and training center at [Irvine] City Hall."

Paul Eckles, executive director of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) said "plans call for a formal presentation of the scenarios to the public, then there will probably be a period for questions and comments. 'We want all the feedback we can get.' Eckles said. 'We want to make it clear that this is an open process and we want as many people involved as possible.'" 

OC Register, December 4, 1997
“El Toro golf-course plans headed for the rough”
“The county would like to expand the current facility onto a toxic landfill.”
“County planners want to expand the base golf course onto a former landfill. The Marines say their cleanup scenario makes that entirely possible as long as the course is not watered.”

“The matter goes beyond a potential golf course,” Greg Hurley, head of the civilian panel overseeing El Toro cleanup said. “It raises questions as to how far the Marines are willing to go to ensure their cleanup plans allow the county to develop the base for to its best potential.” John E. Scandura, who oversees military facilities in Southern California for the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, “warned that federal policy could leave the county paying for cleanup - and taking on liability for any problems.” 

Irvine World News, December 4, 1997
“Congressman tells government class any airport must have its neighbors’ support.”
Congressman Christopher Cox said, “I will oppose an airport that is built without the consent of the people closely affected by it,” after being pressed to take a stand by students in an emeritus class at Rancho Senior Center Tuesday.

Click here to e-mail support to Representative Cox. 

Irvine World News, December 4, 1997
“El Toro annexation could take a year”
“City Manager Paul Brady said it could take up to a year to go through the proceedings.” “The supervisors have final say in the matter.” In 1993, the Board of Supervisors offered Irvine a role in planning El Toro reuse, but “one of the conditions was that the city not annex the base until a reuse plan was in place.” Then, after the passage of Measure A, the supervisors reversed themselves and dropped Irvine from base the planning

“At Monday nights meeting of the Tustin City council, the mayor, Jeff Thomas, announced his support of Irvine’s annexation efforts.” 

Wall Street Journal, December 3, 1997
“As Air Fares Soar, More Companies Cancel Trips”
Adding credibility to those who question whether air traffic demand will continue to climb - as claimed by proponents of an additional airport at El Toro, “corporate America is ... grounding fliers.” “The National Business Travel Association, which represents corporate travel managers from 1,800 companies, found in a recent survey that half of its 400 respondents reduced the number of business trips in 1997. Business Travel Contractors, which purchases air travel for 58 companies, found that its respondents will cut the number of business trips by 15% on average next year.

The companies cited increased use of video- and tele-conferencing. 

OC Register, December 3, 1997
“El Toro role of CEO splits supervisors”
“The board narrowly rejects a plan to take the base-reuse project from Mittermeier”
“Supervisor Tom Wilson, on a 3-2 vote, lost in his effort to take the El Toro project away from county CEO Jan Mittermeier.  Spitzer voted with him.” “Much of what happened... was driven by a memo written last month by Mittermeier... rejecting a [Wilson] request for monthly updates on travel and meetings related to the [base] conversion project.”

“Spitzer said he felt the ‘infamous’ memo was not just an El Toro issue, but the latest example of Mittermeier withholding information on key issues.” “‘I don’t know how anyone can trust what Jan Mittermeier says to them,’ Spitzer said. ‘She has lost my trust because she’s not forthcoming with information that I need to make decisions.’”

The Board will discuss Mittermeier further at a closed-door session next Tuesday. 

LA Times, December 2, 1997
"O.C.... Annual survey"
"Results from UCI's Orange County Annual Survey, made public today, were replete with good news..." "But the optimism ends when people are asked about county government. Many residents remain deeply skeptical of a government scarred by the nation's largest municipal bankruptcy three years ago and enveloped in controversy over planning for a new airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station."

"Just one in four say the county is doing a good or excellent job. Four in 10 believe the county wastes a lot of tax money."

The full text of the UCI press release notes that "Less than one-quarter of residents approve of the way county government is handling the [El Toro] base conversion issue." See related news below.

Website direct, December 1, 1997
Kogerman rekindles crash danger concerns
Bill Kogerman was interrupted by applause several times as he addressed a packed joint meeting of the Laguna Conservancy and Taxpayers for Responsible Planning in Laguna Beach this evening..

However his audience listened in attentive silence as Kogerman recalled the disasterous Laguna fire of 1993 that destroyed hundreds of homes and came within feet of engulfing the city's downtown area. Thousands of acres of south-county were blackened by a small fire that raced out of control, fanned by canyon winds.  Kogerman noted that a " 777 commercial jet carries hundreds of thousands of pounds of flammable fuel and could create a holocaust" if it crashed on approach to El Toro.
The flight path into the county's proposed international airport flies over some of the same brush covered hill and canyon areas that were ignited in the 1993 fire storm. 

November, 1997 

LA Times, Editorial, November 30, 1997
“It’s Time to Bring El Toro Debate Back Down to Earth”
“Officials must admit airport bias, weigh alternatives.” In a recent UCI annual survey, “Fewer than one quarter of respondents saw a commercial airport as the best use of the base, and there was strong dissatisfaction with the way the county government was handling things.”

“Only the supervisors can fix what is wrong with this process. They can acknowledge that the planning was weighted for an airport from the start and order all options considered equally. Or they can narrow the discussion to a smaller airport.” 

LA Times, November 30, 1997
“Business Council’s Bottom Line: Get Going on El Toro”
“Losing patience with county planners, powerful group pushes harder to accelerate development of civilian airport.” “Although usually more comfortable flexing its political muscle behind the scenes, the Orange County Business Council has pushed itself to the forefront of the raging debate over future use of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.... planning strategy to increase their role in promoting development of a civilian airport.” “And members are discussing possibly recruiting pro-airport candidates to run for the county Board of Supervisors.”

“At the heart of the move is a growing dissatisfaction with the county’s planning process. County officials, council members say, have not done a good job of engaging the public’s trust on the airport issue.” See related OCBC story below. 

LA Times, November 27, 1997
Website direct, November 26, 1997
Judge hears arguments in environmental impact report case
Superior Court Judge Judith McConnell heard arguments over how her ruling, against the county’s environmental impact report, should be implemented. She previously found that major aspects of the report are inadequate and understate the impacts of a commercial airport at El Toro. Attorneys for the county on one side, and Taxpayers for Responsible Planning (TRP) and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) on the other, presented opposing views on how much rework the county must do to its $3 million report.

The judge denied a request "to prohibit the county from spending more money on the airport plan until the all the problems with the massive report are fixed", since construction is not immediately proceeding and therefore she lacks the authority to stop the project.

The court has set a deadline of December 10 for the two sides to work out a revised plan to remedy deficiencies in the EIR. 

LA Times, November 26, 1997
“Plan Sees Cargo Jets in Before Marines Go”
“The county is studying whether some air-cargo carriers could fly out of the base before the military pulls out in 1999, officials confirmed Tuesday.” Call for the study is coming from the Citizens Advisory Commission, a staunchly pro-airport group which includes George Argyros and Newport Beach Councilman Tom Edwards.

“Federal legislation, authored in 1990 by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) states that the ‘Secretary of the Navy may not enter into any agreement that provides for...or allows civilian aircraft to regularly use the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro.’” Since then, airport proponents have attempted, unsuccessfully, to attach riders to other congressional bills to reverse this law and allow joint use.

The cargo use plan will go to the CAC, which will undoubtedly endorse it at a meeting on December 11, and send it to the Board of Supervisors. “Both sides agree that any move by the county [to allow cargo flights] probably would provoke a court fight.” 

OC Register, November 19, 1997
"Irvine's plan for El Toro: Annex it." - continued
"City officials, buoyed by recent victories in the fight against an El Toro airport, want to annex the military base." "Mayor Christina Shea said gaining control of the base would force the Department of Defense to 'deal with Irvine,' not the county Board of Supervisors." The Irvine City council voted unanimously to commence annexation. . For a report on the issues and annexation process, click here.

Irvine "would likely opt to incorporate south county's non-aviation plan for the base, said Mayor Shea." Musik Jail also will be included in an annexation bid.

440 of the base's 4,700 acres are already within Irvine city boundaries. A Superior Court judge ruled against the County of Orange, in a lawsuit brought by the county, which is trying to stop Irvine from zoning and planning that parcel for a sports and entertainment complex. 

News Release, Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson, November 24, 1997
"Tom Wilson Offers El Toro Info Links"
"After being denied the ability to expand the amount of information concerned citizens can access on the internet regarding the reuse of MCAS El Toro, Supervisor Tom Wilson took the initiative to establish a link from his office's home page to sites - representing both opponents and proponents -- which offer information on the issue. Supervisor Wilson had requested that a link be established between the County of Orange home page and the El Toro Airport Info Site. This request was denied"... by County CEO Jan Mittermeier.

She wrote that the El Toro Airport Info Site “is actively and aggressively opposing current board policy” and does not provide “accurate, timely and factual information regarding the reuse planning process.” Wilson responded that “The county seems to be a proponent of a public information program, yet they are embargoing information to our constituents.” Web Editor Len Kranser stated that "We oppose the current El Toro reuse plan but in a democracy you're allowed to listen to both sides." Unlike the county, this website publishes input from both sides such as a recent letter from Assistant CEO Courtney Wiercioch. 

LA Times, November 22, 1997
“Mittermeier Agrees to Briefings on airport”
“Supervisors will get biweekly updates on county’s planning for an El Toro facility. Two board members had complained of secrecy.” “Stung by criticism for refusing to give a supervisor information, County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier said ... she will begin regularly briefing the board about plans...”

The OC Register, in a related story, quotes Mittermeier as saying, of her letter of refusal to Supervisor Tom Wilson, "I think I could have been a bit more diplomatic. I was tired when I wrote that." Todd Spitzer said, "This is a token gesture to try to pacify her critics. The greater question is: 'Who is really responsible for running the county?'"

The briefings will begin this Tuesday, November 25th, at the board meeting which begins at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Administration, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana. Meetings are open to the public. 

Daily Pilot, November 21, 1997
“Airport passenger total rising but not critical yet”
“Officials had feared annual 8.4 million cap would be met and customers would be turned away.” “Despite some nervous nail-biting and head-counting” John Wayne Airport “officials said they likely won’t have to turn away travelers, as they feared, in order to squeeze under the airport’s annual passenger cap.” “The airport has worked under the cap since [1985], when the number of people who can fly in and out each year has been limited to 8.4 million, a deal that settled a lawsuit brought against the airport by the city of Newport Beach.” “The cap is set to expire in 2005.”

Under the arrangement with Newport Beach, the number of passengers is limited, even if the number of flights do not exceed the agreement. United Airlines and Southwest were warned that they might “have to cut some passengers” but a “sudden downturn in passengers allowed officials to withdraw the warnings last week.” “No passengers were taken off planes”, a spokesperson said. Under the arrangement, planes can be forced to fly from John Wayne with empty seats, leaving passengers behind at the terminal.

Bill Kogerman, head of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, pointed to this situation as an example of how utilization of the county’s existing airport at John Wayne is being unreasonably restricted - to about half of its physical capacity - at the insistence of the City of Newport Beach.. 

Website direct, November 20, 1997
Airport Opponent Barred from Mittermeier talk to OCBC
Gail Reavis, a member of the Taxpayers for Responsible Planning and El Toro Restortion Advisory Boards was asked to leave an Orange County Business Council breakfast meeting at which County CEO Jan Mittermeier was the featured speaker. Mrs. Reavis had a valid invitation and had registered in advance in her own name. Nevertheless her invitaion was recinded by the OCBS"s Executive Vice-President after she showed up at the Marriott hotel this morning and apparently was recognized by the county's El Toro Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch..

The incident underscored the secrecy that county staff has imposed on the El Toro planning process. Ms. Mittermeier's address was apparently not for all ears.

It also puts in doubt the Orange County Business Council's intentions concerning open discussion of the El Toro issue. In a handout for the meeting, the OCBC says, "The Business Council is strongly committed to a consensus-building planning process for El Toro that will put all the facts on the table in a clear, professional manner. This must include addressing the issues which will be raised with the termination of the existing agreement for the use of John Wayne Airport and the quality of life issues raised by citizens in the surrounding communities." Ms. Reavis is apparently not one of those to be at the table.

Stan Oftelie, President of the OCBC, can be reached at softelie@ocbc.org 

The meeting was between representatives of the Air Line Pilots Association, the Air Transport Association, the FAA and the county. ALPA has objected to the county’s plan for 70 percent of takeoffs to occur towards the mountains east of the base. They stated their opposition last year during the environmental impact report preparation, but their position was dismissed until a second union joined them recently. “Although county officials denied there were any plans to change... they did acknowledge the need to address the safety concerns voiced by the two largest pilots unions in the country.”

“Two weeks ago, county officials met in Washington with national representatives of ALPA to discuss general airport plans, including runway safety concerns.” The secretive meetings prompted questions from El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) officials as to why they had not been informed by the county about possible important major runway changes. El Toro Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch attempted to downplay the meetings.

The Washington meetings also lead to Supervisor Tom Wilson’s request that the supervisors be informed about staff travel plans. County CEO Jan Mittermeier bluntly refused Wilson’s request. See the OC Register’s editorial comment “Mittermeier’s Arrogance”. 

OC Register, November 18, 1997
“Mittermeier’s Arrogance”
The Register takes her to task saying “It had the whiff of arrogance for Jan Mittermeier the county’s CEO to refuse... to turn over to an elected county supervisor, Tom Wilson, some details he requested about county officials upcoming travel and meetings in conjunction with the El Toro reuse project.” Supervisor Todd Spitzer is quoted as drawing a parallel, “Bob Citron had a practice of giving supervisors only the information he wanted to give them...” 

OC Register, November 18, 1997
"Judge faults county on some findings in jail-expansion plan"
"Orange County failed to adequately consider the cumulative effects of expanding the James A. Musik jail in the planned project's environmental impact report, a judge tentatively ruled Monday. The judge took the county to task for relying on the El Toro airport environmental impact report for its analysis... [Superior Court Judge Warren] Conklin noted that major portions of the El Toro report wer found invalid by another judge, which means that the data would be equally invalid for the jail analysis." 

LA TImes, November 16, 1997
"Plane Returns to John Wayne Safely After Engine Fire"
"A Northwest Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at John Wayne... after a bird flew into an engine." 103 passengers and crew were unharmed. "It was the second time in two weeks (and at least the third time in a year) that a plane had to make an emergency landing at John Wayne Airport shortly after taking off."

A passenger is quoted as saying, "We weren't gaining altitude... Then I was hoping that we'd make it to the ocean. I didn't want to go down among a bunch of buildings." Opponents of a commercial airport at El Toro note that plans for that airport call for takeoffs towards mountains where 85 Marines died in a jet transport crash. A pilots losing an engine on takeoff may be forced to make a hard turn away from the rising terrain before instituting other emergency procedures.. See pilot's comments on El Toro flightpaths. 

LA Times, November 15, 1997
OC Register, November 15, 1997
“Two Supervisors Challenge CEO on El Toro Push”
"County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier touched off a political battle Friday by pointedly rejecting a request by Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson to provide a schedule of upcoming lobbying trips by officials on behalf of a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.” Wilson’s request came at a time when Assistant CEO Courtney Wiercioch was downplaying reports of a change in El Toro runway plans, that were discussed at a meeting between county staffers and pilots union representatives in Washington.

“‘I will not provide such a schedule’, Mittermeier wrote in her memo. ‘The Board involvement you are requesting is unnecessary for the formulation of good policy decisions.’”

“Supervisor Todd Spitzer... said Mittermeier’s response typified her ‘arrogance’ toward the board. ‘A statement like that requires immediate disciplinary action’. ‘I hope the other members of the board realize this is not just an El Toro issue but a governance issue. The five of us should not be put on a need-to-know basis.’”

“Wilson called for the Board of Supervisors to strip Mittermeier of her responsibility for overseeing El Toro planning. ‘This... just confirms the perception that the CEO is indeed in control of the Board of Supervisors, and this simply can’t continue.”

“The three other board members came to Mittermeier’s defense, saying she has their complete support.”

In another incident, Mittermeier also refused a request by Wilson that the county website provide a link to the El Toro Airport Website, (http://www.eltoroairport.org). Viewers who object to CEO Mittermeier's refusal to publish public input and to link to this website are urged to send e-mail Letters to the Editors of the local press.

In a separate matter, Judge Judith McConnell set a hearing date of November 25 for a plan to decertify the county environmental impact report, invalidate the El Toro reuse plan, and halt airport spending by the county, in the aftermath of her recent finding that the EIR is seriously flawed and requires remediation. 

OC Register, Friday, November 14, 1997
"Air traffic system problems disclosed"
"Radio and radar failures raise safety issues in Southern California, controllers and union say." "The year old radio system at Southern California's air traffic center failed... cutting off communications between controllers and forcing them to run between work areas to exchange information about aircraft overhead. The hour-long shutdown followed a previously undisclosed 14-minute radar blackout... that kept planes circling outside Orange County's airspace when the backup system also crashed."

"FAA officials said they had no immediate information on the breakdowns but added that a patchwork system...is below par, although not dangerous."

"Air traffic controllers and [their] union officals charged that the failures represented serious safety problems for the flying public.""More than a decade after human error and a problem plagued air traffic control system sent Aeromexico Flight 498 tumbling into a Cerritos neighborhood, controllers say outmoded equipment and overwhelmed workers continue to threaten passenger safety." Opponents of an airport at El Toro say that the county has ignored the dangers to residents on the ground from more crowded skies over Orange County. 

OC Weekly, Thursday, November 13, 1997
"Wrong Way Runways"
"Boosters [of El Toro airport] and county officials have insisted that the site was perfect for a huge commercial airport." After spending a couple of years and a couple of million dollars ignoring protests that the El Toro military runway configuration is unsafe for commercial use, "the county has quietly moved away from its earlier proclamations and intends to bulldoze the existing runways and build expensive new ones."

Writer Anthony Pignataro cites information relayed to ETRPA officials, that county planners may abandon the runways upon which the El Toro reuse plan and environmental impact report are based. "New runways could cost the county an extra $1 billion" and increase the environmental impacts on communities north and west of the base.

El Toro Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch issued a carefully worded two page letter of implied denial. However, her November 13 letter also seems to acknowlege that new runway configurations were on the table for discussion at "a number of meetings" with "various parties" in Washington, DC last week. "Our team members discussed the basics of airport master planning, which always involves consideration of a variety of factors leading to the definition of a detailed project, including the definition of more precise facilities configuration for aviation activities." We read "facilities configuration for aviation activities" to mean runway layouts.

Ms. Wiercioch points out that tearing out one of El Toro's north-south runways and building a new one to meet FAA standards is part of the exisiting reuse plan and is not a new idea. 

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, Saturday, November 8, 1997
"Group says Newport airport strategy doesn't fly"
"Airport Working Group criticizes city for lack of progress." The Airport Working Group, formed 15 years ago to limit air traffic at John Wayne Airport, decries lack of progress by Newport in the battle for an airport at El Toro. South-county successes are cited. The City of Newport Beach has hired Government Solutions, a consultant, at $15,000 a month to write letters for citizens and other public relations activities.

An El Toro Airport website study of Letters to the Editor shows that half of all pro-airport letters originate in Newport Beach, a city that comprises only 3% of the county population. 

O.C. Register, Wednesday, November 5, 1997
"El Toro plan lacks jet-fuel source"
"Closure preparations include no pipeline. The county says not to worry, but airport opponents call it a fatal flaw." "The El Toro Marine base may end up being a commercial airport, but right now there is no way to fuel the planes that would use it." A 41 year old Navy pipeline for military use is not part of the base transfer. "Even if the county gets the pipeline...( it will satisfy) only a fraction of what the airport will need." Click here for a full report on the fuel problem.

"No one really knows how the fuel line was overlooked." "Courtney Wiercioch, county El Toro reuse program manager played down the problem, saying it is being studied as part of the county's El Toro airport master plan." 

O.C. Register, Wednesday, November 5, 1997
"Plane lands safely after engine burns"
"The engine of an American Airlines jet burst into flames on takeoff from John Wayne Airport... but the Boeing 757 carrying 110 passengers managed to land safely at the airport five minutes later." "The jet was about two miles south of the airport and about 1,000 feet up when the engine popped and smoke billowed out of the back of it, officials said." The incident was similar to another engine failure on takeoff which occurred last May.

Had the aircraft been flying out of El Toro, it would have been approaching rising terrain at the time of the accident. Emergency procedures for El Toro require that the pilot make a hard turn, away from the mountains, before proceeding with other safety steps. This is one of the objections to the El Toro runway configuration voiced by airline pilots. 

El Toro Website direct, November 3, 1997
Hard Questions for the FAA
A former Associate Administrator of the FAA writes to the current Administrator, asking important questions about the funding, planning and safety of El Toro and the future of John Wayne. Donald R. Segner states that, "the county, with apparent knowlege of the local FAA offices, has already determined the ultimate outcome," and asks that the Washington headquarters "clarify the FAA position". He writes that, "More than enough safety issues have surfaced out of the county's proposed El Toro airport configuration and proposed operations that it is apparent that the best interests of the flying public are NOT being taken into account." 

L.A. Times, Sunday, November 2, 1997
"Anti-Airport War Veteran Leads El Toro Counterattack"
"Paul D. Eckles, who battled LAX expansion as Inglewood city manager, ready for more flak in fight for El Toro alternative plan." Eckles was hired by the south-county El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, ETRPA, to head its El Toro planning. "By his own admission, he is a hired gun who has come into the Orange County fray with a mission - ensuring that the Marine base does not become an international airport." Speaking of the ETRPA, non-aviation plan being developed for the Marine base property, Eckles said, "I think, in the end, when they see the plan that we are going to produce, that is going to have a powerful impact...The planning process got short-circuited with the initiate process. Some folks might say, 'Well the people have decided,' but I really don't think the people got the full benefit of the analysis and their own participation."

Calling on his 20 years of experience in Inglewood, Eckles noted that, "Once you have an airport open, it's going to to go on operating and it's going to go on growing." "'His familiarity with airport politics made him a natural...', said Richard Dixon, chairman of ETRPA.'His experience in Inglewood is one where he saw his community deteriorate over time in part due to LAX... He brings a passion to help us make sure we don't get an airport in El Toro.'" 

O.C. Register, Sunday, November 2, 1997
"We get letters..."
"282 Letters to the Editor were submitted the week of Oct. 22 to Oct. 29, 57 by e-mail, the rest by mail and fax. El Toro Airport was the top subject of interest, accounting for 21 percent of all letters received." The Register printed only one of these in the Sunday Commentary section, a pro-El Toro Airport letter from a writer in Newport Beach. 

L.A. Times, Saturday, November 1, 1997
"Burbank Can Curb Airport, Judge Rules"
"He rejects arguement that federal power supercedes local. The city's officials are elated by the victory in their effort to control growth, but both sides agree the battle isn't over." A Superior Court ruling says that no expansion can take place at Burbank Airport, "a facility used by 5 million passengers annually without the city's approval." The airport will probably appeal.

The ruling, and appeal, will be scrutinized in Orange County for its relevence to El Toro and to John Wayne Airport where the City of Newport Beach can be expected to fight any expansion of service when capacity limits expire in 2005. 

O.C. Register, Friday, October 31, 1997
"County draws sub-par bond rating"
"A Wall Street bond-rating agency gave another low grade to Orange County... The rating from Standard and Poor's maintains the county's pariah status in the bond market, 16 months after it emerged from bankruptcy."  S&P said, "the county has limited financial flexibility, high debts and a 'poor payment history'". 

L. A. Times, October 30, 1997
"El Toro Planning: A Crisis in Credibility"
The Times observes that "There are now serious questions about every major aspect of the county's handling of the El Toro matter."  The editor asks, "How has this all happened?" and answers, "The airport has been the choice from the beginning for a powerful group of developers and their supporters in the corridors of county government. All the planning and all the decision making have been mere window dressing to support a foregone conclusion."  Click here for full text.

FLASH NEWS, TUESDAY OCTOBER 28, 1997
Taxpayers for Responsible Planning (TRP) and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) won big in a court final ruling today - against the county's airport environmental impact report.  Judge McConnell has asked the airport opponents to prepare a "proposed writ and judgement for her approval", implementing her decision and specifying the corrective steps that the county must take.  Follow the unfolding story, with constant updates, in the Litigation Section.

L.A. Times, Sunday, October 26, 1997
"Getting Realistic on El Toro"
The Times editorial says, "Reuse planning reaches stage it should have reached years ago."  The pieces notes that a judge "found portions of the county's environmental impact report to be 'unrealistic' for underestimating the [negative] impact of an airport", that "the Allied Pilots Association warned that the county's airport plan included unsafe landing and departure routes." and that the UCI annual survey found airport support to be weak, even in north-county.

The Times observes that, "since the county has done so little to consider any serious ideas other than an airport, it is really in no position to object" to others exploring non-aviation alternatives for the base reuse. 

O.C. Register, October 24, 1997
“Grand Jury Reviewing El Toro Process”
"The Orange County grand jury, spurred by the controversy surrounding planning for the reuse of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, is reviewing the county’s process for deciding the fate of the former base.” The grand jury serves “as a civil watchdog on government”. Any report coming from the review would be issued by June 30, 1998.

Supervisor Tom Wilson welcomed the inquiry, stating that “It’s helpful to have an objective look at anything.” Supervisor Chuck Smith took the opposite view, and is quoted as saying, “I don’t know if there are any south-county folks on the grand jury who have an ax to grind.” Only two of the 19 members of the grand jury live in south county.

Irvine mayor Christina Shea noted that, “The county has not incorporated the views of the people who will be impacted the most.” Another area of potential investigation is the $20 million planning process. Costs have increased since county staff passed over bids from major international airport planners in favor of giving their contract to a locally led group headed by P&D, the firm that wrote the county’s beleaguered environmental impact report. 

O.C. Register, Tuesday, October 21, 1997
"Internet Activism"
The Metro section article about the growing importance of the Internet to citizen activists, says in part that, "the El Toro Airport Info Site - which gets an average of 2,000 hits a day - give[s] people E-mail access to legislators and city council members... Instructions are given for writing protest letters."

L. A. Times, Monday, October 20, 1997
“Airport Opponents Brainstorm Other Uses”
“Buoyed by a recent court ruling and opposition by another pilots union that cast doubt on a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, airport opponents held a brainstorming session Sunday to propose alternatives for the development of the base.” Larry Agran, Chairman of Project 99 which organized the workshops, “said the report [of the citizens’ participation] “will be forwarded to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which is responsible for submitting a non-aviation use plan for the base to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.”

The O. C. Register,
"Alternatives concepts for El Toro take flight",
More than 100 people discussed the following uses for the 4,700 acres base "which is the size of two downtown San Franciscos":

*A research-and-development center similar to the Research Triangle in North Carolina or the Stanford Research Center.
*An automobile-design center and test track.
*A movie studio complex.
*A high-tech training center.
*A world-class tennis center
*A zoo and wild-animal park to complement a planned 1,000- acre nature preserve.
*A World's Fair as an interim use to raise revenue and test ideas.
*An artist's colony such as the one in a converted torpedo factory in Alexandria, Va.
*A veterans cemetery and memorial park.
*An education complex such as the Claremont Colleges.
*A major library and research complex.
*An Internet and high-tech digital port.
*An Olympic training center.
*Mixed-use residential, including low- and moderate-income housing.
*A sculpture garden, an arboretum and garden complex such as the Arboretum of Los Angeles County or Huntington Library.
*A Veterans Administration hospital and training center or a Shriner's hospital or cancer treatment center.


---

The county sued over Irvine's move to zone 440 acres of MCAS El Toro land that lies within the city's boundaries.  Irvine hopes to use the land for a sports and entertainment complex. The county wants to include it in its airport planning. 

In a companion op-ed article, Irvine Mayor Christina Shea explains why part of the Marine base land would make a good home for a NFL football franchise. 

Website direct coverage, Wednesday October 8, 1997
Second Pilots Union Opposes El Toro Runways
Yesterday, October 7, the Allied Pilots Association, representing American Airlines pilots, wrote to Board of Supervisors Chairman William Steiner that they had joined with their rival union, the Air Line Pilots Association, in opposing use of the county's planned runways for an El Toro commercial airlines. In a letter authorized by the union's national safety committee, the APA says, "It is the unanimous decision of the Allied Pilots Association and the Air Line Pilots Association, representing all of the pilots of all the major airlines in the United States, that it is unsafe to fly the departure and landing routes as proposed by the EIR and voted upon by the residents of Orange County, California."

Meanwhile, the county continues to spend heavily, defending the environmental impact report which assumes that 70% of all flights will take off on Runway 7 - which the pilots say they will not use. The county is also developing costly plans for an airport based on the objectionable runway layout. 

LA Times, Tuesday October 7, 1997
"Board Alters El Toro Planning Stance"
"Majority favors allowing foes of commercial airport to write a non-aviation plan, after change of heart by Chairman William G. Steiner."
The reversal of position by the Supervisors "marks a major victory for South County officials who oppose an airport and for the first time gives [ETRPA] an official role in planning the future of the 4,700 acre base." "Steiner credited [Supervisor Tom] Wilson with pulling all sides together, even after many people had given up hope of an agreement."  At this morning's LRA meeting, Steiner, Wilson and Todd Spitzer voted to authorize ETRPA to prepare the County's non-avition plan.  Supervisors James Silva and Charles Smith voted against the cooperative effort.

The agreement "does not require ETRPA to drop up its lawsuit challenging the adequacy of the county's El Toro environmental impact report."  A preliminary ruling on that lawsuit is expected within a few days.

In August, after almost two months of negotiations, County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier had introduced the requirement that ETRPA give up its suit against the EIR. Wilson immediately characterized the request as a "deal breaker" and it hampered cooperation between the county and the south-county cities until it was finally dropped this week.

Website direct coverage, Monday October 6, 1997
ETRPA Hires Former Inglewood City Manager as Executive Director
The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority took a major step forward in pursuit of a non-aviation use for MCAS El Toro. The South-County joint powers agency hired former Inglewood city manager Paul D. Eckles as executive director. Eckles served in his previous position for 20 years. He brings extensive experience in working with federal aviation officials.  ETRPA Chairman Richard Dixon said, "The board has taken an important step to demonstrate our committment to the reuse process... This piece of property in the heart of the county requires an exhaustive investigation of all the creative and legitimate options to determine its highest and best use." Click here for more details.

Paul Eckles commented, "I know from personal experience the impact an airport can have on adjacent communities.  The communities surrounding El Toro ... are well justified in their concerns about the future of this property."

UCI News, October 6, 1997
"Less Than One Quarter of Orange County Residents See Commercial Airport as Best Use for El Toro Base."
According to UC Irvine's 1997 Orange County Annual Survey, "there is significant... dissatisfaction with the way the county government is handling the issue."

"'Less than one quarter of residents approve the leadership the county has provided on this issue,' [Professor Mark] Baldassare who conducted the survey, said  'This is a pretty negative view of the way county government has handled a critical land use decision that has major implications for the county's development in the 21st century.'"

County-wide, 48% of residents now oppose an commercial airport at El Toro and 41% favor it. 11% don't know.  An interesting finding is that 49% of residents would prefer to rely on John Wayne Airport alone to meet Orange County's air travel needs. 34% want two airports (which many industry experts say is not feasible) and only 11% support closing John Wayne -the alternative proposed in the county's reuse plan for MCAS El Toro.

L.A. Times, Monday, October 6, 1997
"Airport Battle Set to Take Off in Burbank"
"More than 30 years ago, Burbank battled its airport all the way to the Supreme Court over noise and lost in a defeat that reverberates today."  The high court ruled then, "that local govenments can't restrict aircraft flights". "Burbank and the airport authority are now locked in a seemingly intractable arguement over the airport's plan to build a 19-gate terminal to replace the existing terminal of 14 gates."

"The Burbank dispute is complicated by a 1990 federal law that sought to bring consistency to noise regulations at airports." "Since the passage of this law, no airport has succeeded in limiting flights of the newer quieter planes, FAA spokesman Tim Pile said."

The Orange County Board of Supervisors stated that they would seek night time curfews at the proposed El Toro airport. Many see this as an attempt to lull south-County residents with promises that the Board can not deliver.   Board Chairman William Steiner was quoted in the O. C. Register, on December 26, 1996, as saying that he "would support scrubbing the airport if a curfew isn't possible."  County staff continues to talk of curfews as though they were a certainty. The Burbank case is a reminder that such restrictions are not up to local authorities and are extremely unlikely.

Reuters News Service, Saturday October 4, 1997
"GLOBAL TRANSPORT GROUP PREDICTS SURGE IN AIRLINE CRASHES BY 2010"
"A global air transport group warned Friday that within 12 years there could be an air disaster once a week unless the airline industry takes urgent action to cut back an already low accident rate.  'An accident will occur every week in 2010 if current (traffic) growth and accident rates continue,' said a statement from IATA, the Geneva- and Montreal-based International Air Transport Association. The challenge for the industry is to reduce by half the existing crash rate for modern, technologically advanced, Western-built jets of around 25 a year, said IATA Director General Pierre Jeanniot. 'If it isn't cut and with air traffic expected to double over the next 12 years, around 50 crashes a year is statistically inevitable', he said".

O.C. Register, Friday, October 3, 1997
"Marines expand reuse study"
"A non-aviation use for the base will be part of the environmental report."

"Overwhelming demand by airport opponents prompted miltary officials to include a non-aviation plan as part of the environmental impact statement", which the Department of Navy will prepare under the National Environmental Policy Act.  This EIS study is being done in addition to the controversial EIR environmental impact report prepared by the County of Orange. The County study is being challenged in the courts.

Inclusion of a non-aviation plan in the Marine's study is an important victory for the South-County forces opposed to an airport at El Toro. Bill Kogerman of TRP and Richard Dixson of ETRPA expressed pleasure over the decision.  Airport proponents, like Garden Grove Councilman Mark Leyes, were less happy. Inclusion of a non-aviation plan in the EIS is a legally important step, which is necessary if the Department of the Navy is to transfer the base to the county and allow it to be converted to a non-aviation use. 

Assistant Chief Executive Officer and El Toro Airport Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch “warned at least two consultants that any work they did on an El Toro non-aviation plan could be considered a conflict of interest with their county business. Two firms subsequently withdrew bids to work on a non-aviation plan” for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, ETRPA.

Airport proponent, and former Supervisor Bruce Nestande, told the county sponsored, pro-airport, El Toro Citizens Advisory Commission that, “‘If someone wants to get a part of a contract that’s going to be issued by this county and... they handle clients that are anti-airport, that to me is a conflict. I wouldn’t want to hire somebody like that.’”

“‘The word is out that going to work for us is tantamount to the kiss of death for work in Orange County.’, said ... Richard Dixon, head of the south-county cities group, [ETRPA] fighting the airport.”

“Legal experts say the county’s warnings are improper if not illegal.” “‘It could very well be a tort - interference with business relationships - because that’s what the county is doing,’ said W. David Slawson, a law professor at the University of Southern California. ‘The threat is obvious and any jury would see that.’” Several leaders of the airport opposition are urging the ETRPA group to bring a lawsuit against the county officials responsible for this action.

See Register political cartoon

Newport/Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, October 1, 1997
“Veil of Secrecy Surrounds Newport’s El Toro Battle Plan”
“This war - between Newport Beach and South County cities over putting a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine air base - comes complete with high price tags and secret battle plans.”

“At the center of the [Newport Beach] city’s current strategy is a team of consultant’s being paid $15,000 per month to handle lobbying and public relations, among other tasks.” “‘I would be doing the city a disservice by saying exactly what they’re doing,’ City Manager Kevin Murphy said. ‘I don’t want South County countering what we’re doing.’” 

September 1997 

O.C. Register, September 27, 1997
"Dollars Fly in Airport Fight"
By the time that the MCAS El Toro closes in 1999...the County will have spent $28.6 million and 16 cities will have spent nearly $4.9 million, on the base reuse, "and not a spade of dirt will have been turned."

The County has already spent $8.3 million and an additional $20.4 million is budgeted.  As of the date of the County budget submission, sources had not been identified for most of the money.  However, "'These are not funds that would be used for criminal justice, social services or health care.', (Assistant County CEO Courtney) Wiercioch said."

Among the cities, Newport Beach has been the biggest spender, with $1,296,582 spent to date and $404,000 budgeted for that city's continuing efforts to have an airport built at El Toro. "Newport Beach Councilman Tom Edwards said the city's interest goes back to 1979"... "The city faces another expansion threat in 2005 when a settlement agreement that caps John Wayne at 8.4 million annual passengers expires."

On September 26th, the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa Daily Pilot reported that Newport Beach has spent $5.5 million since 1981.

Several north-county cities are spending money backing the airport, in hopes of someday sharing the revenue it generates:- a carrot built into the pro-airport Measure A.  "It's not just the large cities that are slugging it out. Stanton, which is nervous about the neighboring Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center being eyed as a possible airport, contributed $179 for membership in a [north county] cities group pushing for an El Toro airport.

"Irvine is the largest among anti-airport cities, with $773,055 in expenditures to date and an additional $574,000 set aside. Part of its expenditure went for a general-plan amendment which is needed for the 440 acres of El Toro that are within the city limits."

L.A. Times, September 25, 1997
"State High Court Rejects Challenge to El Toro Vote"
"The California Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Measure A, the ... initiative calling for a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Neither side seemed surprised."'We thought for our constituents we had to try it,' said Irvine Mayor Chritina L. Shea." "Measure A is valid now until it is amended by the voters or it expires under its own termsí, said... counsel for the county."

O.C. Register, September 18, 1997
"Airport foes add glitz to their arsenal"
"El Toro airport opponents are going big-time with their fund raising efforts, and the money is pouring in."

A July fund raiser, at the Ritz-Carlton, raised $110,000 to help pay for Taxpayers for Responsible Planning's legal fight against an airport at El Toro.  Wednesday, comedian Jeff Jena volunteered to do a special anti-airport routine before an enthusiastic sell-out crowd at the Irvine Improv. The event was organized by Sergio Prince, a TRP volunteer. "Next month, organizers will reach out to a different crowd with a country-Western 'No Jets Jam' in Coto de Caza."

Tom Naughton, head of a pro-airport "coalition of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents", was unswayed by the anti-airport enthusiasm and told the Register that "Our (group's) thrust is to keep the county (airport planning) process going.'"

Website direct coverage, September 11, 1997
PTA Council Votes to Oppose Airport
On September 10, county representatives and airport opponents presented their cases before the Capistrano Council of Parent, Teacher, Student Associations (CUCPTSA).  Following the debate and a question period, the Council, made up of presidents from the PTA's throughout the district, voted "on behalf of all of our school children to oppose the construction of a commercial airport at El Toro and to support the study of non-aviation uses."

O.C. Register, September 10, 1997
"Marines march towards closure of El Toro base"
Register reporter Mary Ann Milbourn summarizes "What's Ahead":
Mid-1998: Marines release draft environmental impact study for public comment.
Fall 1998: Begin final phase of transfer to Miramar Naval Air Station.
Early 1999: Marine's final environmental impact statement released.
Spring 1999: All Marine planning - environmental impact statement, toxic cleanup plans - expected to be approved by Navy.
Late spring 1999: Miramar ready for last helicopter squadrons.
July 3, 1999: El Toro base closes.

Irvine World News, Sept. 4, 1997
"Group alleges county not playing by rules on airport"
At a recent briefing, Project 99 "has accused the county of failing to follow federal guidelines in planning the future of the 4,700 acre [El Toro] base."  In a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., "the group charges that the county violated federal guidelines by predetermining a commercial airport at the base and excluding affected communities from the planning process."

In a letter of rebutal obtained by the website, County CEO Jan Mittermeier wrote to Senator Boxer that, "Since the start of the reuse planning process, the County has worked hard to include and incorporate the interests of all affected parties."

The guidelines, contained in the Department of Defense Community Guide to Base Reuse and the Implementation Manual place the highest priority on building concensus in the impacted communities. These DOD documents can be read and downloaded via a link from this website. Anti-airport groups, which include Taxpayers for Responsible Planning (TRP) and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) have been lobbying federal officials, charging the County Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) with failure to achieve concensus. Citizens writing to their Washington officials are urged to stress this failure on the part of the County. Click here for a suggestion on What to Write.

O.C. Register, Sept. 3, 1997
"Unpopular toll road might get bond help"
In an announcement reminiscent of recent County statements about overruns on airport planning costs, "officials Tuesday unveiled a new forecast saying the [San Joaquin Toll] road won't ever be as popular as once envisioned."  "Traffic remains more than 40 percent below original estimates." Consequently, the Transportation Corridor Agency wants to sell new bonds to refinance the toll road debt. "The tolls could be changed - currently $2 maximum - if the bonds are refinanced, but they probably would be driven up, not down."

O.C. Register, August 30, 1997
"Legislators Urge Sale of El Toro Air Station"
"Two high ranking congressmen recommend selling the base rather than giving it to the county."
"The heads of the House Appropriations and Armed Forces committees asked Secretary of Defense William Cohen to review the base transfer."  "Robert Livingston, R-La., and Floyd Spense, R-SC, said selling the base would enable the Department of Defense to recoup some of the nearly $1 billion cost of closing", since the DOD must cleanup the base and also expend relocation costs for the military units involved.

Many opponents of a county-owned airport at El Toro favor the sale of the land rather than its gifting to the County of Orange. Congressman Cox favors a sale to private interests to keep the 4,700 acres on the property tax rolls. Furthermore, a sale increases the chances that the land will be put to the best economic use, which many feel is not another airport. "'It's inappropriate for land to be handed over without compensation'", said Richard Dixon, head of the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, ETRPA.

In a separate matter, Project '99 leaders asked Senator Barbara Boxer to intervene with the DOD, charging that the Board of Supervisors is violating provisions of the Federal Base Closing Guidelines. The guidelines require participation by, and concensus building with the impacted communities when a base is closed.. 

L. A. Times, August 27, 1997
O.C. Register, August 26 and August 27, 1997
Website direct coverage, August 24, 1997
"Airport Planning Cost Tops $20 Million"
"The planning budget for the proposed airport at El Toro has jumped nearly 50 percent since June, to more than $20 million, with the county acknowleging that it still has not found federal or state funds to cover the costs."  The increase, "is mainly because the county staff underestimated the cost of two studies, said Courtney C. Wiercioch, the assistant CEO who oversees El Toro. 'We have never done a plan like this', she said.  'We did our best to estimate and we underestimated.'"

On Tuesday, the Board voted 3-2 to approve the request. The dissenting votes came from Tom Wilson who is quoted in the Times as saying, "How can a county fresh out of bankruptcy take on a $20-million program for anything?"  and  Todd Spitzer who said, "No taxpayers want to give the airport planning process a blank check."

The O.C. Register issued a scathing August 27th editorial , "Flying High at El Toro". The Register quotes Spitzer as "outraged" at Courtney Wiercioch's defense of the overrun as being due to her "inexperience". He said, "We can't afford a bureaucratic novice planning an international airport when people's lives are hanging in the balance."

County CEO Jan Mittermeier asked the Board of Supervisors to budget $20,472,006 in the 1997-8 fiscal year, for the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) to carry on planning for El Toro.   Her indicated sources for the money are as follows:

Revenue/Financing

Revenue from Use of Money and Property - $45,000
Intergovernmental Revenues  - $3,000,000
Charges for Services - $1,722,546
Other Financing Sources - $15,704,460

During the campaign for ballot Measures A and S, airport proponents claimed that an airport at El Toro would cost taxpayers nothing.  The "Other Financing Sources" are yet to be identified.

Los Angeles Times, August 26, 1997
Website direct coverage, August 17, 1997
Airport Opponents Stand Firm
The seven south county cities that make up the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), wonít give in to a County plea that they drop their legal challenge to the El Toro environmental impact report. Instead, ETRPA immediately began to develop an alternate non-aviation plan for the 4,700 acre Marine base, with or without County blessings.

The ETRPA decision to push forward comes after two months of fruitless discussions with County staff. Now, the planning will proceed, with the negotiations continuing on the sidelines. The Los Angeles Times, in an August 17 editorial says, "If the county is seriously interested in compromise, it must do what now appears highly unlikely. It will have to communicate a willingness to consider alternatives, not just tolerate them. The Orange County Register, in an August 18 editorial added: "We don't see the logical link between these two elements of the El Toro debate. Why should south county communities have to surrender their right to seek judicial scrutiny of the airport-selection process, in order to get involved, in a very legitimate way, in the important task of planning for alternative uses?"

The strong ETRPA position is bolstered by three factors: First, there is mounting confidence that its legal challenges to the Countyís environmental impact report will succeed.  Secondly, anti-airport forces, including ETRPA, Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, Project '99 and the Orange County Business Coalition, have been working together to develop economically attractive and environmentally sound uses for the land which will be superior to the creation of another county-owned airport.  Thirdly, Washington officials appear more willing than ever to see the impacted communities take part in the planning for El Toro. 

Web Site direct coverage, August 12, 1997
Supervisors Stifle Non-Aviation Planning
On Tuesday, August 12, the Supervisors, acting as the Local Reuse Authority, rejected a proposal to study non-aviation uses for El Toro MCAS. A motion by Supervisor Tom Wilson, and seconded by Supervisor Todd Spitzer, would have accepted an offer by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), to develop an alternative use proposal for the base, at no cost to the County. The motion was rejected, 3-2.  Airport proponents fear that a good non-aviation plan might prove more attractive to taxpayers than the building of a second county airport.

The ETRPA planning proposal had been presented to the County on July 1. ETRPA was prepared to spend $1.5 million of its own money in order to develop a reuse plan that would be more acceptable to the cities surrounding the base. The County staff then spent 6 weeks negotiating over the terms and conditions for allowing ETRPA participation in the planning process. Tuesdaysí vote showed that this only served to delay the start of planning.

County CEO Jan Mittermeier stunned many participants in the negotiations by adding what Supervisor Wilson called, "new and inflammatory conditions thrown on the table at the last minute." Mittermeir asked that the planning for the 4,700 acres be done by November 15, 1997, a deadline which one participant called "absurd". She also added a "deal-breaker" condition that had previously been rejected. She asked that ETRPA drop its current lawsuit challenging the airport environmental impact report and refrain from other litigation.

Supervisor Spitzer characterized this last demand as "a red herring", telling the Supervisors, The Orange County Register, in an August 18 editorial added: "We don't see the logical link between these two elements of the El Toro debate. Why should south county communities have to surrender their right to seek judicial scrutiny of the airport-selection process, in order to get involved, in a very legitimate way, in the important task of planning for alternative uses?"Donít use the litigation as a hostage." The ETRPA lawsuit, brought under the California Environmental Quality Act, is intended "to find the truth" about the impacts of an airport and has nothing to do with the non-aviation planning process. Spitzer noted that litigation does not prevent the County from doing business with other vendors.

Supervisor Steiner asked that ETRPA bring back its response to the Board on August 19. Richard Dixon, Chairman of ETRPA, issued that organizationís statement that they would go forward with the preparation of a non-aviation plan without further delay and that "the door to cooperation with the County will remain open."

In a separate but related matter, the Supervisors voted 3-2 to spend $325,000 on the first phase of a pro-airport public relations campaign employing Nelson Communications.

O.C. Register, August 9, 1997
"Mittermeier offers deal to foes of El Toro"
"County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mitteremeier proposed Friday that the Board of Supervisors allow the south-county cities opposing an El Toro airport to draw up an alternative use plan -- but only if they drop their lawsuit against the county."

Supervisor Tom Wilson, an airport opponent who represents south Orange County, said that while it would be a positive step to allow the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority [ETRPA] to put together an alternative plan - something other than an airport - demanding that the lawsuit be dropped is a deal killer." The lawsuit was brought to challenge alleged deficiencies in the County environmental study for an airport. If the cities in ETRPA drop their lawsuit, they would be abandoning their citizens' rights to protection - under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - against noise, pollution, traffic and aviation hazards. The CEQA law requires that significant adverse impacts of the airport be evaluated and mitigation measures be proposed.

"Mittermeier said in her report to the board that her proposal was the result of a month of talks with south-county officials." During the talks, south-county officials emphasized that Mittermeier's conditions were "deal killers."

After delaying the ETRPA June 30 proposal to this point, Mittermeier then also asked that the non-aviation plan be completed by November 15, a deadline that does not allow sufficient time for preparation of a satisfactory study for the 4,700 acre project.

On December 11, 1996, when the Board originally voted to develop an airport at El Toro, they also promised county residents that they would prepare a non-aviation alternative plan. Apparently respectful of this earlier commitment, Board Chairman William Steiner is quoted this week as saying, "I'm not convinced an international airport is the best choice for the reuse of the base, especially if the quality of life in south county is so impacted. I need to look at an alternative." 

O.C. Register, August 6, 1997
"County asks three El Toro airport opposition groups to give an accounting of spending.
The request is called an attempt to intimidate those against the plan"
"Three anti-El Toro airport groups, including two non-profits supported by voluntary donations, have been asked by the county for an accounting" in a probe requested by pro-airport Supervisor Charles Smith. Letters were subsequently sent to Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, Project '99 and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority by Courtney Wiercioch, Program Manager for the airport project.

An angry Bill Kogerman characterized the effort by Smith as improper use of taxpayer money to chill public free speech. "We have turned the matter over to our attorney for possible violation of government statutes on using county employees to interfere with the action of private citizens"...Larry Agran, head of Project '99 "was offended that the county appears to be investigating nonprofit organizations merely because they are opposed to the airport." Their groups already file regular financial reports as required by law.

July 1997

The data illustrates one of the major flaws in the capacity limits which artificially restrict John Wayne Airport's utilization until the year 2005. The airport's use is capped, as to the number of passengers that are allowed, even if they are carried on fewer aircraft. Opponents of an airport at El Toro point out that JWA can carry twice the present number of passengers and that an additional county airport might not be required if JWA were fully utilized.

Pro-airport Supervisor Smith supported the costly PR campaign as a way to counter what he characterized as, "questionable claims that anti-airport forces have put out in the media and [this] Web site."

In related matters, Chairman Steiner indicated that "he hasn't decided" on his position regarding the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority's request to do the non-aviation plan for the land. Also, the Supervisors did not shed any further light on where the $11 million was to come from to pay the staff and consultants to do the airport planning work that they have recently authorized. See story below.

Bert Hack, co-chairman of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning said, "Effectively, what they are saying is that people who oppose the airport are going to have to pay for an airport."

"The new era of cooperation is giving South county residents reason to think that the airport isn't a done deal... said members of the newly formed El Toro Unified Coalition." "I'm feeling very, very good about this" said Larry Agran, Leader of Project '99.

"TRP and Project '99 were pushed together by the Coalition of Homeowners Assns.", whose members objected to sometimes competing activities by the major anti-airport organizations. "Last week, the coalition sponsored the largest anti-airport rally to date, held at the Ritz-Carlton, and raised over $85,000" for TRP's legal efforts to overturn the County environmental impact report. "We've had people coming out of the woodwork full of energy" to fight the airport, said Wayne Rayfield, Chairman of the homeowners group.

Airport opponents intend to involve more homeowner's groups in this effort, by overcoming the traditional reluctance of homeowner association Boards of Directors and management companies to become involved in what they incorrectly consider to be a political matter. Increasingly, it is being seen as an environmental and quality-of-life issue.

OC Register, Saturday, July 19, 1997
"Pro-airport cities decry foe's fund bid"
"A north-county group urges the supervisors not to finance a plan for nonaviation uses for El Toro."
The cities of Stanton, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Los Alamitos and Villa Park "launched an effort Friday to block county funding for a nonaviation plan for the closing El Toro Marine Corps Air Station."

"South-county leaders scoffed at the latest effort to scuttle their fight against the airport." "They're afraid our nonaviation plan will run circles around the airport plan" said Irvine Councilman Mike Ward."

In a related matter, the Orange County Business Council "declined to participate" in nonaviation planning when invited to do so by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. ETRPA had hoped to include pro-airport groups in its planning process, but the OCBC appears intent on not considering any alternatives to an airport at El Toro. The El Toro Airport Info Site will report on some of these pro-airport OCBC member firms.

After an hour "with an open bar and hors d'oeuvers, people were ready to listen," while the speakers words were drowned out by the recorded noise of jets, simulating the size and frequency expected from the planned El Toro International. A round of applause welcomed the announcement that "the fund-raiser garnered more than $104,000 toward the cost of a lawsuit fighting the county's El Toro environmental impact report." Speakers included Bill Kogerman of the Taxpayers for Responsible Planning. Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Pat Bates, rallied the crowd with the battle cry, "Not in our County, with our taxes, without our consent."

During the event, guests had a chance to visits groups fighting the airport, including the El Toro Info Site on the Internet, Project '99, TRP, ETRPA, and the homeowners associations' Clear the Air. Guests were introduced to posters of campuses and high-tech research park-some of the non-aviation alternative uses proposed by these groups.

Click here to see what Nelson Communications had to say about the El Toro Airport Web Site, and Internet PR, in their proposal to the county staff.

"The plaintiffs argued that Measure A, which amended the county's General Plan to allow an airport" at El Toro, was "inconsistent with the State Aeronautics Act" that a county's Airport Land Use Commission has to review any amendment to a General Plan. The judges ruled that "we find nothing in the State Aeronautics Act that prevents voters from adopting a General Plan amendment which may impact an area subject to the Airport Land Use Plan."

"The judges supported the defendants unilaterally, conceding not a single point to the plaintiff," who may now appeal to the California Supreme Court. "Lake Forest Councilman Richard Dixon, whose city was a plaintiff in the suit," indicated that the cities might choose to concentrate on other topics. Efforts will concentrate on winning the lawsuit challenging the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which was approved by the County Board of Supervisors on December 1996. For airport opponents, this ruling is not changing anything. Besides focusing on the EIR lawsuit, representative of South County cities continue their efforts to receive funding and authorization from the county to prepare a master non-aviation plan. See More About Pending Cases in "Litigation"..

El Toro Airport Info Site Direct Report, June 30, 1997
Cox Urges County to Let Cities Develop Non-Aviation Plans
Congressman Christopher Cox, who represents both Irvine and Newport Beach, recently sent a letter to members of the Board of Supervisors, concerning non-aviation plan for MCAS El Toro. Representative Cox expressed his opinion that "South County cities most closely affected" as well as interested groups and residents, fulfill the function of preparing the non-aviation plan. He added that "ETRPA is an organization of these very cities, residents, and groups," be invited to prepare "the most viable non-aviation plan."

Congressman Cox explained his recommendation by indicating that, according to Measure A, the County was entrusted to prepare a "viable aviation master plan." "For this very reason, the County should not prepare the non-aviation plan, since to do so would create an apparent (and most likely genuine) internal conflict."

Representative Cox concluded by expressing his hope that "charging the county with responsibility for [aviation plan] and the base's nearest neighbors with [non-aviation plan], the public at large will gain the greatest opportunity to benefit from a first-rate examination of all the facts."See Full Text of Letter in "Letters to the Editor".

In their letter, Senator Boxer and Representative Cox express concern that the views of the communities nearest to El Toro, which would be severely impacted by an international airport, will be considered. "We want to be certain that the legitimate concerns of the communities surrounding El Toro are addressed in the federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It is absolutely imperative that the Navy's EIS be complete, fair, and accurate," they stated.

Senator Boxer and Representative Cox informed Secretary Dalton that they expected the Department of the Navy to evaluate the comprehensive mixed-use plan being developed by a coalition of interested parties under the auspices of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), an organization consisting of seven local cities. They stated, "By fully considering the ETRPA alternative, the Navy would help meet its [National Environmental Policy Act] NEPA obligations while ensuring that concerns of local communities are fully considered."

Senator Boxer and Representative Cox asked the Navy not to make any irrevocable decisions until "the Navy has fully evaluated the mixed-use plan submitted by the ETRPA/community coalition and examined the [Local Reuse Authority] LRA's preferred alternative in light of all amendments made to the plan." Furthermore, they suggested that the Navy take as much time as needed to ensure that the process will be both comprehensive and impartial. They noted that although the Marine Corps units will "almost certainly" leave the base well before the deadline required under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, "federal law does not condition the relocation of military units out of a closing base upon completion of the EIS, [and therefore] there is simply no reason to risk the process and thereby undermine its legitimacy. Making the necessary effort to perfect the federal EIS, is time well spent."

Bill Kogerman, Executive Director of TRP, stated, "I am delighted that Senator Boxer and Representative Cox have taken the lead to ensure that all of the reuse options for El Toro will be examined in a fair and impartial manner." Larry Agran, Voluntary Chair of Project '99 concurred, "Clearly, Senator Boxer and Representative Cox want to protect the residents of the communities surrounding the El Toro base as well as protect valuable federal assets. They are unequivocal in their appeal to the Navy to take all the time they need to do a proper, thorough investigation of the reuse alternatives."

The federal authorities recognize the county supervisors as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) and as the recipient of grant money. Still, "the supervisors are also required to study a non-aviation plan, and ETRPA members would like to take on that task." "Mayor Shea said that the group got promises from Boxer and Cox that they would send letters to the supervisors, supporting the authority's position."

"Mayor Shea" added that "she met with airline officials several months ago, and was told that the airlines are committed to the expansion of Los Angeles Airport, not to an airport at El Toro."

In a related matter, Mayor Shea and a delegation from Irvine visited Charlotte, NC, to gather information about "the Carolina Panthers football stadium which was built with public and private funds." They found that "the city donated the land, that the majority of the $500 million came from private funds, and that property values in the area have turned around."

Public comments on the proposal not to clean the 11 sites on the base should be mailed, before August 11, to: Joseph Joyce, Base Realignment and Closures Environmental Coordinator, AC/S Environment (1AU), MCAS El Toro, P.O.Box 95001 Santa Ana, CA 92709-5001 Or fax: 714-726-6586

The ETRPA planners hope to include the pro-airport Building Industries Association and the Orange County Business Council in their process, along with the Irvine Company and anti-airport groups such as Taxpayers for Responsible Planning and Project '99, so that the resulting proposals are "inclusive, objective and non-political." A spokesperson for the Building Industry group noted that, "Orange County is a national showcase for successfully managed change and growth through enlightened planning."

"Newport Beach Mayor Jan DeBay, whose city has pushed for an El Toro airport to get relief from the noise of John Wayne Airport, worries that a south-county-inspired study inevitably will be anti-airport."

Courtney Wiercioch, the county's El Toro program manager, "said she expects much of the money to come from grants." The Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to put up $3 million. However, "The Orange County Transportation Authority " rejected a proposal to spend $1 million on El Toro traffic and road studies."

Board Vice President Crystal Kochendorfer, who introduced the motion, stated that she had spoken to trustees of other school districts and that they are very interested in this issue. In support of the motion, she introduced research studies on the negative impacts of aircraft noise and pollution on children, some of which were obtained from the El Toro Airport Info Site. Trustee Marlene Draper answered a colleague's philosophical question about whether the Board should be concerned, emphasizing that, "Our charge is to see that our children are educated, and an airport will interfere with that job.  Several Board members who have taught in schools near airports recounted how classes had to be interrupted by "jet pause." A teacher in the audience at the first meeting on May 19, from the Wood Canyon School in Aliso Viejo, was asked by the Board for her experience with El Toro planes and she said that when they go over, "We just stop and wait." Summarizing the technical discussion about CNEL noise levels in the county's environmental report, and what the numbers mean, Board Clerk Paul Haseman said, "When the planes go over, you can't hear. It doesn't matter whether it's 65 CNEL or not."

In urging that they should vote against the airport, Member Mildred Pagelow told the group, "Those with power want to run this thing through. We can say that we didn't lie down and do nothing. We should show some bravery."

"The Board action comes after a countywide telephone survey in April found that county officials lack credibility with the public on the El Toro issue and that less than half of those surveyed favored an airport at El Toro.  In the county paid-for study, respondents were asked what sources they trusted to deliver 'reliable and accurate news' about El Toro. Only 4% of the survey's respondents mentioned elected officials, while 2% said airport officials. By comparison, 58% replied that they relied on 'the media' for accurate information."

The OC Register poll of June 4, which asked, "Do you think public support of an airport at El Toro Marine Base is slipping?" received 63% yes votes and 37% no's.

Nelson Communications Inc., the successful bidder, estimated that its proposal will cost taxpayers "about $300,000 for the first year of the 18 month contract."  County staff will work out the details of the publicity campaign with Nelson and will come back to the Board "for final approval". Earlier estimates put the likely cost to go as high as $500,000-$800,000.  The Board, attempting to show some control over county staff, "demanded that the effort be reviewed after one year."

Click here to see what Nelson Communications had to say about the El Toro Airport Web Site, and Internet PR, in their proposal to the county staff.

In a related matter, Project '99, an all-volunteer group, presented the results of its survey for alternative uses. The survey included members of Project '99 and generated over 800 responses from households in South County. The results were an endorsement of a mixture of uses, including library, educational campus, high-tech companies and movie studios. Full results will be covered in the group's June newsletter.

The incident came two weeks after a 757 lost an engine on takeoff from John Wayne Airport, and is a further reminder of why airline pilots object to taking off to the east from El Toro, into terrain which exceeds 1,000 feet in height, less than four miles from the end of the runway.

The short list of bidders on the contract to conduct the Airport Master Plan consists of AAROTEC, Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia, DMJM of Los Angeles, CA and Orange County Aviation Associates of Orange, CA. The first two firms are major planners of airports, world-wide. Orange County Aviation Associates is a recently formed group of contractors, spearheaded by P&D Aviation, the lead firm in the preparation of the county's hotly contested environmental impact report for El Toro. The OCAA team leader is Mr. Ron Ahlfeldt of P&D, who held a similar position during the preparation of the county EIR. Other members of the OCAA group have previously worked on the county EIR and for the City of Newport Beach in that city's efforts to restrict air traffic at John Wayne.

(On  May 26, 1997, the Orange County Business Journal reported that "The 'winners' in the El Toro sweepstakes, as adjudged by Courtney Wiercioch's teams", include the OCAA as winner of a $2.5 million planning contract.)

The marines decided to first address the soil cleanup before taking up the ground water issue. The clean-up operations are expected to begin in September, and will continue for two to four years, using the "soil vapor extraction" method that has already been proven at Norton base in San Bernardino county. This method, according to a consultant to the Navy, has also been tried in pilot program at El Toro and proven to be effective. During the open house, public and written comments were solicited. The public has until the end of the month to submit comments about the recommended clean up method.

In the initial lawsuit filed a year ago, "Directors of the homeowner groups were sued individually" for voting to spend homeowner association funds in the anti-airport fight.  The suit sought punitive damages which are not covered by the associations' insurance. The Leisure World attorney said that the first suit was filed by Warren T. Finley, described as "Argyros' personal attorney", filing as trustee of Sylvia Henderson, Argyros' 85-year-old mother-in-law. According to a related story in the OC Register, "Henderson said at the time that she knew nothing about the lawsuit."

A second plaintiff in the 1996 suit against the homeowners is Donald Rez who is alleged to own Polar Marine Inc., a company that markets toxic decontamination procedures for soil contaminated by petroleum byproducts such as military and large Super Fund clean up sites.  According to the Register, the Leisure World representatives learned that, "Before becoming a plaintiff, Rez contacted Argyros' attorneys about doing El Toro cleanup work."

In defending the homeowners counter-attack against Argyros, a homeowners leader said "We're trying to protect our freedom of speech, our health and our property values." "Measure A, which was largely financed by Argyros, calls for building an El Toro airport, with airplanes flying directly over Leisure World "one plane a minute all day long", at low altitudes on their final landing approach. Leisure World is home to 18,000 residents, mostly retired senior citizens, many of whom fear that their lives will be devastated by the airport noise and pollution.

"There has been no shortage of suggested alternatives to and international airport... Unfortunately, many have been rejected out of hand as attitudes increasingly become set... South County is overwhelmingly against an airport. Most of Newport Beach residents favor one on the assumption it would mean an end to John Wayne Airport. Otherwise, support for a massive airport at El Toro appears soft, aside from some in the business and development community."

Air traffic control diverted the Boeing 757 out over the ocean and back to LAX for an emergency landing.  Under the county's proposed plans for an airport at El Toro, a pilot facing an engine failure on takeoff will have to execute an emergency hard turn -- away from the mountains which lie in the takeoff direction.

See related story and airline pilots' comments on the safety of El Toro.

The ETRPA planning approach involves the inclusion of airport opponents, such as Taxpayers for Responsible Planning and Project '99, along with the Irvine Company and announced pro-airport groups, such as the Orange County Business Council and the Building Industries Association.  Some members "expressed doubts that efforts to include pro-airport groups would be successful" but others felt that efforts to include all "stakeholders" in the El Toro reuse would produce the best possible plan.  "The board also agreed to spend $95,000 to hire the nonpartisan Urban Land Institute, which produces research and technical assistance to the real estate industry", to conduct part of the plan development.

A resident said that "jets can be heard around the clock and the noise gets worse when the planes turn too early or stray off course." The family has installed television speakers near their couch, put headphones in the bedroom, take phone calls in the hall closet and "refrain from opening their windows, even on hot summer days."

Plans for El Toro Airport do not include any funds or provisions for soundproofing.

Supervisor Tom Wilson voted against Mittermeirs's airport planning proposal, along with supervisor Todd Spitzer, at the March LRA meeting, commenting that, "we need a more comprehensive strategic plan for the entire phase II process so that we can determine EXACTLY what the burden on the taxpayers is -- and whether or not we can afford this approach."  "I do not understand what kind of dollars we are talking about... Dollars which are needed to build courts, jails and to meet other county debt obligations."

"The question of who serves on the panel has been the subject of an ongoing dispute. South county officials have repeatedly refused (to participate), protesting a process they say is biased in favor of an airport and ignores their concerns."  Irvine councilman Barry Hammond, an airport opponent, recently resigned from the CAC under pressure from the majority of his fellow south county officials. They oppose being party to a sham process and a rubber-stamp for an airport at El Toro. In the words of Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea, "To sit on the panel would mean nothing. It's a stronger statement to say that we will not legitimize it."

The cities volunteered to do the county's "parallel non-aviation plan when county staff appeared to be de-emphasizing it..."  The group does not "preclude the possibility of presenting (their alternative plan) to voters in another ballot measure." The effort will include Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, Project '99 and other volunteer organizations.

He also read from the transcript of the pilot - air controller conversation, minutes before a military four engine jet crashed into the mountains near El Toro in June of 1965, killing all 84 people on board. The worst air crash in Orange County history was omitted from the safety section of the countyís environmental impact report. If this was an unintentional omission, Thornton characterized it as a carelessly prepared report. If it was an intentional omission, "this says something different about the report."

Thornton stressed that FAA regulations allow pilots to refuse to fly on what they consider to be unsafe runways, a position supported by the 45,000 member Air Line Pilots Association. He indicated that safety considerations dictate that takeoffs from El Toro will be made to the north and to the west, with planes over flying Tustin, Orange, Fullerton, Irvine and turning south over Corona del Mar at low altitudes.

Orange County Register, March 27, 1997
"City-County Partnership Worries Some"
Some pro-airport members of the Citizens Advisory Commission, "expressed concern... about a proposal to allow south county cities to pursue a non-aviation plan for the El Toro Marine Base."  The day before, the Board of Supervisors, acting as the Local Redevelopment Agency, had "paved the way for seven cities to begin identifying alternative proposals" by voting, 4-1, in favor of a motion by Supervisor Tom Wilson to allow local participation. Supervisor Silva voted against, preferring to leave the job in the hands of the county staff.   See Supervisor Spitzer's newsletter for details on the LRA meeting.

"In other business, the group reappointed (Gary) Proctor as chairman, despite his possible move to Santa Clara next year." Upon hearing that south county residents might be interested in filling vacancies when the terms of three member of the commission expire, "the committee also reappointed (Christine) Diemer, Tom Wall and George Argyros, whose terms expired this month."
 

Los Angeles Times, March 25, 1997
"Irvine-- City getting Serious About Sports Stadium"
"The (Irvine) City council, which is fighting the county proposal to build an airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station... envisions a sports stadium that would be home to a major league football team."   "The council envisions building the stadium with private funds", plus adding a convention center and hotels, on 440 acres of the Marine base which fall within the city's boundaries.  The County of Orange is sueing Irvine over the plans, which are not compatable with the county plans for an airport.

Orange County Register, March 18, 1997
"El Toro Foes Want More Use of JWA"
"If Orange County's air-passenger demand is the major concern of El Toro airport boosters, there's an easy solution:  Increase the use of John Wayne Airport".  "If this (airport expansion) is such a critical economic engine, one city (Newport Beach) should not be able to hold up that economic engine', said Lake Forest Councilman Peter Herzog, sitting as a member of the south county based El Toro Reuse Planning Authority."

"Newport Beach has led the effort to convert the closing El Toro Marine Corp Air Station to an international passenger and cargo airport."  In so doing , the city has sought to protect its residents from the environmental impact of expanded use of John Wayne airport.  Artificial capacity limits, negotiated between Newport Beach and the county, are in effect until the year 2005.  "Regional airport experts have estimated that without the passenger limit, John Wayne could more than double the number of people it now serves."

For more on JWA, the capacity limits, and the airport's future, see the special report in the Issues Section.

Los Angeles Times, March 17, 1997
"Fed-Up Retiree Airs His Airport Data on Web"
The Los Angeles Times reports on the El Toro Airport Info Site's effort to inform the public, with a front page story in the OC Metro section.  The Site receives 9,000 "hits" on the day of the article, and many e-mail messages from viewers.

OC Weekly, March 7-13, 1997
"Poetic Airport Irony in the Battle over El Toro"
"The county couldn't have picked a worse place to carry out 447,000 landings and takeoffs a year."  According to two airline pilots, the takeoffs will impact several north and central county communities.

Other airline pilots speak out in the web site's Rally section.

Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1997
"Measure A Debate Heard Before Court of Appeal"
"Arguing before a three-judge panel in the 4th District Court of Appeal," lawyers representing south county cities, led by Lake Forest and Irvine which adjoin the El Toro Marine base, urged the judges to overturn Measure A, "which Orange County voters narrowly approved in 1994 and which opened the door to potential construction of an airport." Arguing the other side were a group of north county cities including Newport Beach, Garden Grove and Anaheim, and the County of Orange. Michael S. Gatzke, the San Diego County lawyer who represents the county observed that, "As to whether Measure A was a good or bad idea" was not the issue,... "saying,' Did the electorate act in an illegal way? No... whether it's a good idea is open to question and beside the point.'"

In a related article on March 10, 1997 the Times noted that Measure A was approved, "after being largely financed by wealthy developer Gearge L Argyros and other county business people.  The fate of the base remains arguably the most critical planning decision facing the county. It has pitted North County residents against South County residents and even sparked talk of secession." Laguna Niguel Councilman Mark Goodman observed that the suit is "only one aspect of our legal strategy. If we're successful it's an immense victory. If we lose, it's not a crucial blow."

See Litigation Section for a full discussion of the various lawsuits over the airport.

Orange County Register, March 4, 1997
"Saddleback Tunnel Would Link Counties"
"The idea of blasting a tunnel under Saddleback Mountain for a new Riverside-Orange county highway has found its way into a regional transportation plan." The chief executive of the Orange County Transportation Authority called the plan "Nutty" but admitted that "It would relieve pressure on the 91 (freeway)."  The 71 member, six-county board of the Southern California Association of Governments has authority, granted by federal legislation, to conduct regional transportation planning.  They will consider the proposal, which SCAG put forth in the past, in meetings in May and August. (The L.A. Times covered the story on March 11, highlighting the conflict between SCAG and the OCTA.)

Such a new route would shorten travel time to Ontario Airport and would bring March Air Force Base closer than LAX, to many parts of Orange County. March AFB, with its 13,000 foot runways, is considered by many to be the optimum site for Southern California's 21st century airport. Congressman Ron Packard is a booster of using March, with high speed rail from Orange County.

The Orange County Register, editorializing on the proposed project, characterized this alternative use as "questionable" while also scolding the Board of Supervisors for failing to engage in "a formal, world-wide request ..for possible private-sector uses of the El Toro Marine Corp Air Station". The Register states, "We continue to favor a bidding arrangement that would test any proposal for El Toro by its market viability." and expressed hope that the Supervisors would "see the light - or feel the heat - and change strategy." The L.A. Times took a similar editorial position on March 2, 1997, calling the sports complex plan "flawed but worth thinking about." The Times said, "The appearance of such freelance ideas, bubbling up from the grass roots, is the predictable result of the county's own failure to encourage and entertain alternative proposals to the airport.... The county has never taken seriously much of anything beyond its early commitment to an airport.... To date, the County has limited or avoided meaningful discussion of options. That should change."

Los Angeles Times, February 15, 1997
"El Toro Planning Enters 'Phase Two'.  O.C. supervisors promise more detailed analysis of possible changes. Non-aviation alternatives on table."
The Supervisors laid out the framework for "phase two" planning for El Toro. "In what opponents of a commercial airport labeled a minor concession, the county also promised to 'vigorously explore' non-aviation alternatives such as university campuses and stadiums, along with a host of other possibilities." However, Lake Forest Councilman Richard T. Dixon, Chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority which opposes an airport, stated that, "I tend to think that our definition of vigorous is probably a lot different from (the county staff's) definition of vigorous."   County CEO Jan Mittermeier's procedure for the next stage planning is detailed in her letter of February 13.  The county staff has a deadline to present the board with a specific plan, master plan and final environmental report by "the fall or winter of 1999."  Meanwhile, a court decision which could send the project back to "Phase One", is only weeks away.

Wall Street Journal, California section, February 12, 1997
"Burbank's Airport at Hub of Legal Fight"
"Currently, there are more than a dozen lawsuits pending in state and federal courts" involving the airport. "At issue is whether the city of Burbank can stop the airport's new terminal project or if federal aviation laws pre-empt local control." Burbank has come to symbolize :the momental difficulties that airports across California are facing as they try to expand..."

"Since announcing plans to open up the old El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County as a public airport, eight surrounding cities have joined together to file a lawsuit to stop the project." A Washington attorney notes that "California people work very hard to protect their quality of life."

"The city of Burbank tried to impose a curfew on the airport to restrict when flights could take off and land..." but in 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that "the federal government had exclusive control over regulating aircraft noise and operations."

However, some residents oppose the move citing pollution problems from an airport. One observed that this would "push the region one step closer to being another Los Angeles or Orange County."

See Congressman Packard's letter In our "Letters to the Editor" section.  E-mail comments to the Congressman from the link provided in the Airport Officials Mailing List, in the "Be Involved" section of the web site.

Orange County Register, January 27, 1997
"Airport flies Near Passenger Ceiling"
"Passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport edged up 2.1 percent last year."   Airport officials "anticipate an increase to 8.1 million passengers for the 12 months ending March 31, 1998... and are ready to invoke a long standing plan to limit passengers." Airlines would be forced to give up seats. Opponents of the proposed El Toro airport say "John Wayne's slowing passenger growth shows that Orange County doesn't need a second airport seven miles away.. They believe that passengers will be siphoned off by the Long Beach and Ontario airports - which are showing renewed vigor - and by Riverside's March Air Force Base and the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernadino, which are attempting to woo airlines." Bert Hack of TRP is quoted as saying that, "There is no demand that can't be met by existing facilities."

The utilization of JWA is artificially limited to 8.4 million passengers under an agreement between the County, Newport Beach and nearby residents.

Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1997
"County Overestimated Airport Use, Report Says"
"Orange County overestimated the demand for passenger service in its plans to convert El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport, according to a draft Southern California Assn. of Governments report." The SCAG report projects demand at 34 million annual passengers (map). However, "According to the county... local demand (will reach) 38 million annually." The county used the higher 38 map figure to help bolster job creation projections and provide economic justification for an airport, which otherwise might prove less beneficial than non-aviation uses for the base. The Board of Supervisors has proposed limiting the airport to 25 map to try to blunt opposition.

However, the Times reports that "the county said that up to 55 million passengers a year would use an airport that had no restrictions on size or flights or other operational constraints, (according to) Ron Ahlfeldt, senior vice president of P&D Consultants Inc., which produced the county's study." Bill Kogerman observed that the figures "are pointing out to us that the county has no idea of what it is doing."

Los Angeles Times, January 15, 1997
"John Wayne Airport Nears Legal Limit with 7.3 Million Passengers"
"Service at John Wayne crept closer to its court ordered maximum use..." "In 1996, 7.3 million passengers used the airport... representing a 2.1% increase, according to County figures." The article quotes Clarence J. Turner, former Newport Beach Mayor and past president of the (Newport based) Airport Working Group as saying this shows a "demand for an airport at El Toro". The Times observes that Turner's position in support of an airport at El Toro serves to, " limit flights out of John Wayne over his community." Bill Kogerman of TRP replied, "I suggest that the residents and taxpayers of Orange County do what they can to legally expand their capacity (at John Wayne)."

Los Angeles Times, January 10, 1997
"Eight Cities File Suit to Block El Toro Airport Plans"
"Dragging Orange Conty's most controversial issue back into the courtroom", the eight cities of Dana Point, Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano filed a lawsuit to block plans for an international airport at El Toro.

"The lawsuit in Superior Court contends that an environmental impact report failed to adequately reveal the project's noise, traffic and pollution effects. It also accuses the County Board of Supervisors of abusing its discretion" when it voted to accept the report, which "minimized, distorted and misstated" the impacts. "Project opponents believe they have a fighting chance to kill the airport if they can stall the planning process". UCLA environmental law professor Jody Freeman said, "The goal is not to necessarily kill the project (in court) but to get the county to honestly and clearly review the impacts." That will facilitate mobilizing opposition throughout the county, against the airport and in support of other reuse alternatives which have yet to be studied.

Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, a citizens' group, also filed a lawsuit to overturn the environmental report. Click here for more information in the Litigation Section of the web site.)

Los Angeles Times, January 8, 1997
"El Toro Airport Foes Planning Tax Offensive"
"...airport opponents said that beseiging the county with demands to reassess their property values is the best way to dramatize... that the airport is having a devastating financial impact." Irvine accountant Ed Grogin pointed out that, "Appeals not handled in a timely manner are automatically granted." The Assessor's office "has had difficulty in recent years" handling the volume of appeals and may be overwhelmed by this plan. Forms for an assessment review can be requested from the County Assessor, PO Box 149, Santa Ana 92702 or call (714) 834-2941. Appeals must be filed between July 2 and September 15 to challenge the March 1, 1997 valuation. See Home Values , in the "Issues Section" of this web site.

Los Angeles Times, January 8, 1997
"Laguna Beach Joins Coalition of Cities Suing Over Airport"
"Urged on by a room full of adamant residents, city leaders voted Tuesday night to set aside $100,000 to become a voting member of a coalition of South County cities that is fighting a proposed commercial airport at El Toro." The city council also voted unanimously to join the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) lawsuit seeking to overturn the county's environmental impact report. Residents insisted that Laguna Beach do "absolutely everything possible" to block the airport which has long been opposed in this city. (Tuesday, San Juan Capistrano voted to become the eight city joining the lawsuit.)