Irvine Council Names Agran Mayor, Changes Its Stance on Freeways

Making good on campaign promises, Irvine’s newly elected “slow-growth” council majority Tuesday night voted in Larry Agran as the city’s new mayor, proposed changes in the amount of open space to be set aside in the master-planned city and reversed the council’s previous position on the building of three controversial new freeways.

A beaming Ed Dornan, who was sworn in for his first term Tuesday night after placing second in a field of 11 candidates in the June 3 election, proposed amending the city’s General Plan so that hundreds of additional acres of land now designated for residential development--including the 654-rolling hill site known as Quail Hill--will be earmarked for permanent open space and agricultural use.

Before a crowd packed with cheering supporters, Dornan said: “We must act immediately and decisively to slow the rate of development and preserve open space resources. . . . The claims of developers must be balanced against--and sometimes superseded by--the public interest in maintaining a clean . . . and attractive living environment.”

Key Changes Proposed

Then, Councilman Ray Catalano, an Agran and Dornan ally, proposed key changes in the city’s current posture toward construction of the Eastern, Foothill and San Joaquin freeways.

Catalano asked the council to send a letter to the Joint Powers Authority--which is overseeing development of the freeways--stating that the city cannot join the authority until Irvine citizens vote to approve the collection of fees required for membership in the authority.

Last year, Irvine was one of 10 cities that entered the cooperative venture under which developers would be assessed a fee to help pay for the 60 miles of additional roadways in south Orange County.

But more than 10,000 Irvine residents protested and, after two petition drives and a lawsuit, succeeded in putting Irvine’s participation on hold until the state Supreme Court takes up the matter this fall. The court is expected to rule whether the decision to impose the fees and thus build the freeways rests with the Irvine voters, not the City Council.

Agran, who was sworn in for his third term Tuesday night, also had his share of ideas during the lengthy council meeting. Reading from a prepared text, Agran said he will propose the creation of three citizen task forces to serve for one year, including special commissions on human rights, public safety and Irvine’s work force.