SUE WHO? The Irvine City Council went...

SUE WHO? The Irvine City Council went behind closed doors this week to discuss the future of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. No open-meetings law violation, says City Attorney Joel D. Kuperberg, because the city’s facing the “threat” of a lawsuit over it. But he won’t say from whom. . . . One North County official scoffed about the closed meeting: “Who the hell would sue them? They haven’t done anything.” Beginning in April, state law will require disclosure of who is threatening to sue before such meetings can be held in secret.

OVER THE LINE: Politicians love to talk about bringing business back home--especially in these tough times. But when it came time for a lavish $150-a-plate fund-raiser this week, Rep. Ed Royce lunched with his 300 guests at the Doubletree Hotel at the City in Orange--well outside his Fullerton-based electoral district. . . . A Royce aide said it was to reduce driving for some guests, plus “there was just nothing suitable in the district.”

WHITE CHRISTMAS: Cal State Fullerton art professor Frank E. Cummings III may top the list for unique visits to the White House--the Clintons liked a Christmas ornament he sent them. Cummings is one of 65 craft artisans who will be guests at the White House today at a reception to thank them for ornaments they made for White House Christmas trees. Cummings’ was made partly from chittum burl wood, which comes from the swampy area of Arkansas.

RAMP VAMP: If you’re tired of freeway construction, road officials say, remember it’s all for a good cause. Example: County tollway officials today will consider a plan to connect the Costa Mesa Freeway to the southbound Corona del Mar Freeway. . . . “It will be a big help to Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents trying to get to John Wayne Airport,” says Costa Mesa transportation chief Peter Naghavi. “Now they’re using our surface streets, like Bristol.” Work on it wouldn’t start before 1995.