LOS ALAMITOS : City to Join Panel on El Toro Base Use
The City Council has voted unanimously to join an advisory panel that will recommend future uses of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, which is scheduled to close in 1999.
Councilman Ron Bates was designated to represent the city on the executive council of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which was formed in January by the County Board of Supervisors in an alliance with Irvine and Lake Forest.
Councilwoman Alice Jempsa was named alternate.
“I’m there to make sure an airport is not totally ruled out as a possible future use” of the base, Bates said.
The executive council, which consists of city representatives, other public agencies and private groups, can make recommendations but not decisions on redeveloping the 4,700-acre base.
A nine-member board of directors, made up of the five county supervisors, three Irvine City Council members and a Lake Forest council member, has the authority to draft the redevelopment plans.
Los Alamitos is also a member of the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, a coalition of North County cities that supports the building of an airport on the base. Other member cities are Garden Grove, Stanton and Anaheim.
City officials said that joining both organizations gives the city more opportunity to participate decisions on reuse of the El Toro base.
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