CAMARILLO : City Refuses to Join Base Airport Group

Saying they could not support a proposed military and civilian airport at the Point Mugu Navy base, the Camarillo City Council voted 3 to 1 Wednesday against joining the governing authority that would run the proposed facility.

With Councilwoman Charlotte Craven voting in dissent, the council chose not to join the Point Mugu Regional Airport Joint Powers Authority, the body which would govern civilian use of the 11,000-foot Navy airfield.

So far, the county and the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks and Ventura have all agreed to become members of the proposed airport’s board.

Councilman Ken Gose was absent from the meeting.

“Our dilemma here is whether we want to join an association whose goals is the development of something that our council has opposed,” Councilman David Smith said. “Personally, I have believed from the very start that this proposal doesn’t make economic sense. I believe this a seriously flaw proposal.”

But Craven, who also strongly opposes the airport, asked her colleagues to consider joining the governmental authority because it would give the city a voice in running the facility, if it is developed.

“I truly believe that if this goes forward, we need to be at the table,” Craven said. “We need to have a vote.”

Camarillo leaders and many residents have long opposed the joint-use plan at Point Mugu citing concerns about noise, safety and air pollution. Last year, the council went on record opposing the plan.

The authority was formally activated when the county Board of Supervisors voted to join the body at its Jan. 31 meeting.

The council’s action comes a day after a report was released showing that the proposed airport would see between 500,000 and 1 million passengers annually by the year 2010 and would initially offer only commuter service.