Cities Reject Advisory Role for El Toro Reuse : Planning: To no one’s surprise, Lake Forest and Irvine insist on deciding with the county the future of the air base land.

As expected, the mayors of Irvine and Lake Forest on Friday rejected an offer from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to join the new citizens commission that will advise the board on the development of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

The supervisors knew the invitations would be rejected by the mayors even before they were offered.

However, the board on Friday was forced for political reasons to extend the invitations, because the supervisors were aware that the Defense Department may not acknowledge or fund a new planning authority unless the cities abutting the base agree to participate.

Irvine and Lake Forest have opposed the county’s proposal to take charge of planning for El Toro in response to Measure A, the initiative voters passed last fall in support of developing a commercial airport at the base.

The cities are continuing to demand a decision-making, rather than advisory, role in the process, similar to their role in the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, the agency that had been planning the future of the 4,700-acre base after the Marines depart.

The county withdrew from the reuse authority last month, leaving Lake Forest and Irvine as the only members and, in effect, dismantling the agency. Measure A, which requires the county to build a civilian airport at the Marine base, authorized the Board of Supervisors to become the new planning agency for the facility.

“I won’t accept it. They are right,” said Irvine Mayor Michael Ward, who called the board’s invitation to join a 13-member advisory commission “silly” and insincere.

“It was a silly move in hopes of satisfying the federal government’s request to make Irvine and Lake Forest part of the process,” Ward said.

Lake Forest Mayor Richard T. Dixon also said he would flatly reject the offer.

“We feel strongly that Lake Forest should have no less than the same role at the planning table as the county has,” he said. “Anything less is unacceptable.”

Supervisor Marian Bergeson, who with Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez had opposed withdrawing from the reuse agency, sympathized with the wish of Lake Forest and Irvine to have a greater say.

“Nothing in Measure A prevents the cities from a stronger role in the planning process,” Bergeson said.

Vasquez stressed the importance of breaking the stalemate, saying he had “serious reservations” whether the Defense Department will recognize the county’s planning efforts unless the parties can come to terms.

In hopes that some compromise will be reached, the supervisors said the offer to Irvine and Lake Forest to sit on the advisory panel would remain open until May 1, after which the board would appoint other members.

“We need to preserve the seats at the table for these cities as long as possible,” Vasquez said.

As part of their action, the supervisors also adopted the name El Toro Local Redevelopment Authority for the new planning agency and agreed to send a letter to the Defense Department’s office of economic adjustment requesting recognition.

Supervisor Roger R. Stanton said he believes the Defense Department will recognize the new planning agency, even if Irvine and Lake Forest boycott it.

He said the Defense Department has “implied that if (the two cities) have an opportunity to participate but don’t, that’s their call. I don’t think this body should be held hostage,” he added.

But Lake Forest Mayor Dixon objected: “The three-member majority on the Board of Supervisors is not taking Lake Forest and Irvine seriously. Washington is taking us seriously.”

Warning that Lake Forest and Irvine “are not going to roll over and play dead,” Dixon said they have agreed to sue the county in an attempt to invalidate Measure A. He said Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills and Dana Point are also considering joining in the suit.

The cities will be represented by the San Francisco law firm, Howard, Rice, which specializes in land use issues, Dixon said.