Council Joins Battle to Have Say in Base’s Use
A South County coalition challenging how jurisdiction is awarded over military bases slated for closure will have the support of Mission Viejo.
The City Council this week backed a resolution that will be presented to the California League of Cities in October in the hope of winning statewide support.
Engaged in a struggle with Orange County over the future of El Toro Marine Air Base, the South County coalition wants to see any city that borders a base on the federal government’s closure list have a voice in deciding what will become of the land.
“This is a lobbying effort,” City Manager Dan Joseph said. “The League of Cities represents more than 400 cities in California. We’d like to have the weight of that organization behind us.”
Known as the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, the group hopes to see a federal law passed that would give base neighbors a direct hand in any conversion process.
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