Airport Adversaries Prepare for Next Step

Following the defeat of Measure S, a pro-airport group said Thursday it is seeking peace, while a South County group said it may go to court again to prevent a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“There is absolutely no gloating over the defeat of Measure S,” said Tom Wall, a member of the El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission after its meeting Thursday. “As far as I’m concerned, now that it’s over, hopefully we can get all sides together on this.”

But members of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which had backed the measure to prevent development of an airport at the base, met in closed session in Irvine and discussed whether to seek a court remedy.

Measure S sought to repeal Measure A, which was narrowly passed by county voters in 1994 and called for a commercial airport at El Toro. Measure S was soundly defeated Tuesday 59.8% to 40.2%.

Authority member Mike Ward, the mayor of Irvine, said that members of his group on Thursday had not reached agreement on whether to appeal last month’s Superior Court ruling that dismissed their lawsuit against Measure A.

“We have a goal and we’re going to push forward on our goal, which is to be part of the planning process,” Ward said.

Measure S also would have disbanded the citizens advisory commission, which was a goal of six South Orange cities that have argued for inclusion in planning the base’s future. Those cities include Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Irvine.

South County residents who live nearest the base, which will be abandoned by the Marines in 1999, have been upset that they do not have a decision-making role along with the Orange County Board of Supervisors in the base reuse plan.

Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea, who is on the reuse planning authority, said she will be wary about joining hands with the commission, at least for now.

“If kiss and make up means to kiss and give up, then that’s not something I could consider,” Shea said. “But if we can sit down and negotiate with the county, I’m willing to do it. Irvine needs to have a voice as a voting member.”

Signs of smoother communication emerged Thursday at the citizens advisory commission.

Commission member Scott Diehl, who is also a San Clemente councilman, repeatedly urged commission staff to upgrade its communiques to the public. His suggestions included making type in the mailings larger and easier to read, and distributing a calendar of upcoming deadlines for commission business.

Jessica Dean, speaking on behalf of the Orange County League of Women Voters, said she appreciated Diehl’s suggestions because they can help keep the public updated on commission decisions.

Allen Beek of Newport Beach, also urged the commission to consider changing technical language used by airport consultants to describe aircraft noise.

“A lot of the public’s interest involves noise levels,” Beek said. “I suggest the commission direct staff to use language the public can understand. Right now, they use a ‘CNEL’ [community noise exposure level] to describe decibel levels. No one, except the consultants, knows what that means.”