El Toro Airport Foes Seek Additional Funds

Committing ever-growing amounts to fight the planned El Toro airport, a coalition of eight south Orange County cities was expected to agree unanimously Monday night to add $1.75 million more to its budget for an aggressive anti-airport marketing campaign.

The additional money would raise this year’s budget of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority to $6.25 million--more than the coalition has spent over the previous four years combined.

The financial boost comes at a pivotal time in the high-stakes war over converting the former Marine Corps air station into Southern California’s second-largest commercial airport.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to give final approval to the project in May, and the federal government is expected to deed most of the 4,700-acre base to the county late next year or in early 2001.

“It is clear that the coming months probably will determine the outcome of this rancorous debate,” Paul Eckles, the coalition’s executive director, said in recommending the new round of city contributions, which range from $175,000 to $525,000 each.

Officials with other anti-airport cities said they share Irvine’s desire to up the ante.

“If it were any other issue than El Toro, it might be harder to sell, but each member of the city councils from our cities is united on this,” said Mission Viejo Councilwoman Susan Withrow, who heads the eight-city authority. “Now is not the time to back down.”

The new spending calls for doubling to about $3 million what the authority plans to spend for advertising, including cable television ads, direct mail and consultants. Financing for special events would jump by half, to $125,000.

Irvine has emerged as the deepest pocket in the anti-airport fight, setting aside $2 million in January for its own attempts to derail the airport, and pledging to spend even more.

It also has funded much of the $5 million that the coalition has spent in the previous four years. And its share of the new spending would be $525,000.

On the opposing side, Newport Beach has been the biggest spender, recently boosting its contributions to pro-airport groups by nearly $500,000. Orange County government is spending about $1 million a year on promotions for El Toro, including recent cable television advertisements that drew counter-ads earlier this month by anti-airport forces.

With so much taxpayer money at stake, Irvine clearly has wanted more company--and better ammunition--on the front lines.

Last month, it hired the consulting firm that persuaded voters to approve the airport in 1994 and then stopped an attempt to rescind that approval two years later. The firm, Forde and Mollrich of Newport Beach, specializes in direct-mail advertising.

“Irvine was going to be undertaking a very significant public information campaign on its own, but when we looked at it, the feeling was that we could get more bang for our buck” through the south county coalition, Irvine Councilman Larry Agran said.

The stakes could be raised even higher in March when Orange County voters are expected to decide the fate of a measure designed to ground the county’s plans.

While government entities are forbidden by law to engage in campaigning, both sides are expected to mount vigorous “public education” efforts promoting what they see as the best reuse of the base.

Some anti-airport forces in south county have encouraged other cities to step forward to present a more united front.

The worry has been that less affluent residents in north Orange County could perceive the airport as a high-stakes battle among the privileged.

Even airport supporters have said the danger of a backlash exists, particularly with so much public money being spent on the issue.

“North county cities in general lump the elite south county NIMBYs in one fell swoop,” said David Ellis, a consultant working with a pro-El Toro group.

South county forces said the appeals to residents countywide will cite flaws in airport planning and disadvantages to building an international airfield.

The marketing also will highlight the benefits of turning the Marine base into a residential and commercial development.

Airport backers said their message will continue to stress job creation and the county’s economic vitality.