County Now Faces El Toro Expenses

Although spending on an El Toro airport remains in limbo, Orange County supervisors will be asked today to approve $182,500 to pay off airport-related contracts.

Airport opponents on Monday pointed out that county officials have promised that only revenue generated by John Wayne Airport--and not the county’s general fund--would be used to pay for airport planning. They also questioned whether such an expenditure would be legal under Measure F, the voter-approved anti-airport initiative.

“The county has been saying that they will only use John Wayne funds and not any taxpayer money,” said Meg Waters, spokeswoman for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, an anti-airport coalition. “The county needs a public hearing on spending funds for airport planning, and until that happens, any action will be illegal under Measure F.”

The proposal before the board comes as the county has halted all El Toro airport spending in the wake of Measure F’s victory.

Supervisors have said they won’t approve any El Toro spending until a judge rules on the validity of the measure, which restricts airport spending.

The county counsel is expected to argue that the expenditures would be legal because part of the contract labor is for non-aviation use, therefore falling outside the scope of Measure F.

The amounts sought include $42,501 for Michael Lapin, manager for the proposed airport plan, and $50,000 for attorney Mark Mispagel, who is special counsel on El Toro issues. In addition, the county owes Hill & Knowlton $60,000 for public relations and lobbying services and Higgins, McGovern & Smith, $30,000 also for public relations.

Under terms of the contracts, negotiated and approved before Measure F, consultants must be paid, even though no work is being performed.