June 27 Meeting Set on El Toro Powers Transfer

A state agency has tentatively set a June 27 meeting to decide whether to transfer police authority over the former El Toro Marine base to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, a move that now appears more likely after prominent South County leaders dropped their opposition Friday.

Having the State Lands Commission grant the transfer would mark a significant boost to the county’s effort to take control of the base and could allow such amenities as the horse stables, golf, child care and others to continue past a July 1 deadline.

A coalition of South County cities ended its opposition to the plan after learning that the Navy has stated that no interim aviation or aviation-related construction will occur at El Toro pending a master lease agreement with the county, said Meg Waters, a spokeswoman for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority.

“Once we found that out, we said we would drop our objections,” said Waters.

The Navy had threatened to padlock the base July 1 if the county and the coalition did not resolve their differences. Closure at the sprawling former base would have meant that existing community programs would be terminated.

In fact, the county had sent notices to dozens of horse owners and others using the site that they may have to vacate by the end of this month. Many of those who had not taken sides in the base reuse dispute had characterized themselves as victims--casualties, they said--in the battle over plans for converting the former air base into an international airport.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Smith, one of the pro-airport majority, had been in negotiations with anti-airport groups attempting to reach an agreement to drop their opposition in favor of a guarantee that no aviation construction would occur at El Toro once the former base was transferred to the county’s authority.

“Chairman Smith has been working feverishly to get the State Lands Commission to act,” said Smith’s spokesman, James Campbell. “We hope that with the June date for the commission that it’s not too late based on the Navy’s timeline.”

At the board’s meeting Tuesday, Smith tried to have the county file a lawsuit against the commission, prompting it to hold a meeting in June. But the effort died for lack of votes. Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who with Supervisor Tom Wilson comprises the board’s anti-airport minority, said he was pleased that the coalition had withdrawn its opposition and expressed hope it will come in time to keep the community programs at the base.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” Spitzer said.

In December, the state commission voted not to take action citing environmental concerns about toxic cleanup at the base, which saw extensive use for more than 50 years. Three people sit on the commission: Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, Controller Kathleen Connell and Tim Gage, director of the state Department of Finance.

Bustamante said, through a spokesman, that he was concerned about the presence of toxics from years of fueling jet aircraft at the former base. Of eight toxic sites, two have been adequately mitigated and Bustamante wanted to ensure that mitigation on the remaining six had progressed.

“If these remaining environmental issues are resolved, he will reconsider his position,” said Bustamante spokesman Phil Garcia.