Efforts Increased to Prevent El Toro Ghost Town

To prevent the former El Toro Marine base from becoming a ghost town in July, Orange County supervisors voted Tuesday to push for continued operation of the base’s horse stables, golf course, child-care center, recreational-vehicle storage lot and indoor swimming pool.

Supervisors told county staff to begin a “full-court press” to sign a long-term lease with the Navy by May 31 that would allow the county to continue operating the popular programs past July 1. The lease would expire when the base is deeded to the county--a move at least a year away.

Navy officials said they will padlock the base July 1 unless county officials sign a lease and win state approval for transferring police authority at the 4,700-acre base from federal marshals to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

However, the state commission granting such approvals hasn’t decided when it will meet or whether El Toro will be on the agenda.

“We’re going to pursue this with all due vigor and put on a full-court press,” board Chairman Chuck Smith said.

Supervisors agreed that the recreation programs are too valuable to lose, but they stopped short of approving a subsidy to cover future losses, saying the programs should be reexamined for ways to cut costs and boost profits. A county report this month predicted the programs could fall as much as $2.2 million in the red each year.

“We shouldn’t have to use [tax money] if they’re managed properly,” Supervisor Jim Silva said.

More than 30 people spoke passionately in favor of the programs Tuesday, more than half of them urging supervisors to save the El Toro equestrian center.

Supporters of the stables argued that they can be operated profitably and that ousting some 200 horses would be cruel and impractical, since there are few other places to board horses in Orange County.

“We’re not moving cars here,” said Shelly Candalario of Orange. “These are emotional beings.”

Leaders of the Irvine Novaquatics swim club said they have a grant to repair and maintain the indoor pool but remain locked out of the facility.

And numerous advocates asked supervisors to convert up to 853 abandoned base houses--described as a “wonderful vacant city”--into affordable living for homeless families.

Smith said he spoke Tuesday morning with Navy officials, who said they don’t want to padlock the base but must reduce the amount of money--$4.5 million--they will have paid to keep the base open between July 1 and June 30. Smith said the Navy wants a master lease “just as badly as we do.”

Navy officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Supervisors did not say whether Cabaco, a Sierra Vista, Ariz., management company, would continue to run the programs and maintain the remainder of base facilities, as they have for the past 10 months.

The county’s former manager of real estate for El Toro, Gary Simon, said County Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier vetoed two rate increase proposals from consultants to help make the programs more profitable. The only facility that has turned a profit has been the 627-space RV storage lot.

Supervisors directed staff members to study ways to lease additional base facilities not being used, such as the housing and 43 warehouses that could generate more income. Pro-airport forces oppose allowing people to live on the base, arguing that they would become airport foes in future votes on El Toro’s fate.

* MANEUVERS AT EL TORO

Supervisors stripped their executive officer of control over airport planning. A1

* STILL OPEN

The base’s golf course remains open--for now. D10