Council Rejects Bid to Halt Spending on LAX Studies

The Los Angeles City Council rejected an effort Tuesday by opponents of Los Angeles International Airport expansion to temporarily suspend spending on environmental studies.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter introduced a motion to suspend three contracts until a new mayor and City Council are seated after the current round of city elections.

The contracts, worth $12 million, were to pay for legal, consulting, public relations and other services designed to further development of the master plan.

Airport officials are in a 180-day public review period on a proposed master plan that recommends a $12-billion modernization of LAX. It would allow for an increase in passenger travel from 67 million to 89 million trips a year.

Cheered on by dozens of airport opponents who turned out for the vote, Galanter said the new contracts were a thinly disguised effort to build public support for the troubled airport plan.

“This is throwing $12 million down the sewer,” argued Galanter, who represents the neighborhoods closest to LAX. She believes the city should try harder to develop its airports in Palmdale and Ontario.

Needing 10 votes to pass, Galanter could muster only three to support her motion.

Councilwoman Rita Walters, one of those who voted in favor of maintaining the contracts, called LAX “an economic engine” vital to the region.

“I don’t think stopping the expansion of the airport is in the best interest of the city,” she said.

The council members voted only after receiving assurances from airport officials that the money would be used only to complete the environmental studies and not promote airport expansion.

Airport managers said suspension of the contracts would create serious problems in continuing their environmental studies.

“It’s critical to have these contracts,” said Jim Ritchie, deputy executive director of the airports department. “We are midstream in the process.”

The contracts are going to Camp Dresser & McKee, for environmental consulting services; URS Corp., for preparation of the master plan, and Winner & Associates, for public relations and consulting.