El Toro vote again delayed

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors has proved once

again that when it comes to plans for an airport at El Toro, nothing is

certain.

The final decision on the environmental report set for Tuesday was put

off until Oct. 23 after Chairwoman Cynthia Coad tried to take public

testimony during what the board eventually realized was a closed public

hearing.

“This county, they can’t do anything right,� said Meg Waters, the

spokeswoman for South County airport opponents. “It’s a failed process.

That’s why it’s a comedy of the absurd.�

The board was set to vote on the final environmental report for the

project Sept. 17, but Supervisor Jim Silva broke ranks with the majority

of supervisors who support the airport.

Silva, who represents Newport-Mesa, surprised observers by asking for

a public vote on the county’s plan -- delaying, if not potentially

killing, plans for an airport at the closed Marine air base. A day later,

Silva recanted, promising to support the county’s plan.

Airport supporters downplayed Tuesday’s action, saying a one-week

delay wouldn’t likely halt a project eight years in the making.

“It would be nice to get a decision, but it’s perfectly appropriate to

continue for one more week so everybody that wants to be heard can be

heard,� Newport Beach Councilman Dennis O’Neil said.

Board members delayed the vote after Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who

opposes the airport, said discussion about the report could violate the

state’s open-meeting laws. The legality of the vote could also be called

into question, Spitzer said.

Board members said they wanted to hear again from the public on new

information regarding the airport from a Oct. 9 Federal Aviation

Administration report that found the planned airport would be safe but

would not offer the most efficient use of local airspace.

However, because they had already received public comment on the

airport, the board members’ discussion was not announced as a public

hearing.

Rather than vote without taking more comment, they voted to delay

their decision for another week.

“I know the importance of the community to address us and [for us to]

hear their opinions,� Coad said. “That was our goal.�

Supervisor Chuck Smith abstained from the unanimous vote.

The board members supporting an airport for the base, which is a

majority, have said they would approve an airport for the base that could

handle about 18.8 million passengers a year.

Airport supporters worried the delay could further jeopardize the

federal government’s March time frame to hand over the base to the

county.

“Every delay affects the base transfer,� Newport Beach Councilman Gary

Proctor said. “It’s going to be difficult to get all of this accomplished

by March. . . . I hope we get beyond the procedures and get to the

substance.�

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .