Community Updates

OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR THOMAS WILSON

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fifth District

EL TORO UPDATE - JANUARY 2002

El Toro -- Money is the Key Topic This Month:

Measure W: A few weeks ago the Initiative was unanimously placed on the March 5, 2002 ballot as Measure W.

A report on the fiscal impact of the Central Park Initiative, now Measure W, was requested by the Board of Supervisors on September 11th. The consulting firm of Public Financial Management (PFM) prepared the report on the Auditor Controller's behalf, and it was filed with the Board of Supervisors on December 4th. PFM is a national consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia with a local office in Newport Beach. The report is very clear. Because the Initiative does not set forth a specific use for the El Toro facility, but rather restricts development to a range of potential uses, the report identifies the likely types of development that could occur. Based on these potential types of development, the report makes the following findings:

Measure W would prohibit the development of a commercial airport at El Toro and does not mandate, or provide funds for, any specific uses at El Toro. In other words, Measure A is revoked and the land is designated as non-aviation.

• Measure W itself merely excludes certain developments from the reuse options.
• It is also not likely that the measure would significantly increase revenues or expenditures for the County.
• Measure W does not impose a new tax or tax increase - this can only be done by a two-thirds vote of the electorate. This has been a key argument used respectively on both sides of the issue.
• Any development resulting from the measure would occur over a relatively long timeframe. Since Measure W itself does not create a specific development plan, a specific schedule has not been set for projects.
• The analysis also declares that any development allowed by Measure W may result in continued County spending at El Toro; however, this can only be done by the Board of Supervisors.
• It is unlikely that the measure would result in additional environmental remediation costs, although passage would result in supplemental environmental review. To date the County has been studying remediation for an airport reuse. There could be some differences for the types of reuse identified in Measure W.
• And finally, the analysis states that while not yet determined, it is likely the County could avoid any land acquisition cost under a park or an airport development.

The entire report is available on the Auditor-Controller's website at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/ac/.

Interim Base Uses: As for the base itself, there are some facilities in use now - the golf course, stables, RV lot, and a few buildings. The County just signed a lease with Cal State Fullerton for its satellite campus. This will bring a lot of activity to the base and some much needed income for the County to recoup the costs of keeping it open. The golf course is rated one of the best in the county, and the RV lot just expanded by another 500 spaces. The County is working with the City of Irvine to reach an agreement on their annexation request to enable the County to move forward with the base housing. It takes time to do this because there are so many people involved on different levels, and it is necessary to ensure everyone's concerns are addressed. Hopefully, there will soon be affordable housing there.

So, El Toro is moving forward, albeit slowly sometimes. Everyone has his or her eye on March 5, 2002.