EL TORO UPDATE - JULY 2001
El Toro -- Money is the Key Topic This Month:
Back in March, you'll remember the Board majority allocated $5M for the Orange
County Regional Airport Authority (OCRAA) to initiate a Public Relations Campaign.
Then in May, another $3M was allocated to expand PR efforts (Amies Communications
was hired for this campaign). Then, during the June 19, 2001 meeting, another
$2M was approved to be spent on postage for this campaign! Fortunately, this
money will come out of what has already been promised to OCRAA - but this
$2M could be better spent on things like the County debt!
Please note that South County residents will only see part of that effort.
The so-called public information mailings done by OCRAA will be designed to
go to OCRAA member cities in a targeted effort to tailor information to the
audience. Interestingly, it seems that non-OCRAA cities will only receive
the general, broad, public information they think South County needs to receive
and not the entire public information package. If it talks and walks like
a campaign, it is a campaign!
On another note: fortunately, some revenue generating activities should be
in the works at MCAS El Toro soon; many special events are reportedly scheduled
for the rest of the year. Hopefully, the calendar will show at least one event
per week, including auto shows, exhibitions, and various others.
In addition, the Board approved two amendments to the Master Lease, (which
is the document that describes how MCAS El Toro can be used). Master Lease
Amendment #3 will be sent to the Navy to await their Finding Of Suitability
to Lease (FOSL), which will open the door to begin lease negotiations for
revenue generating purposes. The Navy has the FOSL ready for these 37 buildings.
Once they receive our approved amendment, the County will be able to start
leasing them within a few weeks.
Master Lease Amendment #4 includes 15 buildings for which the Navy has just
prepared the FOSL. Amendment #4 includes hangers which are expected to be
big money generators - the movie industry has already expressed an interest
in using them for sound stages, among many other requests.
The County budget was completed last week. Fund 14 M is the one to watch.
It is the aviation-related fund for MCAS El Toro. Staff requested an extra
$150K for an additional lobbyist in Sacramento to only handle El Toro issues.
Mind you, the County already retains a lobbyist in Sacramento. When the initiative
passes in March, there won't be a need for an El Toro lobbyist - and that
contract will be cancelled! The total 14M budget now totals $12,962,612.
The County created a new funding category to keep track of non-aviation dollars.
It's called "13K". Its purpose is to make best possible use of MCAS
El Toro assets during the interim period. Their total 13K budget will be $14.5M.
Remember, this is for non-aviation interim use of MCAS El Toro. Unfortunately,
they are not generating the revenue expected and possible from the base. There
appears to be an effort to make the base fail so that all operations will
cease and the only suitable option remaining would be an airport. Should that
be the Board's strategy, it certainly does not serve the people.
Watch for these new mailers and PR moves. They're coming to a home near you
soon.
