HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 96-10 RESOLUTION NO. 96-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF HUNTINGTON BEACH OPPOSING MEASURE S
WHEREAS, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (hereinafter uEI Toro") is a regional
asset consisting of 4,700 acres of land, located in the geographic center of Orange
County, near the intersection of the 5, 405 and 133 freeways; and
El Toro has two 10,000 foot runways and two 8,000 foot runways and, unlike
John Wayne Airport which has a single 5,700 foot runway, is capable of safely
accommodating the largest military or civilian aircraft; and
El Toro is scheduled for closure no later than 1999; and
In November, 1994, Orange County voters approved Measure A which amended
the County's General Plan to designate a portion of El Toro as a commercial airport if
conversion to civil aviation was feasible; and
Measure A established a citizens' advisory committee to develop an El Toro
Reuse Plan that would stimulate Orange County's economy and provide benefits to all
Orange County residents; and
The Department of Defense has designated the Measure A planning structure as
the official organization to plan for the conversion and reuse of El Toro; and
The Federal Government has authorized the expenditure of more than 2.5
million dollars to develop a reuse plan that analyzes all potential uses of El Toro,
including aviation and non-aviation uses, and the preparation of an environmental
impact report that fully analyzes the potential environmental effects of the various reuse
options; and
The Measure A planning structure has made significant progress towards the
completion of the reuse plan for El Toro and the related environmental impact report;
and
Airport opponents have qualified Measure S which prohibits construction of new
regional airport facilities anywhere in Orange County; and
Measure S also forces El Toro to remain in government ownership for 20 years,
and abolishes the citizens' advisory board; and
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Passage of Measure S would effectively prohibit any reuse of El Toro because
any aviation or non-aviation use would be inconsistent with the County's General Plan;
and
Passage of Measure S would mean that John Wayne Airport would continue to
be the only commercial service airport in Orange County, John Wayne Airport can
serve less that 50 percent of the current air transportation demand in the County, and
John Wayne Airport will always be unable to serve a majority of Orange County's air
transportation demand due to limitations on runway length, number of gates, and
parking spaces; and
Measure S has the potential to significantly delay the planning process and
indefinitely postpone the conversion of El Toro to any civilian use that would benefit all
residents of Orange County; and
The Southern California Association of Governments has determined that El
Toro is easily converted from a military airfield to a civilian airport and could
immediately serve more than 4 million passengers annually at no cost to the taxpayer;
and
The Orange County Regional Airport Authority estimates that conversion of El
Toro to commercial aviation will create more than 53,000 jobs in Orange County, while
passage of Measure S would effectively prohibit redevelopment and result in no
increase in employment opportunities; and
Conversion of El Toro to a commercial airport will enable Orange County to
service its own air cargo demand and stimulate an industry which could generate
millions of dollars in revenue; and
Measure S would prevent local governments from receiving millions of dollars in
revenue resulting from the conversion of El Toro to aviation or nonaviation uses, and
prevent Orange County cities from recovering losses incurred in the Orange County
bankruptcy; and
Measure S deceives voters by claiming to ensure El Toro will be developed with
the highest and best use while actually prohibiting any development by requiring 20
years of government use and ownership which will be subsidized by the taxpayer; and
Measure S deceives the voters by claiming that John Wayne Airport is capable
of serving substantially all of the County's air transportation needs when all studies
have shown that more Orange County residents go to Los Angeles County Airport,
Ontario, and other airports than are served at John Wayne Airport; and
Measure S deceives the voters by claiming to relieve the financial burden of a
commercial airport, when, in fact, airport improvements at El Toro will generate
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thousands of new jobs, and billions of dollars in economic growth with airport
improvements financed through landing fees, as the County did in 1985 with the new
terminal at John Wayne Airport;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach resolves to oppose Measure S and encourages its residents to vote
no on Measure S.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at
a regular meeting held thereof on the loth day of February , 1996.
ATTEST: Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Clerk
+ T
I,/ City Attorney
REVIEWED, INITIATED AND APPROVED:
City Administrator
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Res. No. 96-10
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss:
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH )
I, CONNIE BROCKWAY, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of
the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-ofbcio Clerk of the City Council of said
City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of
the City of Huntington Beach is seven, that the foregoing resolution was passed
and adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 20th of February, 1996 by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: Harman, Leipzig, Bauer, Sullivan, Dettloff,
Green, Garofalo
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of Huntington
Beach, California
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