96-017 RESOLUTION NO. 96R-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM OPPOSING
MEASURE S ON THE MARCH 1996
PRIMARY BALLOT IN ORANGE COUNTY
WHEREAS, the E1 Toro Marine Corps Air Station
("El Toro") has been an active military airfield since 1942; and
WHEREAS, E1 Toro is a regional asset of 4,700 acres
located in the geographic center of Orange County near the
intersection of the 5, 405 and 133 Freeways, and the planned
Foothill/Eastern Toll Road; and
WHEREAS, E1 Toro is scheduled for closure in 1999, if
not sooner; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 8,000 jobs will be
lost due to this closure; and
WHEREAS, E1 Toro has two 10,000 foot runways, and two
8,000 foot runways and, unlike John Wayne Airport, is capable of
safely accommodating the largest military or civilian aircraft;
and
WHEREAS, in November, 1994, the Orange County
electorate passed Measure A which amended the Orange County
General Plan to allow for a commercial airport on 2,000 acres of
the base if feasible and airport related land used on the balance
of the property; and
WHEREAS, 22 of 31 cities within Orange County voted in
favor of Measure A; and
WHEREAS, Measure A received broad community support
from business, labor, grass-roots organizations, cities; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has stated
in a July 1995 letter that it supports E1 Toro's conversion to a
civilian airport; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has agreed
to co-sponsor the County's application for a public benefit
transfer of 2,000 acres known as the aviation footprint for use
as a civilian airport ("El Toro Airport") if the studies indicate
such an airport is feasible; and
WHEREAS, a public benefit transfer means these 2,000
acres would be conveyed to the County of Orange at no cost
thereby eliminating a burden on air travelers for airport
development; and
WHEREAS, Measure A established a citizens' advisory
commission to develop an E1 Toro Reuse Plan that would stimulate
Orange County's economy and provide benefits to all Orange County
residents; and
WHEREAS, The Measure A planning structure has been
designated by the Department of Defense as the official planning
organization for E1 Toro's conversion and reuse; and
WHEREAS, over $2.6 million is being spent to develop a
reuse plan that analyzes all potential reuses including aviation
and non-aviation uses, and the preparation of an environmental
impact report that fully analyses the potential environmental
impact effects of various reuse options; and
WHEREAS, the Measure A planning structure has made
significant progress towards the completion of the reuse plan for
E1 Toro and the related environmental impact report; and
WHEREAS, a new initiative has been qualified for the
March 26, 1998 Primary election which would repeal Measure A; and
WHEREAS, the new initiative ("Measure S") specifically
states that, "NO NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT FACILITIES WILL BE BUILT
THROUGH 2015"; and
WHEREAS, Measure S abolishes the E1 Toro citizens
Advisory Commission which was chartered by Measure A to develop
the conversion plans for E1 Toro; and
WHEREAS, Measure S also forces E1 Toro to remain in
government ownership for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, by leaving E1 Toro in government ownership,
Measure S would effectively prohibit any reuse of E1 Toro because
any aviation or non-aviation use would be inconsistent with the
County's General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the passage of Measure S would mean that 50%
of all Orange County air passengers would be forced to use other
airports to meet their travel needs; and
WHEREAS, the 535,000 annual tons of air cargo generated
by Orange County businesses will continue to be shipped out of
Los Angeles and Ontario; and
WHEREAS, Measure S misleads 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 LAX, Ontario, and other
airports than are served at John Wayne Airport; and
WHEREAS, Measure S misleads the voters by claiming to
relieve the financial burden of a commercial airport, when, in
fact, airport improvements at E1 Toro will generate thousands of
new jobs, and billions of dollars in economic growth with airport
improvements through landing fees, fuel fees, and concession fees
as evidenced by the financial success of the John Wayne Airport
expansion in 1988; and
WHEREAS, the cities immediately surrounding E1 Toro
have spent over $2.5 million since 1993 to oppose a commercial
airport at E1 Toro; and
WHEREAS, Measure S creates legal hurdles for airport
development that effectively eliminate an airport conversion at
E1 Toro; and
WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of
Governments ("SCAG") has determined that E1 Toro's conversion to
a civilian airport could immediately accommodate 4 million
passengers and that it is the most easily converted military
airfield in Southern California; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Regional Airport Authority
estimates that E1 Toro Airport would create over 53,000 jobs for
our region; and
WHEREAS, E1 Toro Airport could accommodate Orange
County's air cargo demand estimated by SCAG at 535,000 tons
annually with potential revenues of $1.5 billion; and
WHEREAS, Measure A outlined a "revenue sharing" concept
whereby local governments could share in over $170 million in new
revenue from land uses at E1 Toro Airport; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of
the City of Anaheim hereby opposes Measure S on the March ].996
primary ballot in Orange County.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the
City Council of the City of Anaheim this 6th day of
Februarv , 1996.
CITY CLER~ OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
15~0.1\J~JHITE\January 30, 1996 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ANAHEIM )
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
No. 96R-17 was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting provided by law, of the Anaheim City Council
held on the 6th day of February, 1996, by the following vote of the members thereof:
AYES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: Tait, Zemel, Feldhaus, Lopez, Daly
NOES: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None
ABSENT: MAYOR/COUNCIL: None
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the Mayor of the City of Anaheim signed said Resolution No. 96R-17 on the
6th day of February, 1996.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Anaheim
this 6th day of February, 1996.
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
(SEAL)
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original
of Resolution No. 96R-17 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim on
February 6th, 1996.
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM