(June 17, 2003) -- CA state Senator Kevin Murray (D., Los Angeles) has introduced a resolution by which the CA Senate would call upon "the United States Navy and
Department of Transportation to preserve a national aviation asset by approving the City of Los Angeles's offer to lease the El Toro marine base and operate the facility as a civilian passenger and cargo airport."
We post the verbatim text of SR 23, below:
BILL NUMBER: SR 23 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Murray
JUNE 12, 2003
Senate Resolution No. 23--Relative to aviation.
WHEREAS, El Toro was the largest Marine Corps aviation
installation on the West Coast and operated until 1999 as a military
airport; and
WHEREAS, United States taxpayers have spent billions of dollars
since 1943 to develop the El Toro marine base into an aviation
facility; and
WHEREAS, The El Toro marine base is a 4,700 acre closed military
base with two 10,000 foot and two 8,000 foot runways, surrounded by
14,000 acres of land which provide a noise buffer; and
WHEREAS, Los Angeles World Airports owns and operates four
airports in two counties; and
WHEREAS, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located on 3,500
acres, which currently serves 60 million passengers per year and
ships over 2 million tons of air cargo annually, is the primary
airport for southern California; and
WHEREAS, Modern, efficient, and accessible airport infrastructure
is essential for California to remain competitive in the global
economy; and
WHEREAS, The City of Los Angeles desires to develop
state-of-the-art antiterrorism facilities while limiting LAX's growth
to 78 million air passengers annually; and
WHEREAS, The Southern California Association of Government's 2001
Regional Transportation Plan estimates that by 2025 a regional demand
shortfall of 50 million passengers will exist; and
WHEREAS, Orange County's residents and businesses export almost 8
million passengers and 98 percent of its air cargo annually to other
airports in southern California, primarily LAX; and
WHEREAS, Dispersing passengers and cargo from LAX to other
airports in the region will blunt the economic impact of a terrorism
incident; and
WHEREAS, El Toro marine base's existing aviation infrastructure
can safely accommodate 20 million passengers per year and over one
million tons of air cargo; and
WHEREAS, The federal government retains title to the marine base
at El Toro and plans to auction the national aviation asset to the
private sector for development of homes, commercial buildings and an
urban park; and
WHEREAS, The City of Los Angeles has expressed an interest in
acquiring El Toro marine base's aviation infrastructure for the
purpose of operating a commercial airport; and
WHEREAS, The City of Los Angeles proposes to compensate the
federal government with lease payments that would exceed proceeds
from auctioning the El Toro marine base to developers; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the
California State Senate calls upon the United States Navy and
Department of Transportation to preserve a national aviation asset by
approving the City of Los Angeles's offer to lease the El Toro
marine base and operate the facility as a civilian passenger and
cargo airport; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
Senator Murray's district includes Culver City and L.A. and neighborhoods in Hollywood, Hancock Park, Ladera Heights, Los Feliz, View Park-Windsor Hills and Westmont.
SR 23 has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
Senator Murray's action follows transmittal of a 37-page legal style memorandum by officials of the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office and Los Angeles World Airports, proposing to operate El Toro as a commercial airport. LBReport.com has posted this document online in its entirety. As noted by LBReport.com, Cong. Dana Rohrabacher (R., HB-LB-PV) has supported L.A.'s bid, subject to approval by Orange County voters.
As separately reported today by LBReport.com, the Orange County Regional Airport Authority -- comprised of 14 north Orange County cities, has passed a resolution supporting L.A.'s proposal. The OCRAA's member cities are Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia, Seal Beach, Stanton, Villa Park. Westminster and Yorba Linda.
As also reported by LBReport.com, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to send
a letter blasting L.A.'s offer. LBReport.com has also posted a statement by south OC Congressman Chris Cox (R., Newport Beach/Irvine) reaffirming his support for current plans to re-use the federal property for non-airport purposes.
As also reported by LBReport.com, two dissenting members of the OC Board of Supervisors have sent a joint letter to Secretary Mineta applauding L.A.'s proposal.
And as separately reported by LBReport.com, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on June 17 to remove Supervisor Charles Smith as OC's rep on the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Supervisor Smith supports an El Toro Airport...and was replaced by Supervisor Chris Norby, who opposes an El Toro Airport.
Related coverage:
Orange County Regional Airport Authority -- Comprised of 14 North OC Cities -- Backs L.A. Bid to Operate El Toro As Comm'l Airport; We Post Resolution
Dissenting OC Supervisors Smith & Silva Send Letter to U.S. Trans. Sec'y Mineta Applauding L.A. Proposal To Operate Airport @ El Toro; We Post Letter
OC Supervisors Vote 3-2 To Remove Pro-El Toro Airport Supervisor Smith As OC SCAG Rep...And Replace Him With Anti-El Toro Airport Supervisor Norby
OC Bd. of Supes Votes 3-2 To Send Letter to U.S. Trans. Sec'y Mineta Blasting L.A. Proposal To Operate Airport @ El Toro; We Post Letter
OC Cong. Chris Cox -- South of OC Cong. Rohrabacher -- Reacts To L.A. Proposal To Operate Comm'l Airport @ El Toro; We Post Statement Verbatim
LA Airport Agency Seeks To Operate El Toro As Airport; LB-HB Cong. Rohrabacher Supports Plan Subject To OC Voter Approval; We Post L.A.'s 37-Page Legal Brief Style Memo