Minutes 75-08-22MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL
HELD
August 22, 1975
A special meeting of the Cypress City Council was called
to order at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 1975 in the
Cypress City Council Chambers, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress,
California, Mayor Pro Tem Sonia Sonju presiding.
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Harvey, Kanel and Sonju
Councilmen Frankiewich and Lacayo
Also present were Assistant City Manager Douglas Dunlap,
City Attorney John Murphy, and the following City Staff
members: Hawley, Osborn and Schatzeder.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
the flag.
Councilman Harvey led the pledge to
Mayor Pro Tem Sonju announced that the subject of the Special
meeting was consideration of a response to the Orange County
Board of Supervisors' action of applying to the Department
of Defense for joint aviation use at Los Alamitos Naval Air
Station. She asked the staff to present their report.
The Assistant City Manager presented a report dated August
21 indicating that a majority of the City Council called the
special meeting in order to discuss possible legal and
administrative responses to the Board of Supervisors' action
of August 19. The Board's action was to direct the County
Counsel's office to immediately and formally apply to the
Department of Defense for joint use of Marine Corps Air
Station, E1 Toro or Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, or both.
The report transmitted a copy of the County Aviation Director's
feasibility report to the Board of Supervisors regarding the
joint use. The Assistant City Manager advised that the
Council may wish to hold an Executive Session to discuss
the legal implications of the Board's action.
Councilman Kanel felt the Board's action was of a serious
nature and could have serious consequences on any type of
development on the undeveloped property within the City of
Cypress located near the Los Alamitos Air Station. He read
a statement dated August 22 indicating that he felt the
Board's action and possibility of commercial aircraft was
depressing and frightening and that such action would impact
the City's undeveloped industrial acreage and cause unpre-
dictable environmental damage to thousands of homes sur-
rounding the Air Station. Councilman Kanelrequested the
Board of Supervisors to immediately rescind their action
and requested support from other Orange County cities and
Cypress residents. Councilwoman Sonju expressed agreement
with Councilman Kanel's comments.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Councilwoman Sonju called an Executive Session at 4:50 p.m.
for matters of litigation. The meeting was called back to
order at 5:10 p.m. with all Councilmen present except
Councilmen Frankiewich and Lacayo.
Councilwoman Sonju stated that the staff had prepared a
resolution urging the Board of Supervisors to rescind
their action applying to the Defense Department for joint
City Council Minutes -2-
August 22, 1975
commercial/military use of Los Alamitos Air Station and
urging the Defense Department to reject the Board's request.
The Assistant City Manager read the entire resolution.
It was moved by Councilman Kanel and seconded by Councilman
Harvey to adopt the following Resolution by title only,
title as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 1636
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CYPRESS URGING THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS TO RESCIND THEIR ACTION APPLYING
FOR JOINT USE AVIATION PURPOSES LOS ALAMITOS
NAVAL AIR STATION AND URGING THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE TO REJECT THIS REQUEST.
Councilman Kanel stated he felt the resolution was a strong
one and was a first step to show formal action on the part
of the City in regard to this matter. He urged adoption of
the resolution.
Councilman Harvey felt that several Board members who had
taken a position in opposition to the proposed airport in
the Chino Hills area were now supporting the possibility
of a joint commercial/military use at Los Alamitos Air
Station in a highly urbanized area. He stated the Board
had considered the development of other airport facilities
in the County at E1 Toro, Los Alamitos, Chino Hills, Camp
Pendleton and Rancho California and that there was a
considerable amount of opposition to all of these locations
except Rancho California. He stated the City of Cypress
has expressed its feelings on numerous occasions regarding
an expansion of activities at Los Alamitos and noted the
Council's action of opposing the Chino Hills proposal,
the City's actions in 1969 and 1970 opposing naval jet
operations at Los Alamitos and their attempt to acquire
portions of the Harvey property, and the City's recent
action supporting the 1973 environs land use plan for Los
Alamitos. Councilman Harvey stated he was disappointed the
Board's justification for their action was they would like
to see what would happen with their application.
Councilman Kanel felt the Board's action was a "back door"
approach to allowing a joint use at Los Alamitos since he
felt many persons were aware that a joint use would not be
allowed at E1 Toro. He felt the Aviation Director's report
was a facade in this respect.
Councilwoman Sonju stated that she had spoken to Mr.
Bresnahan, County Aviation Director, last spring when he
was in the process of preparing the feasibility study and
that he had indicated at that time that it was obvious
E1 Toro would not be a feasible location for joint commercial/
military use since the Defense Department has always been
opposed to joint use at E1 Toro. She felt the Board of
Supervisors had acted with disregard for the citizens of
Cypress and all western Orange County.
Councilmen Kanel felt it should be acknowledged that Super-
visor Schmidt had voted in opposition to the Board's action.
Councilman Harvey stated that Supervisor Schmidt had served
on the Airport Land Use Commission and was probably the
most knowledgeable Board member regarding the problems in
the western Orange County area and he felt the remainder
of the Board should have taken his opposition into consid-
eration.
City Council Minutes -3- August 22, 1975
The motion was unanimously carried by the following roll
call vote:
AYES: 3 COUNCILMEN: Harvey, Kanel and Sonju
NOES: 0 COUNCILMEN: None
ABSENT: 2 COUNCILMEN: Frankiewich and Lacayo
Councilman Kanel stated for the record that it should be
noted that one Council member is on vacation and one is
out of town and the resolution should reflect the reasons
for their absence.
After ascertaining with the City Attorney that it would be
a legal expenditure of public funds, Councilman Kanel
requested that the staff investigate for the next regular
meeting the printing and mailing costs for a letter to be
mailed to all Cypress residences explaining the Council's
action and requesting residents' support. The Council
recommended that the staff prepare the letter for the next
meeting and that a copy of Resolution #1636 be included
with the letter as well as sample letters of support which
residents could mail to the Board of Supervisors and the
Department of Defense. The Council also directed that
the resolution and a letter immediately be sent to all
City Councils in Orange County requesting that the cities
communicate their support for the City of Cypress to the
Board of Supervisors.
Councilwoman Sonju suggested that the Council may wish to
consider at the next regular meeting the formation of a
committee composed of representatives of cities impacted
to take further agressive action opposing the Board's action.
The Council conducted an informal question and answer period
with members of the press.
The Council further directed the staff to prepare a letter
to the Board of Supervisors for consideration at the next
meeting expressing the Council's opposition to the Board
of Supervisors' action and requesting that they rescind
that action and that the letter include a copy of Resolu-
tion #1636.
ADJOURNMENT:
It was moved by Councilman Harvey, seconded by Councilman
Kanel and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at
6:05 p.m.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
ATTEST:
OF CYPRESS