Resolution No. 4597296
RESOLUTION NO. 4597
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS,
OPPOSING MEASURE S ON THE MARCH 26, 1996 STATEWIDE
PRIMARY BALLOT.
WHEREAS, MCAS, El Toro has been an active military airfield
since 1942 and 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, MCAS, El Toro is scheduled for closure in 1999, if
not sooner, and it is estimated that over 8,000 jobs will be lost
due to this closure; and
WHEREAS, El Toro has two 10,000 foot runways, and two 8,000
foot runways and, unlike John Wayne Airport (JWA), has a single
5,700 foot runway and 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 uses on the balance of the property; and
WHEREAS, 22 of 31 cities within Orange County voted in favor
of Measure A, and Measure A received broad community support from
business, labor, grass -roots organizations and cities; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has stated in a
July 1995 letter that it supports El Toro's conversion to a
civilian airport, and has agreed to co- sponsor the County's
application for public benefit transfer of 2,000 acres, known as
the aviation footprint for use as civilian airport if the studies
indicate an airport is feasible; and
WHEREAS, a public benefit transfer means these 2,000 acres
would convey to the County of Orange at no cost, thereby
eliminating a burden on air travellers for airport development; and
WHEREAS, Measure A established a citizens' advisory commission
to develop an El 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 El Toro's conversion and reuse; and
WHEREAS, over $2.5 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 analyzes the potential environmental impacts
effects of various reuse options; and
WHEREAS, 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
WHEREAS, a new Initiative has been qualified for the March 26,
1996 Primary Election which would repeal Measure A, known as
Measure S that specifically states, "NO NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT
FACILITIES WILL BE BUILT THROUGH 2015;" and
WHEREAS, Measure S abolishes the El Toro Citizens Advisory
Commission which was chartered by Measure A to develop the
conversion plans for El Toro, and Measure S also forces El Toro to
remain in government ownership for 20 years; and
297
WHEREAS, by leaving El Toro in government ownership, 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
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 JWA; and
WHEREAS, Measure S misleads the voters by claiming to relieve
the financial burden of a commercial airport, when, in fact,
airport improvements at El 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 JWA expansion in 1985;
and
WHEREAS, the cities immediately surrounding El Toro have spent
over $2.5 million since 1993 to oppose a commercial airport at El
Toro; and
WHEREAS, Measure S creates legal hurdles for airport
development that effectively eliminate an airport conversion at El
Toro; and
WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments
has determined that El Toro's conversion to a civilian could
immediately accommodate 4 million passengers and it is the most
easily converted military airfield in Southern California; and
WHEREAS, The Orange County Regional Airport Authority
estimates that El Toro Airport will create over 53,000 jobs for our
region; and
WHEREAS, El Toro Airport can accommodate Orange County's air
cargo demand estimated by SCAG at 535,000 tons annually with
potential revenues of $1.5 billion; and
WHEREAS, Orange County's bankruptcy resulted in cities,
special districts, and school districts losing $800 million; 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 El Toro Airport.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the
City of Cypress, does hereby oppose Measure S on the March 1996
Primary Election ballot.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cypress
at a regular meeting held on the 12th day of February 1996.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
4'U�ic�_
MAYOR O HE CI Y OF CYPRESS
298
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) SS
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
I, LILLIAN M. HAINA, City Clerk of the City of Cypress, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by
the said City Council at a regular meeting held on the 12th day of
February 1996; by the following roll call vote:
AYES : 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS : Carroll, Jones, Kerry and Bowman
NOES : 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Age
•0l
I Y CLERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS