Irvine seeks accord with Newport on El Toro issue

Kristiane M. Ridgway

NEWPORT BEACH -- Renewing its promise to push for permanent flight limits

at John Wayne Airport, Irvine City Council members Tuesday invited the

city to join them in battling the proposed El Toro international airport.

“For six years, this issue has divided neighbor against neighbor,

community against community,” said Mayor Christina Shea. “It’s time for a

new direction.”

Newport Beach and Irvine have been at odds for years over the reuse of El

Toro. Newport Beach city officials believe an airport at the former El

Toro Marine Corps Air Station will spare its residents added flights at

John Wayne Airport. Irvine wants neither the El Toro airport nor an

expanded John Wayne, since both facilities sit on Irvine’s borders.

Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau indicated that there could be

room for an accord.

“The City Council is interested in protecting John Wayne long-term,” he

said. “I think anything that moves us in that direction would be

welcome.”

But Newport Beach Mayor John Noyes, who was unaware Wednesday of Irvine’s

gesture, was more circumspect, refraining from comment until he hears

from city officials personally.

“I will debate it with them,” he said. “Not through the newspaper.”

Irvine’s public invitation to Newport Beach, described by Shea as an

“olive branch,” came a week after voters overwhelming approved an

initiative aimed at preventing an airport at El Toro. The measure calls

for a two-thirds majority approval in a countywide vote before any

expansion or construction of an airport, toxic landfill or jail near

homes.

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa were the only two Orange County cities with

a majority of voters opposed to the ballot initiative. Newport has

already joined two pro-airport groups in challenging the measure in

court.

But Irvine officials, in trying to recruit Newport to their anti-airport

cause, point out that Measure F is also designed to safeguard against any

expansion of John Wayne Airport -- physical or operational.

Under an agreement set to expire in 2005, John Wayne Airport is subject

to time and noise restrictions and may not serve more than 8.4 million

annual passengers per year.

Irvine has funneled more than $5 million into its El Toro war chest. City

officials are hoping to annex the former base and replace the county’s

airport plan with their own Millennium Plan, which calls for parks, homes

and businesses.

A heated public discussion at Tuesday’s meeting proved that the animosity

between the two sides of the airport debate is still alive.

A Santa Ana Heights resident Tuesday berated Irvine council members for

not embracing his alternate El Toro runway design, which would send

planes over largely undeveloped land.

In a brochure, Russell Niewiarowski singled out Irvine Mayor Shea,

accusing her of “pride, deceit and hypocrisy” for squandering money on

“her self-centered Millennium Plan and campaign to kill El Toro.”

Council members reacted angrily, pointing out what they called fallacies

with his argument and denying the charges.

Niewiarowski continued to spar with Shea, but dismissed himself from the

council chambers as the mayor called for the Sergeant of Arms to remove

him.