INSIDE CITY HALL AIRPORT FUNDING Councilman...
INSIDE CITY HALL
AIRPORT FUNDING
Councilman Chris Steel on Monday convinced his colleagues -- some
of whom have historically voted against any airport funding -- to
provide annual dues to a regional airport authority designed to study
ongoing air transportation needs.
Council members voted to give $12,000 to the Orange County
Regional Airport Authority, which is a joint-powers organization of
14 member cities that was established to address county air
transportation needs. Steel is Costa Mesa’s representative on the
board and came to the council with the request.
Jack Wagner, executive director of the airport authority’s board,
has asked the city to continue its voluntary funding of $1,000 per
month for ongoing business operations.
Although airport enthusiasts suffered a sever blow when Orange
County voters’ overwhelming decided to designate the closed Marine
base at El Toro for park use, Wagner said the county still has
serious air traffic needs that should be addressed.
Council members agreed and wholeheartedly allotted the money.
Half of the $12,000 allocated to the group would be retroactive to
cover the entire 2002-03 fiscal year.
WHAT IT MEANS
Costa Mesa, a member of OCRAA, has joined Stanton, Cypress, Villa
Park and Garden Grove in voluntarily funding a study of regional air
transportation options.
WHAT WAS SAID
Mayor Karen Robinson, who has historically been opposed to the
funding of similar airport organizations, said she endorsed the
allotment because of flight noise problems over the city.
“OCRAA can now turn its attention to the Long Beach flight path
that is plaguing Costa Mesa at this time,” she said.
FAIRVIEW PARK
The council approved the Fairview Park annual report Monday, which
discussed various portions of the park’s master plan, including
accomplishments, fund-raising, grants and outstanding goals.
Fairview Park Plan Administrator Ron Molendyke updated the City
Council on the progress at Fairview Park and potential plans.
For one thing, staff would work more closely with state Fish and
Game officials before spending any more money on projects where
environmental conflicts could arise, Molendyke said.
The Fairview Park Master Plan was adopted Dec. 15, 1997. Since
then, numerous aspects of the plan, including proposals for paved
trails, parking structures, a cultural museum, botanical gardens and
the railroad, have been debated in City Hall.
City leaders have spent hours in the last few years reviewing
questionable items, holding public hearings and hiring experts to
conduct community workshops.
In the past month, the council has taken decisive steps to move
the master plan along.
WHAT IT MEANS
This was housekeeping, to make sure the council is up to date on
plans for Fairview Park.
-- Compiled by Lolita Harper
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