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