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Home My WebLink AboutS26 - Ad Hoc City Council Airport Issues Committee Funding RecommendationsSupplemental Agenda Item S26 March 8, 1999 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL March 8, 1999 TO: Mayor & Members of the City Council FROM: Robert H. Burnham, City Attorney RE: Ad Hoc City Council Airport Issues Committee Funding Recommendations The Ad Hoc City Council Airport Issues Committee (Committee) met on March 3, 1999 to discuss requests for funding submitted by the Orange County Airport Alliance (Alliance), the Airport Working Group of Orange County (AWG) and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy (CJE). The Committee asked staff to prepare a brief report containing their recommendations to the City Council and I have prepared "draft" minutes that briefly describe the discussions among members (see Attachment). The Committee's recommendations are as follows: 1. Alliance Grant $173,000 with an initial payment of $100,000 and six equal monthly payments of $11,166. 2. AWG Grant $50,000 to conduct a public "attitudes" study and fund consultant support. 3. CJE Grant $50,000 to conduct lobbying and other pro - airport activity. The Committee members each expressed the intent to recommend additional funding to AWG and CJE when the survey is complete and additional information becomes available. The grants are to be made pursuant to agreement approved by the City Attorney to ensure that funds are used in a manner consistent with statutory and decisional law. RECOMMENDATION Authorize the Mayor to execute appropriate funding agreements consistent with the recommendations of the Committee. art H. Burnham Attorney 1 4 a 1 AD HOC CITY COUNCIL AIRPORT ISSUES COMMITTEE Special Meeting March 3, 1999 - 5:30 p.m. Council Conference Room ROLL CALL Present: Adams, Glover, and O'Neil Absent: None MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Staff was asked to place the OCRAA budget, including any proposed expenditure for travel, on the next agenda for Committee review and comment. Staff was also asked to provide an update on the status of fund 0510 -7014, any anticipated claims, and available revenues for airport related grants. MEMBER REQUESTS FOR REPORTS None MEMBER REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION /ANNOUNCEMENTS None CONSIDERATION OF ALLIANCE REQUEST FOR FUNDING Mayor O'Neil presented the request of the Alliance for a grant in the sum of $173,000. According to Mayor O'Neil, the Alliance Board of Directors approved a preliminary plan and budget that called for the expenditure of $273,000 over the next six months. The Alliance has received a commitment of $100,000 from the Anaheim Visitors and Convention Bureau and is requesting the balance form the City of Newport Beach. The plan calls for the Alliance to build additional support for a commercial aviation reuse of El Toro among a broad range of organizations, groups and special interests. The Alliance plan also calls for funding studies by OCBC and limited travel to meet with state and/or federal officials involved in the decision making process. The Alliance Board will discuss staffing in the next two weeks. On motion by Council member Glover, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend the City Council approve a grant to the Alliance in the sum of $173,000, with $100,000 paid upon Council approval and the remainder in monthly installments. CONSIDERATION OF OTHER REQUESTS FOR GRANTS The Committee received proposals and grant requests from the Airport Working Group of Orange Co. (AWG) and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy (CJE). Dave Ellis presented the AWG proposal. According to Ellis, AWG is requesting $575,000 over the next twelve months to provide accurate information to the public about the proposed reuse of El Toro, to dispel misinformation, and to generate grassroots support for a commercial aviation reuse. In response to comments from the City Attorney, Ellis confirmed that AWG is subject to the same restrictions as the City with respect to expenditures that advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot measure. Ellis also said the AWG proposal has a line item for legal expenses associated with activity funded through the grant and that AWG has two attorneys experienced in reviewing material to ensure compliance with all applicable law. Council member Glover commented on the need to develop a commercial airport at El Toro as part of a two- airport system to serve Orange County's current and future Page 1 City of Newport Beach Minutes —Ad Hoc City Council Airport Issues Committee March 3, 1999 air transportation and air cargo demand. Council member Glover applauded the growth in public support for an El Toro airport and emphasized how important it is for the City to play a major role in expanding that support by providing financial assistance to new groups like the Alliance and existing groups like AWG and CJE. Mayor O'Neil said that the requests by CJE and AWG seemed reasonable in terms of amount and scope of activities and that he was a strong advocate of continued and enhanced City Council support for an El Toro Airport. Council member Adams agreed with the comments of Mayor O'Neil and Council member Glover and stated that the City's past efforts have helped build regional support and lead to four strong pro- airport groups. Council member Glover made a motion to grant $500,000 to CJE and$500,000 to AWG. Council member Glover's motion was discussed and Ellis indicated that the first phase in the AWG proposal was a comprehensive public attitudes survey. According to Elli, AWG would prepare a more detailed public information plan and strategy after completing the survey. Ellis also indicated the proposal submitted to the Committee had not yet received formal approval of the AWG Board. Discussion ensued about the importance of coordinating activities and the need for oversight to ensure that funds are used wisely and legally. After further discussion, Council member Glover amended her motion to grant AWG $50,000 to conduct the survey and $50,000 to CJE to initiate lobbying with the funds granted pursuant to agreements prepared by the City Attorney. The motion was approved unanimously by the Committee with each member expressing the intention to provide additional funding in the near future after more detailed plans and budgets are submitted. Council member Glover was asked to work as liaison with CJE and Council member Adams was asked to work as liaison with AWG. The City Attorney was asked to prepare a cover memo to the City Council confirming the Committee's recommendations. PUBLIC COMMENTS None ADJOURNME NT — The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** The agenda for the Special Meeting was posted on March 2, 1999 at approximately 2:45 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building and was faxed to major newspapers. Page 2 D REtCE1VED '99 MAR -o A10 :31 The Honorable March 5, 1999 O ;! L = QF e- T Y CL Rn Mayor Dennis D. O'Neil C. OF PORT BEACH City of Newport Beach 3300 Newport Blvd. VIA FAX /US MAIL "RECEIVED AFTER AGE Newport Beach, CA 92660 PRINTED:" Re: Alliance and /El Toro Task Force Dear Ma .p"eil: On behalf of the Airport Working Group of Orange County, Inc. (AWG) a member of the Orange County Alliance, I first want to let you know categorically that AWG strongly supports the Alliance and the attempts at coordinating the Pro - Airport Forces in greater Orange County. However, AWG has a major concern, the vacuum which has been created by the lack of staffing that now exists at the Alliance. We feel that it is incumbent upon the City and the Alliance to provide a staff which performed the same functions of the recently departed members of the El Toro task force. These functions which were performed by them included, but are not limited to lobbying, speakers bureau, letter writing,web site, liason with citys and officials, and press contacts. These are the functions which are not being addressed by the Alliance and we feel that the City and the Alliance needs to address these immediately. Regardless of what course the Alliance takes, these are functions which the City also needs to address. Accordingly, as a result of these concerns, we have evaluated our continuing membership and have arrived at the conclusion that we can only remain a member of the Alliance if it is staffed properly within the next thirty (30 ) days. This is too important of an issue to be ignored. Now is not the time for the City to take a "low profile ". The conversion of El Toro to a commercial airport benefits not only Newport, but the County of Orange. We would be glad to consult with you on ideas and strategies for staffing and look forward to a favorable conclusion on this issue. Si/nnccerel Barbara i chman Executive Director 1809 Westcllff Dr1ve,. Suite 285, Newport Beach, Cailtornla 92660 (714) 644 -2180 (714) 645 -8136 Airport Working Group of Orange County, Inc. Mayor Tom Daly Chairman, Orange County Airport Alliance c/o City of Anaheim 200 South Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805 Dear Mayor Daly, March 5, 1999 VIA FACSIMILE "RECEI D AFTER GENQQ PRINTED:" a to c`f This letter concerns the conditions surrounding the membership of the Airport Working Group of Orange County, Inc. (AWG) in the Orange County Airport Alliance. As threshold matter, AWG wishes to inform the Alliance of its strong support for its purposes and role. However, AWG also wishes to inform the Alliance of its cone tans with respect for implementation of its purposes. Specifically, we are aware that the Alliance is no longer staffed not does it have office space or other amenities that allow it to function in its designated role. This lack of staffing makes pursuit of the Alliance's goals impossible, thus rendering it effectively impotent While we are aware that the City of Newport Beach bas recently provided limited funding for the Alliance, the effectiveness of this funding for the pursuit of the Alliance's goals an questionable in light of the lack of staffing. As a result of these concerns, while we are supportive of our continued membership in the Alliance, we have arrived at the conclusion that we will remain a member of said Alliance only if it is staffed within the next thirty days, so that it can continue its valuable role in its effort to convert El Toro to a commercial airpom If requested, we would be more than happy to consult with you on the staffing issue. Thank you in advance for your anticipated courtesies and assistance on this issue. Sincerely, Tom Naughton President cc: Orange County Airport Alliance Board of Directors: Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O'Neil Los Alamitos Councibnember Ron Bates Mr. Bing Girling, Airport Working Group Mr. Tom Merrick, Orange County Business Council Via Facsimile 1048 Irvine Avenue, Suite 467, Newport Beach, California 92660 (714) 224 -5504 Fax (714) 831 -3947 MAR -05 -1999 15.38. 99i P.��;,0y2 was%