Contractors calmed by Villaraigosa's focus on airport: greenlighted projects seen going forward.

L.A. Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa pledges to speed through a scaled-down proposal to modernize Los Angeles International Airport, as well as measures to boost security.

But contractors were still waiting to see who Villaraigosa taps to serve on the Board of Airport Commissioners, the powerful body that dispenses hundreds of millions of dollars in airport contracts each year. Already there is a vacancy due to the death of L.A. County Federation of Labor chief Miguel Contreras.

"Everybody will want to get to know who the new commissioners are," said Jerry Neuman, a partner at the law firm of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLP who represents six companies with airport-related business. "This goes for the businesses who currently hold contracts, as well as those who want to do business there in the future."

Within days of his election, Villaraigosa said the airport commission would be among the first targeted for overhaul and that he intends to replace most of its members. The other commissions Villaraigosa is targeting include those overseeing the L.A. harbor and the Department of Water & Power.

To carry out his plans for LAX, Villaraigosa must overcome several hurdles, starting with the fact that 12 of 15 council-members already approved the Hahn plan. There's also uncertainty over whether tens of millions of dollars in environmental work will have to be redone for a scaled-back plan, as well as some opposition from nearby communities opposed to taking any action at LAX.

In addition, the airport and two other departments have been the focus of local and federal investigations into whether contracts were awarded during the Hahn administration on the basis of businesses contributing to the mayor's political campaigns.

So far, there have been no indictments in the "pay-to-play" inquiries, though an executive with public relations giant Fleishman-Hillard Inc. has been indicted for his alleged role in a scheme to overbill the DWP.

Villaraigosa hinted at some of his priorities for airport commissioners and staff last week, noting that he intends to proceed on the "green-lighted" projects proposed for LAX, including widening and realigning runways and building a consolidated car-rental facility.

Villaraigosa spokesman Joe Ramallo said that the mayor-elect will ask airport staff to look into ways to expedite these green-lighted projects without having to conduct a new environmental impact report that could take up to a year. "We've already held discussions about fast-tracking the green-lighted projects with (U.S. Transportation Secretary) Norm Mineta," he said.

This is good news for engineering and construction contractors, who feared long delays as Villaraigosa sorted through his priorities on airport modernization. Among those with master plan-related contracts are Los Angeles-based DMJM, a subsidiary of AECOM Cos., and the local architecture subsidiary of Kansas City-based HNTB Cos.

"There might be some small delays but we expect to continue working on the master plan," said Tony Gonzales, vice president of HNTB Architecture Group.

Villaraigosa also said he wants to implement recommendations from Rand Corp. on improving airport security. Among those: building a new security perimeter (some of which has already been done), making the airlines hire more ticket agents to reduce long lines that make for tempting terrorist targets, and boosting the number of baggage and security screeners.

On another front, work has already begun on reforming the process by which concessions are granted at LAX. To increase efficiency, airport staff members are trying to line up contract expiration dates.

"There's a question of timing here," said Neuman, who represents at least one concessionaire. "Should all the contracts be put out to bid at once? While it sounds good, it doesn't work too well if the market is not at its peak. If all the contracts expired tomorrow, LAWA would have to absorb some losses in rents because many of the rents now being paid are much higher than if you went out to market today."

Also, there's ongoing work to revamp the overcrowded Tom Bradley International Terminal, soundproof homes around both LAX and Van Nuys Airport and even to remove some homes in the Manchester Square area east of LAX. One part of the Hahn airport modernization plan that Villaraigosa wants to discard: Manchester Square as a site for remote parking and a check-in facility.

In the long run, Villaraigosa wants the airlines to schedule more flights at outlying airports instead of LAX. Los Angeles World Airports already owns two of those facilities: the fledgling Palmdale Airport and Ontario International Airport.

But Air Transport Association spokesman Jack Evans said that "airlines schedule fights at times and at places where there's consumer demand."

HOWARD FINE Staff Reporter