ETRPA Increases Lobbying Effort and Installs New Officers.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Last night, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), in response to the city of Los Angeles' efforts to force a commercial airport at the former El Toro Marine Base, voted to increase spending to nearly $1 million, upping the budget by $110,000 through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. The 10 member cities will each pay an additional $10,000 with the city of Lake Forest contributing $20,000.

The increased budget includes retaining Wilson and Miller Communications in Sacramento and increasing budgets for the agency's Sacramento lobbying firms Foley & Lardner LLP and Lehman English Kelley & O'Keefe. According to ETRPA's executive director, Paul D. Eckles: "We had hoped that with the sale of the property, the prospect of an airport would end, however, with the Los Angeles City Council making it clear that they wish to acquire El Toro for a fifth L.A.-run airport, we no longer believe the sale will be the end of the issue. Our mission, as always, is to ensure a non-aviation use for the property, and unfortunately, we must respond vigorously to Los Angeles' infringement on Orange County's right to determine the future of the base property."

In a separate action, the board elected Laguna Hills Council Member Allan Songstad to serve as chair and Laguna Woods Council Member Bert Hack as vice chair. Songstad has been on the ETRPA board since 1998, serving as vice chair from January 1999 through 2000 and as chair from January 2001 through 2002. Hack has served on the board since Laguna Woods incorporated as a city in 2000. He has been an anti-airport activist since the base was first listed on the closure list in 1991.