ETRPA To Consider Asking County to Join Anti-Airport JPA; Move to Show Unity to Die-Hard Airport Proponents, Especially the City of Los Angeles.

IRVINE, Calif. -- On Monday, the board of directors of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) will consider asking the Orange County Board of Supervisors to join ETRPA. The joint powers authority composed of 10 south county cities successfully fought to stop the airport plan at the former El Toro base. According to ETRPA Chair Allan Songstad, "If the County of Orange joins ETRPA, it brings the El Toro issue full circle. The county was initially a member of ETRPA but withdrew from the board to plan an airport. By withdrawing, the county created a situation where the cities that were directly impacted by the base no longer had any direct control over the reuse plan. Should the county rejoin, it will highlight the fact that the county is no longer divided over this issue and is moving forward with the Great Park as mandated by Measure W, which was approved three years ago by a significant majority of OC voters."

If the ETRPA board approves the concept of adding the County to ETRPA's board of directors, the County Board of Supervisors would then vote on whether to join. In order to become a voting member of ETRPA, the county would be required to pay a prorated share of ETRPA's annual budget, estimated to be under $10,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year 2004-2005.