Newport turns eye to D.C.

June Casagrande and Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- A six-figure lobbying effort may signal a shift in

the city’s approach to curbing the anticipated expansion of John Wayne

Airport.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved spending at least $350,000 for

two groups to provide legislative advocacy services in Washington, D.C.,

by promoting the city’s goal of extending the John Wayne settlement

agreement.

“If you don’t spend the money and work the process, you don’t win,”

Councilman Dennis O’Neil said Wednesday. “We’ve got a plan and a

consulting team, and we’re pursuing it.”

Council members unanimously approved paying $10,000 a month through at

least March to the Cordia Cos. and another $25,000 a month for a year to

Citizens for Jobs and the Economy. Both organizations will work on the

city’s behalf with federal agencies, especially the Federal Aviation

Administration, to extend and modify a settlement agreement now in place

with the county.

The effort marks a shift from a local campaign to hammer out the

details of an extension in meetings with Orange County officials and

mailings to area residents to advocacy of the deal in Washington, D.C.

The reason for the change is clear, officials said.

“We think the battle over the airport is going to be fought in

Washington,” Councilman Steven Bromberg explained.

Newport Beach officials have been angling to extend the airport

settlement agreement, which is due to expire Dec. 31, 2005. On Oct. 9,

officials approved spending $384,000 for a mailer campaign to inform

residents of neighboring cities about the agreement. Tuesday’s council

vote will double city spending to promote an extension of the agreement.

The initial settlement agreement, put in place in 1985, limits annual

passengers using the airport to 8.4 million and daily departures of the

noisiest aircraft to 73. It also restricts construction at the airport.

The restrictions were part of a settlement of a lawsuit between the

city and the county.

Before that agreement, airport managers imposed a curfew, which

prohibits commercial flights at night.

In April, the city proposed increases to passenger and flight activity

at John Wayne as a compromise to avert broader airport expansion.

The city agreed to accept 1.4 million more passengers, 12 more daily

departures of the noisiest jets and the addition of four new passenger

gates.

City officials expect a preliminary version of an environmental report

on the project to be ready in two to three weeks.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the deal

early next year.

“We think the law gives us the right to extend that agreement, even

with some changes,” City Manager Homer Bludau said.

-- June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .