Retlaw Index Van Nuys Airport pageMany residents are asking what can be done to STOP the runaway BOAC, from granting a long term lease to develop the RETLAW site.
Fortunately several Valley Council members have expressed great dissatisfaction with the efforts of the BOAC to steamroller the huge expansion under the wire before the next BOAC is in place.
HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS TO KNOW:
1. The Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) expired last year, and was not renewed by the City Council. This removed a major barrier from VNY Airport expansion.
2. The Master Plan process has been moving ahead very slowly. It has experienced delays and roadblocks.
3. The notices for the RFP that went out NEVER mentioned RETLAW! This is the common way that all parties referenced the large piece of undeveloped land just north of the Airtel. To fail to use the RETLAW reference is dishonest and provided a cover to keep the real nature of the project from the public.
HERE IS WHAT IS TRANSPIRING:
1. Councilwoman Laura Chick introduced a MOTION [Special 1] in Council, June 1st. The impact is to slow down BUT NOT STOP the 5.8 acre project.
2. Residents and officials are "outraged" and are writing letters and sending emails and faxes DEMANDING that this project be STOPPED!
3. A Special Meeting of the VNY Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) is being held to discuss this issue.
4. The BOAC meeting to SLAM THROUGH RETLAW is scheduled for June 26th.
THE FOLLOWING STRONGLY WORDED LETTER WAS SENT TO LYDIA KENNARD, GENERAL MANAGER OF LAWA BY THE LA CITY COUNCIL, DATED JUNE 5, 2001:
Lydia Kennard, General Manager Los Angeles World Airports #1 World Way Los Angeles, CA 90045 Dear Ms. Kennard:
As you know, on Friday, June 1, 2001 the City Council voted 10-0 asking the Board of Airport Commissioners to extend the comment period to 90 days for the "Retlaw" RFP.
The Council is outraged that LAWA is moving forward with this RFP before a final determination has been made on the Van Nuys Airport Master Plan. In addition, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) was not allowed to review or discuss this RFP before its release.
The City is at a critical juncture in deciding the future of the Van Nuys Airport. It is the belief of the Council that LAWA should be proceeding in a very cautious and consciences manner in dealing with projects at Van Nuys Airport. The fast track of this RFP does not give the Council confidence that all considerations are being taken into account by LAWA.
We strongly urge LAWA to extend the comment period for this RFP to 90 days and look forward to hearing from you personally on the airport's decision.
Sincerely, Councilmember Laura Chick, Mike Feuer, Cindy Miscikowski, Alex Padilla, Ruth Galanter, Joel Wachs, and Hal Bernson
Friday, June 1, 2001 Los Angeles Times
Miscikowski and Chick question speed with which Airport Commission will decide on property along Valjean Avenue.
By PATRICK MCGREEVY, ANDREW BLANKSTEIN, Times Staff Writers
With one month before Mayor Richard Riordan leaves office, his city Airport Commission has drawn protests from City Council members about plans for eleventh-hour approval of leases at Van Nuys Airport, some of which involve supporters of the mayor. The Airport Commission is set to decide three leases on its agenda on June 26, just days before Riordan leaves office June 30.
A citizens advisory council that normally reviews leases was not scheduled to hold its next regular meeting until July, but Coby King, chairman of the panel, said he decided late Thursday to call a special meeting this month to review the leases in response to concerns raised by members. King had questions about one proposed lease, for new aviation uses on 5.8 acres of vacant land next to the Airtel Plaza Hotel on Valjean Avenue. "The lease is a particular concern because it's a major parcel of prime undeveloped land at the airport next to the hotel, and there are concerns it will lead to a major expansion of jet operations and the process appears to be, if not rushed, substantially faster than may be prudent," King said.
Jerry Perenchio, a longtime supporter and confidant of Riordan's, has obtained documents necessary to bid. Perenchio declined comment through a spokeswoman. A second proposal would award, without competitive bidding, a hangar lease to a firm partly owned by former junk bond dealer and Riordan-backer Michael Milken.
The firm, MC Group, is a subtenant on the site. "Neither Mike nor anyone from MC Group has asked the mayor to intervene in any way," said Geoffrey Moore, a spokesman for Milken. "We have gone through the normal process and complied with all the city's rules and regulations."
Stacy Geere, an airport spokeswoman, said competitive bidding is not required when a current tenant is extending use of a site. She and Jessica Copen, of the mayor's office, denied that there is any attempt to fast-track projects for political purposes. "There was no special rush," Copen said. 'The mayor had nothing to do with it." The actions are consistent with the airport board's objective of efficiently using land, and no political motivations were involved, Geere said.
Councilwomen Cindy Miscikowski and Laura Chick, who both represent portions of Van Nuys, joined neighborhood leaders and business people Thursday in calling for delay on the 5.8-acre parcel on Valjean Avenue. "It is absolutely absurd, for several reasons, to remotely consider giving approval to new leases at Van Nuys Airport at this time," Chick said.
No action should be taken before a new mayor and council members take office in July, Chick said. In a city where many leases take months or years to be put out to bid and be awarded, the Airport Department sent out the request for bids for the Valjean property on May 7 and required that bids be submitted on June 4. Those who obtained documents and may compete for the lease include Perenchio and James Dunn, the president and CEO for Airtel Plaza Hotel.
The unusually rapid pace has drawn written protests from two potential bidders, the Airtel Plaza Hotel and Van Nuys Flight Center. Dunn demanded that the request for proposals be recalled, in part because it does not include protections for the adjacent hotel, and also because there is not enough time to prepare bids adequately.
Rick Voorhis, president of Van Nuys Flight Center Inc. objected that the minimum rents set by the bidding documents would effectively drive out piston aircraft businesses, as only jet businesses could afford to use the property. Copyright © 2001 Los Angeles Times
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