Base’s Recreation Programs Get Reprieve as Talks Proceed

The child-care center, horse stables, golf course and other recreation programs at the former El Toro Marine base slated for closing July 1 will get at least a two-month reprieve to give local, state and county officials time to cement a long-term operating agreement.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Smith announced Tuesday that Navy officials have decided not to close the base July 1 as threatened, when current contracts end.

The extra time gives the county breathing room to obtain approval from a critical state panel to transfer police power over the base from federal marshals to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The transfer must occur before the Navy will allow full use of the base.

“I think we’re very close on a settlement,” Smith said. “We’re now in an excellent position.”

The State Lands Commission will meet June 27 in Los Angeles, where it is expected to approve the transfer--a normally routine action that has held up a long-term lease for the base for more than a year. Last week, anti-airport forces dropped their opposition after officials pledged there would be no flights at El Toro before the property is given to the county.

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Supervisor Todd Spitzer said Navy officials gave the county a “drop-dead date” for closing the base to break the stalemate over the transfer.

“I think we’re going to have a happy ending,” he said.

The recreation programs were opened to the public a year ago in the hope that they would make enough money to help pay for the costs of keeping the base open. However, the programs lost money and Navy officials have been unwilling to continue subsidizing them.

Supervisors recently pledged $1.8 million to keep the programs afloat, with the hope of making them more profitable.

However, some airport foes said they will continue to fight the police powers transfer. They said the county and state must be satisfied that the Navy will clean up all of the toxic substances at the former Marine base before allowing more uses there.

Meanwhile, horse owners were anxious to get the issue of a long-term lease resolved so at least 150 horses at the base stables won’t be displaced. Chris Martin of Lake Forest said many horse owners have had to pay nonrefundable deposits to keep spaces available at other stables in case the base is closed.