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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 - Airport Funding and GrantsFebruary 22, 1999 Agepda .Item # 15 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR February 22, 1999 TO: Council Members Jan Debay, Tom Thomson John Noyes and Tod Ridgeway FROM: Mayor Dennis D. O'Neil Council Members Norma Glover & Gary Adams RE: Airport Funding and Grants On January 30, 1999, the City Council discussed the role Newport Beach should play as we approach the end of the El Toro reuse planning process. We are recommending changes to our airport policy based on a number of factors that have combined to increase public awareness of, and support for, the proposed commercial airport at El Toro. First, Don Saltarelli, Lyle Overby, Barbara Foster, Hill & Knowlton and Peggy Ducey have done an outstanding job in expanding the support base for a commercial aviation reuse of El Toro. Largely through their efforts there are many pro - airport persons and organizations willing and able to play a major role in the reuse planning process. Second, airport opponents appear to be pursuing a course of action that will impact all of Orange County and the Southern California region. Finally, the County's selection of the "lean and green plan" and their effective (and objective) public information efforts have significantly increased awareness of, and support for, the proposed aviation reuse of El Toro. We are proposing a redirection of airport advocacy resources not a reduction in the level of support. In fact, the increase in the number and strength of broad -based pro - airport organizations may mean an increase in opportunities to participate in, and fund, pro - airport activity. However, we expect Newport Beach to be more of a participant in, than a leader of, this effort and this means sharing with others the decision on key issues such as the retention of professionals. Given the job they have done to date, we will strongly encourage our partners to consider retaining those with whom we have contracted. With this in mind, we are recommending the following: 1. That we provide Royce Communication with written notice of the City's intent to terminate the lease of the Task Force Office; 2. That we give written notice to the City's airport consultants of the City's intention to terminate direct contractual employment relations; 3. That the City Council consider, and in appropriate cases approve, proposals for funding submitted by the Alliance after review and evaluation by this subcommittee to determine, among other things, if the proposal is consistent with Resolution No. 99 -7 (Copy Attached); 4. That the City Council consider, and in appropriate cases approve, requests for funding by CJE, AWG or other pro - airport organizations upon submittal of a formal proposal accompanied by a plan and budget and after review and evaluation by this subcommittee; 5. That the City Manager: (a) authorize staff to continue to work with the Orange County Regional Airport Authority; and (b) submit to this subcommittee a summary of the anticipated costs associated with City support of OCRAA over the next twelve (12) months including salaries and benefits of staff; 6. That the City Council delegate to this subcommittee the responsibility for continuing review of ongoing airport related issues and expenditures and report to the City Council on the status of pending airport matters on a regular basis. � ,- S,6.� Dennis D. O'Neil Mayor of Newport Beach Norma Glover Newport Beach Councilmember Gao Adams Newport Beach Councilmember RESOLUTION NO, 99- 7 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH JOINING THE EL TORO AIRPORT ALLIANCE AND DESIGNATING THE MAYOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is one of many public and private entities that support a commercial aviation reuse of El Toro MCAS; WHEREAS, the El Toro Airport Alliance (Alliance) is a coalition of public and private entities representing a broad cross section of Orange County residents, businesses and interest groups that each support a commercial airport at El Toro; WHEREAS, the primary purpose of the Alliance is to disseminate accurate information about the benefits of an El Toro airport and to ensure, through collective participation in the reuse planning process, development of a two airport system that will sustain our economy and maintain the quality of life for all Orange County residents; WHEREAS, the Newport Beach City Council expects the Alliance to focus on recruiting members that have not yet played an active role in the reuse planning process; F: \CA7V ESOLUTTaII;=ccreso0 ?0899 -1- WHEREAS, the Newport Beach City Council expects the Alliance to focus on activities that complement, rather than conflict with or supplant, the efforts of other pro- airport groups and coalitions; WHEREAS, the Newport Beach City Council is willing to support Alliance activities through monetary and in -kind contributions with the expectation that other Alliance members will make the same commitments; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves: 1. That the City of Newport shall become a member of the El Toro Airport Alliance; 2. That the Mayor of Newport Beach is designated as a member of the Board of Directors of the El Toro Airport Alliance; ADOPTED this 8th day of February , 1998. Dated: a -Y '2 9 0 ATT�E7T p *J"4EIII, LaVonne Harkless, City Clerk �RN1H F: \CATRESOL:17all i=ccreso020899 -2- CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, Dennis D. O'Neil, Mayor STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH } I, LAVONNE M. HARKLESS, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; that the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 99 -7, was duly and regularly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council, duly and regularly held on the Sth day of February, 1999, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit: Ayes: Adams, Glover, Thomson, Ridgeway, Noyes, Mayor O'Neil Noes: None Absent: Debav Abstain: one D, WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said City this 9c" day of February, 1999. (Seal) City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California ' ?J CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER DATE: August 24, 1998 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Peggy Ducey, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: Award of Contract for Strategic Communications for the Aviation Reuse of El Toro MCAS to Hill & Knowlton and Fleishman Hillard The Council has allocated $859,000 for FY 98/99 for costs related to the conversion of El Toro MCAS to a commercial aviation reuse. A portion of these funds was designated for public information and outreach activities. Three firms, Hill & Knowlton, Fleishman Hillard, and Winner/Wagner, submitted written proposals. A panel consisting of public relations professionals, business leaders, and city representatives interviewed all three firms to assess their qualifications. Each firm had strengths in different areas, and as such, it is recommended that the City retain two of the three firms to provide different aspects of the strategic communications program. Fleishman Hillard proposed the strongest media team. Previous polls indicate that many Orange County residents obtain a significant portion of their information on El Toro through the media, and any active strategic communications program would be ill conceived without a strong media relations component. The Fleishman- Hillard team includes former journalists and reporters from major newspapers and radio. As the media consulting team, their attention will focus in the following areas: ♦ To frame the El Toro airport issue that accurately portrays the economic vision it provides for the future of Orange County; ♦ To develop and manage the pro - airport message in all levels of print and electronic media; ♦ To communicate key messages and milestones to the press on a daily basis to clarify and strengthen the airport vision; ♦ To provide a "quick response" process to refute misinformation as they occur in the media. Hill & Knowlton will be responsible for the strategic community outreach program. This will include developing collateral materials such as brochures, video presentations, and newsletters that will accurately inform the general public about the reuse of El Toro as a commercial airport. Hill & Knowlton will also be responsible for assisting in the community grass roots efforts that will ultimately mobilize an effective force of airport advocates that will influence the public debate on this critical issue. Hill & Knowlton will responsible for the following deliverables: ♦ Prepare a video that accurately describes the need and benefits of Orange County Airport/El Toro; ♦ Develop written and other informational materials distributed through direct mail, earned media, and other communications tools to better inform the general public; ♦ Build and solidify a base of volunteer support within the County to participate in meetings, events and other activities; Staff is in the process of formalizing a broad -based coalition that would work together toward the goal of providing accurate information about an aviation reuse at El Toro. This coalition would also provide funding in support of the strategic communications program. In anticipation of this Coalition, it is recommended that the Newport Beach City Council only award contract to these two firms for three months. This would permit staff to continue to work towards formalizing the coalition, as well as develop a long -term strategic plan. The total amount for each contract is as follows: Hill & Knowlton $100,000 Fleishman- Hillard $75,000 These contracts would be paid out of currently budgeted airport funds. No new appropriations would be necessary. RECOMMENDATION Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Hill & Knowlton and Fleishman Hillard.