The Orange County Regional Airport Authority (OCRAA) is a joint powers authority comprised of Orange County cities who actively pursued a suitable site for a commercial airport in Orange County since 1974.  The City of Garden Grove became a Member of OCRAA on August 3, 1993.

The OCRAA had particular interest in the reuse of the former Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro.  The Joint Powers Agreement included a termination clause stating that, "The Authority shall terminate, and its assets be distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, upon the sale or other disposition of all interest of the Authority in El Toro."

On July 2, 1999, the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission officially closed Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro.  On February 16, 2005, the Lennar Corporation purchased the former MCAS El Toro property, which started the partnership between the City of Irvine, Lennar Corporation and the Federal Government in the creation of the Great Park.  Thus, the need and purposes for the OCRAA terminated on February 16, 2005, when the Lennar Corporation purchased MCAS El Toro from the United States Navy. Additionally, a board of directors has not been appointed, nor has the OCRAA membership met since 2005.

The OCRAA Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement section (k) Termination of Authority states, “The Authority shall terminate, and its assets be distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, upon; (a) the unanimous vote of its members; or (b) the sale or other disposition of all interest of the Authority in El Toro [and John Wayne]; or (c) the formation of an Airport District under the California Airport District Act, contained in California Public Utilities Code Section 22001, et seq., including the territories of all Members and all other cities and counties within the community impacted by the closure and re-use of El Toro, legally committed to the objectives and purposes of the Authority and governed by a Board of Directors elected at large throughout the District.  Because MCAS El Toro will no longer be used as an airport, the OCRAA should be declared terminated.

The City of Garden Grove last served as treasurer and as headquarters for the OCRAA.  The City has less than $4,000 left over in the OCRAA account, which will be used to defray the costs of winding down the OCRAA.

The attached Resolution formally terminates the City's membership in OCRAA and directs the City Manager, or his designee, to notify the last known members of the OCRAA to take all actions necessary to confirm their termination of their membership in the OCRAA and termination of the OCRAA.  The notice will report on the remaining funds deposited in the OCRAA account held by the City of Garden Grove.  The resolution further directs that the leftover funds be transferred to the City of Garden Grove’s General Fund to defray the cost of terminating and winding down the OCRAA. The termination will include notification to the Secretary of State.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Adopt the Resolution authorizing the termination of membership in the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, and the termination of the Authority, and the Joint Powers Agreement.