Government: Plan for New Agency on Governor’s Desk
A bill to create a regional airport authority to operate and possibly relocate Lindbergh Field has made its way to the governor’s desk, but one local agency is still fighting it.
The board of the San Diego Unified Port District, which currently operates the airport, said Assembly Bill 93, authored by state Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon, and Assemblyman Howard Wayne, D-San Diego, is not clear on certain things.
The board wants to know what real estate surrounding the airport will transfer to the new authority, who will get rental car surcharge fees and what will happen to employees who split their time between the airport and other Port District properties.
The board said those questions should have been answered before the bill was “rushed” through the Legislature.
“The bill is a work in progress with contradictory language,” said port Commissioner Paul Speer. “One man was able to convince the Legislature that it’s a good deal and said let’s rush it through. What’s the rationale? Why rush with so many questions?”
Art Castanares, Peace’s legislative director, said there is no uncertainty. Castanares pointed out chapters in the legislation that deal with the real estate, and employee issues.
He said the legislation was amended at the port’s request to specify the new authority will take only property related to the airport. Car rental operations and the General Dynamics land would remain under the port’s direction, he said.
He also said there is language in the bill that states no port employee will lose his or her job, seniority or benefits under the new authority.
“No one will know anything is different except that the decision-making is made by a different board,” Castanares said.
Ambiguous Language
Port commissioners, on the other hand, said it’s clear employees of the airport will be protected, but it’s not clear on what will happen to 572 of the port’s 790 employees who have split responsibilities.
“Part of the problem with the existing language is it’s ambiguous,” said port Executive Director Dennis Bouey. “We’re not sure who goes and who doesn’t.”
Castanares said although the bill could be signed by the governor with existing language, that doesn’t mean it would be complete. He said clean-up legislation could be drafted after it is signed to address any issues or clarify language.
Peace’s office admitted there is indeed a rush to get the legislation through. Because there was a countywide consensus the airport authority was needed, Castanares said they wanted to implement it. The urgency, he said, was because they didn’t receive the recommendation until Aug. 1 and the legislative session ended Sept. 14.
Meeting Deadlines
Had the bill not been on the governor’s desk at the end of the session, it would have been tabled for another year.
“It was important to get it done because there is a one-year transition period,” he said.
If signed by the governor, the airport authority would become effective Jan. 1, but it will not actually take over airport operations until Dec. 2.
“By waiting three months, we could have lost a year,” Castanares said.
The port commission also said there is some confusion as to what will happen to the airport master plan that is under way. A $1.5 million study was approved by the port and the San Diego Association of Governments to determine the future of Lindbergh Field.
At a recent meeting, the port’s executive board decided it was best to conduct that study as planned until there is definitive direction regarding the new authority. But port Commissioner Steve Cushman said beginning the study would be a waste of time and money.
“I have always felt that the 33rd airport study was a waste of taxpayer money,” Cushman said. “I don’t believe anything will come out it that has not already come out.
“We should stop it because now we (could) have a new authority and they will want their own study anyway.”
Sandag’s executive committee voted along the same lines as Cushman. The committee will recommend that the full board, which will meet Sept. 28, not begin the study.
“Because of AB-93, airport planning will be turned over to the new authority,” said Mike Hix, a Sandag senior transportation planner. “It seemed to make more sense to have the agency that will be making the decisions involved from the very front-end of the study.”
Hix said Sandag has signed a contract with a consultant to conduct the study, but has not given them notice to proceed. The study, which would have been completed next fall, is one of 28 Sandag has conducted regarding the airport.
