Mittermeier Agrees to Briefings on Airport

SANTA ANA — Stung by criticism for refusing to give a supervisor information, County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier said Friday that she will begin regularly briefing the Board of Supervisors about plans to build a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Mittermeier said she believes issuing the reports every two weeks during regular board meetings will provide supervisors as well as the public with more data about the controversial plans and blunt charges that the county is being secretive about its work.

Her announcement comes a week after Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson said he wanted to have El Toro planners report directly to the board instead of to Mittermeier. His call came after she refused to provide him with information about airport-related lobbying trips to Washington.

Wilson and Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who both oppose an airport at El Toro, also called for a closed-session meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action against Mittermeier.

The CEO said Friday that she hopes her briefings will address their concerns.

“What I understand their underlying need to be is for complete and accurate information about the project so that they can make the decisions they need to make,” Mittermeier said. “I think this is best accomplished with a comprehensive report in a public forum in which the entire board can be involved.”

Mittermeier said her first briefing will be at Tuesday’s board meeting. She said she plans to provide an update on the planning process and field questions from board members. “I think it’s an open forum for the board to ask questions,” she added.

Supervisors reacted positively to the plan, but Wilson said he still intends to schedule a personnel meeting Dec. 2 to discuss Mittermeier’s performance.

“I certainly think this is a step in the right direction,” Wilson said, noting that he had earlier suggested that the CEO hold monthly El Toro briefings. “It’s more than I asked for, and I think it’s a positive move.”

Although Spitzer and Wilson have criticized Mittermeier, the other three supervisors, who support the airport plan, have come to her defense and suggested that Wilson’s request for the travel information amounted to micro-managing.

Supervisor Charles V. Smith said he hoped the new briefings would provide the public with more airport information and deflect some of the barbs aimed at Mittermeier.

“I think this addresses some of the concerns. This takes wind out of [critics’] sails,” Smith said. “She is being open and providing information to the public.”

The Tuesday board meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Administration, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana.