Fight to Control Ontario Airport May Gain Murrieta's Support

Updated June 19:

Murrieta city council voted 3-0, with two members absent, to approve a resolution in support of Ontario. There was no discussion on the item.

ORIGINAL POST:

The city of Murrieta is set to decide whether it will throw its support behind neighboring Ontario in its quest to gain local control of Ontario International Airport.

Murrieta City Council will vote on a resolution in support of the city of Ontario's effort during its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

This comes after Murrieta City Councilwoman Kelly Bennett said she met with the Ontario city manager, Chris Hughes.

"We have had some concerns because Ontario is reaching out to jurisdictions in in Riverside County to seek support," Bennett said, during a June 5 council meeting. "I think a lot of our concerns were put to rest after speaking with Mr. Hughes."

About 49 miles from Murrieta, the LA/Ontario International Airport has been owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports under a joint powers agreement signed in 1967. LAWA operates Los Angeles International, ONT and Van Nuys.

The city of Ontario is leading an effort that calls for a joint powers authority among Inland Empire cities that would control the airport.

Murrieta is the last city in western Riverside County to decide whether it supports Ontario's effort, according to city of Murrieta Senior Management Analyst Brian Ambrose.

In February, neighboring Lake Elsinore became the only city so far not to support Ontario when it voted 3-2 against it.

Ontario alleges the airport is struggling, and would benefit from local control.

Traffic at ONT has decreased by one third since 2007—from 7.2 million passengers to 4.4 million, Ambrose wrote in a report prepared for city council.

"Along with a drop in passengers, ONT has also seen a drop in airline flights through the airport," Ambrose wrote. "This causes residents to look for alternative flight options in San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles."

"The justification is that local control will likely bring a higher priority focus leader to greater passengers, which will affect the entire Inland Empire region."