By Barbara Venezia
The Orange County Register
Newport Beach has been scrambling for a Plan B since Costa Mesa asked for a divorce from the ABLE police helicopter program they’ve shared for decades. As of July 1, ABLE ends, with assets sold and proceeds distributed among both cities.
In the last few months, the discussion in Newport has moved from: “Is helicopter support necessary?” to “How can we save this program or create one like it?”
International entrepreneur and Newport resident Peter Adderton organized a group of what he calls “influential businessmen in the community” to come up with a public-private partnership model to save ABLE. He’s been talking with ABLE Cmdr. Tim Starn, Newport Beach Police Chief Jay Johnson, Newport City Manager Dave Kiff and council members - and all seemed positive.
So on Tuesday, Adderton publicly asked the Costa Mesa City Council for eight to 10 weeks to let Newport continue running the program and for the loan of two Costa Mesa police pilots in exchange for continued helicopter service until things get sorted. He asked that his proposal be placed on the next council agenda.
I asked Costa Mesa Councilman Jim Righeimer the day after the meeting, “Would it be on the next agenda?”
“No,” he said. “I’ve talked to Peter several times, but I’ve yet to see a proposal. He’s a really nice guy - the kind of guy we’d like to work with - but he needs to bring us a formal proposal, something both city managers can look at and give recommendations. Then we can talk about it.”
Righeimer added: “Listen, Costa Mesa residents are going to have uninterrupted helicopter service. We’re talking with Huntington Beach and the county to see how we can buy the services we need.”
As for Adderton’s reaction, let’s just say he wasn’t too pleased. “I can’t just walk in and put together a proposal. That’s not how it works, and Jim should know this. Newport has to issue a request for proposal. ... I was just asking for time and pilots until they can do that,” he said.
Newport would have to issue a request for proposal with such parameters as purchase of the helicopters and all of the related equipment, assuming the hangar lease and possibly requiring a fixed cost for either a lease back of equipment or purchase of patrol time.
“If Huntington Beach can supply air support for $700 an hour, then why aren’t both cities already doing that with ABLE?” Adderton asked. “Because it’s impossible.”
I called the Huntington Beach city manager’s office, and they say they can.
Costa Mesa Councilwoman Wendy Leece had no idea her city was even talking to Huntington Beach or the county about helicopter services until she heard it at the meeting.
“All this is being done behind closed doors,” she said.
Leece told me the only thing she knew about saving ABLE was what she’d read in my columns and others. “I’ve never spoken with Peter. Never saw him until he came to the council meeting,” she said.
Shockingly, there seems to be confusion and lack of communication among Costa Mesa council members! Divorcing from ABLE isn’t simple. There are contracts, insurance and employee entanglements.
Newport Police Chief Johnson says that Costa Mesa’s police chief came to the ABLE board meeting Thursday and proposed asking his City Council to extend ABLE until October. Costs would come out of ABLE’s reserves.
It’ll be interesting. I’ve never known anyone who’s remarried an ex- and ended up happy.
Copyright 2011 Orange County Register