L.A.X. - Not The NBC Drama - Stars Councilwoman Miscikowski

Councilwoman, NBC is launching a new next season called "LAX." But the city of Los Angeles has been engaged in its own LAX drama for more than a decade around the modernization and expansion. If you were writing the TV treatment for the first LAX program, what would be the show's theme?

Since the 1980s, we have known that LAX must plan for its future and modernize much of its facilities. We have seen a lot of iterations of what that plan could be, from a very grand scheme to something that is perhaps more focused. Obviously, in the course of that planning, 9/11 happened. As a result, whatever plans might have been looked at in the past had to be seriously reviewed, and perhaps restructured entirely. Despite all of this planning, including plans literally on paper since the mid-90s, we have not yet decided anything.

On May 24th, when the Commissions have their first hearing on the issue, the script finally opens on the beginning of the decision process. We have had a plan that the mayor and his administration have very strongly espoused, which they believe encompasses a lot of the issues that need to be addressed-a limit on annual passengers, state-of-the-art security, and enhanced convenience and operations. All of these challenges must be met in the plan we eventually approve.

Some of the players in the real LAX drama have been removed or changed roles in the last few months. What, if any, impact does such reshuffling have for the city's ability to find a script that works for all of the airport stakeholders involved?

It just means that you have a lot of people in the room helping to decide what that script should look like. In the past, the script was essentially being promulgated internally-without being shared with other players in the cast. In some ways it is like a script in Hollywood, in that it might show up on a director's door and he says, "this doesn't work-the concept is there, but the details just aren't working. Let's bring in some new writers." That's what I would call myself here-a script doctor.

The essence of the master plan being considered is valid. Generally, there is a consensus on which components of the master plan can be implemented quickly. There are other elements of the master plan for which we may pursue a little more analysis while those first projects are being built. So, the kind of editing that I'm doing with the specific plan will help us decide what components of the master plan we want to study a little more after the first projects roll out and are on line.

Elaborate more on your efforts to have the council adopt a specific plan to give priority and predictability to the master plan for modernization of LAX.

Let's back up and be clear about the definitions of the terms "master plan" and "specific plan." A master plan is a global idea of where we want to be. A specific plan is the path we take to get there. And, along that path there may be different options to be taken. A specific plan, from the development world, is a very clear concept – it is the entitlement document. It details what you are allowed to do and what you have to accomplish before you take the next step. What are the triggers? What is the phasing? We use it quite commonly in the development world for very large entitlements, and for development centers such as downtown, Warner Center, and Century City.

We've also used the specific plan as a development document to create tighter controls in areas for commercial streetscape design. For example, if there is a master plan scheme and a developer only is entitled to one element initially, we'll review the projects and make sure that we've met the goals as set forth in this initial phase before the we go forward with the next phase.

What added value does adopting such a specific plan have?

The specific plan takes a large, global, if not nebulous concept, and translates it into a day-to-day reality; who is involved in the step-by-step decisions, what the real projects will be, and what the real checks and balances would be. I liken this to sort of a green light and yellow light. There are some specific ideas in the LAX master plan that all of the various stakeholders agree need to be done. Those may have been called the consensus plan. Those are the green light projects.

There are other projects that may need to be studied further before going forward. This may be to determine whether or not the first phase of the green light projects are working and what advancements have been made since these projects were approved. Particularly in the area of security, there is a lot being done at other airports throughout the country and internationally. There needs to be an ongoing study, which my specific plan mandates, to determine what steps are necessary and prudent at each point in the process. The specific plan is the road map by which the city and the other stakeholders must follow. And, measuring the progress of development against the specific plan will determine how we are doing to make sure that the underpinnings of the plan, established in the master plan, have held firm.

Share with our readers what the timeline for decision making is likely to be re LAX.

Obviously, they ought to be watching the specific plan. As I've told many to whom I've given my alternate version of the specific plan, if this doesn't encompass what you think is important, tell me what you think should be in it. Because one way or another, we need a specific plan that will accompany any master plan. We need to know what the road map would be, should be, what and how we will proceed. So, I think looking at what should be in there is an important step.

We have a public hearing scheduled on May 24th. The Airport Commission and the Planning Commission then will hear the plan by the end of June, resulting in a possible decision date. The plan should come through the City Council in late summer/early fall, with a decision by the Council in early fall. That's a timeline that has been set forth by the mayor's office and LAWA. Whether or not that timeline will be met, whether or not there will be some lag in it, remains to be seen. LAX is not only coming front and center as a TV drama these days, but it's a real time drama on the political scene and landscape of L.A.

It's rather important to note that this modernization plan has been a long time coming, and most people feel that there should be a drawing to a close and some conclusion. Some are saying we should look at a different master plan and put a new environmental document out there. If that view prevails, then we will slow down this drama and it will be another year or longer before we are back at a point of looking at potential decisions. We are on the cusp of making that decision as to whether or not we will have a master plan by the end of this year.

Final question. You're now a veteran Los Angeles Councilmember, having been involved with city government for more than two decades. In our term-limited world, will your successors, without like tenure, be equally able to cope with similar infrastructure and planning challenges?

I came into this issue not having represented this area, and I got up to speed. I had been familiar with some of the earlier concepts that first sprung up during the Riordan administration. So, people can roll up their sleeves and figure it out and learn. There are an awful lot of others involved in the issue who have been around for a long time. Clearly, the community doesn't change. The stakeholder airline interest doesn't change. The airport concessionaires generally don't change. So, there are enough people to tap into to learn what one needs to learn.

Some have said, "Gee Cindy, you might have a good idea now, but you're not going to be here in a year and a half. What then? Somebody else could come in and change things." The benefit of a specific plan is that it is not a document that, once adopted, changes easily. It is a law and only can be amended with a new environmental analysis, ultimately many hearings, and a vote of the City Council and the signature of the mayor. Changing a specific plan takes an extensive amount of time and resources. So, adopting a specific plan creates a permanent framework and guide, not just a policy that the next person can come in and change. It is binding, and a proven way to establish a road map for the future, regardless of who is on the Council.