Fairgrounds Deadline Passed - Now What?

NO BILL PASSED TODAY
Today, August 31, 2010, was the deadline for the legislation necessary to complete the sale of the Orange County Fair and Event Center to be passed. That did not happen.

BUDGET NOW THE ONLY HOPE
Now the only chance that is left to the advocates of the sale of the Fairgrounds to the City of Costa Mesa via it's Joint Powers Authority, the Orange County Fairgrounds Authority, is for a bill to either be passed with a budget bill or as a trailer to such bill. Neither seems likely at this time. You can read the Orange County Register story on this issue HERE.

TIRELESS WORKERS
As a Costa Mesa resident I've ridden this issue like a roller coaster, through the infrequent highs and the all-too-frequent lows. I've seen the city negotiators, led by City Manager Allan Roeder and City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow, work tirelessly to meet the unreasonable goals established by the state.

CHANGING PARTNERS, SUFFERING ABUSE
I've seen them have to change horses in the middle of the stream, abandoning American Fairs and Festivals as a potential partner and leap aboard Facilities Management West, hoping to cobble together a deal that would save the Fairgrounds. Based on many reports, this was a painful process, with many acrimonious encounters between the negotiators. We got a little taste of that when Mayor Allan Mansoor - not one part of the negotiating team - was read the riot act by FMW CEO Ken Fait during a City Council meeting. That outburst raised many an eyebrow among observers and may have shaken confidence in the process. It made FMW seem like bullies.

FAIRGROUNDS BACK ON THE BLOCK
If the legislature does not pass a bill to facilitate the current sale, then the State Department of General Services promises to immediately put the Fairgrounds back on the market, with a minimum bid of $96 million - the amount that the City has bid. In fact, perhaps in anticipation of the sale failing, they've already issued the Request for Proposals. This time there will be no auction, though. Nope, the bids will be opened on September 30th and the State hopes to consummate a deal by year's end.

WHAT ABOUT MEASURE "C"
There is also apprehension that the State may try to exempt a potential buyer from local zoning and other regulations - specifically Measure C, which was passed in June to lock in the current uses of the Fairgrounds. If that happens, well, the image I chose says it all.

WHAT ABOUT THE FAIRGROUNDS NOW?
Speculation runs rampant about the future of that 150 acres of prime urban real estate. There are more than a few that think the 32nd District Agricultural Association - the appointed body charged with operating the Fairgrounds and running the Fair - may jump ship to the Great Park in Irvine if the current deal falls through. That venue, which is bleeding money, needs a reason for existing since the housing market is prohibiting the nearly-bankrupt Lennar Corporation from doing its planned development. It would be possible to carve out a couple hundred acres at that site for the Fair and ancillary events fairly easily.

WAITING...
So, we continue to sit and hope. We hope the folks in Sacramento find a way to get past whatever issues are keeping them from approving legislation. With each passing day the chances get less and less likely...