Community Location The Imperial Beach Naval Air Station is located approximately 20 miles south of San Diego and 15 miles south of the North Island NAS, where the Imperial Beach activities will be relocated. The 1970 Census shows a population of 20, 244 in the City of Imperial Beach. DoD Impact The Naval Helicopter Squadrons and associated support elements, with 3,013 military positions and 48 civilian positions, will be relocated to the Naval Air Station, North Island, approximately 15 miles north, and the Station closed by January 1975. In addition, support elements, with 32 military and 45 civilian positions, will be relocated to the Miramar Air Station approximately 20 miles north of Imperial Beach. A total of 214 military positions and 33 civilian positions will be reduced. The Naval Air Reserve Helicopter units will also be relocated to the NAS, North Island. The Air Station will be retained for Naval aviation training. EAC Involvement Congressman Van Devilin has requested assistance from the Economic Adjustment Committee. However, the transfer of activities from Imperial Beach to North Island is not scheduled for approximately one year. Therefore, the Committee has been only slightly involved to date, but further assistance will be provided when the need arises. EAC Program None. Disposition of DoD Property The Navy intends to retain the property for aviation training purposes. Assessment The relocation of Naval activities in the Imperial Beach area is estimated to have minimal impact on the local economy. Since the military and civilian po sition transfer are within 15 miles of Imperial Beach, It will not be necessary for personnel to move their residence. This will minimize the effect on small businesses, commerce, housing and education. Furthermore, the impact will be offset by the increased Naval activities in the San Diego area. Adversely affected personnel at Imperial Beach will have employment opportunities available to them at Navy installations in San Diego, which is approximately 20 miles away. The cutbacks at the Air Station will not begin for approximately one year. They are currently operating above their normal work level. By December of 1974, all personnel will have been transferred to North Island. In view of the projected transfer schedule, this community will not require immediate or major assistance from the Economic Adjustment Committee. Current Status The Assistant Director for the West Coast Region of OEA remains in contact with Imperial Beach representatives to provide assistance when the transfer begins. Community Location The Long Beach Naval Complex is situated on Terminal Island in the Long Beach Harbor, which is located at the southern end of Los Angeles County, California. DoD Impact Realignments in the Naval Complex result in the reduction and relocation (to San Diego) of 17, 274 military positions (16,616 of which are assigned to 47 ships presently home ported in Long Beach) and a net increase of 260 civilian jobs. EAC Involvement A reconnaissance visit was made to Long Beach on June 14-16, 1973 to discuss the impact with the mayor and other public officials and to gather information for review and analysis. A reconnaissance report outlining preliminary Federal and local actions for meeting the impact will be prepared prior to the full EAC visit scheduled for July 31, 1973. EAC Program Since the reconnaissance visit, meetings have been held with the mayor and his staff to review city proposals for economic development that could alleviate the loss of retail sales and taxes. These proposals require Federal support. Three proposals submitted to the EAC include the following: Creation of a 350-acre industrial park in the city adjacent to the port area; O Assistance on HUD-financed housing project in the Neighborhood Possible financial assistance on a multi-use community facilities center. Once the full EAC visit is made and an overall development strategy spelled out, the aforementioned projects can be assessed from the standpoint of job generation, costs and community objectives. The city has organized a broadly representative Economic Impact Committee to deal with the situation. Disposition of the Property The Navy has submitted two disposal reports to the Congress which provide for the transfer of 30. 84 acres to the Army (outside Long Beach) and the excessing of 118.58 acres of the 149. 42 acres of excess land at the Long Beach family housing area. Additionally, a disposal report on the 46. 6 acres with improvement on the Torrance Annex was forwarded to the Armed Services Committees on the same day. Assuming no objection by the Congress to the reports, the excess land and buildings will be reported to GSA for disposal in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended. Assessment The economy of Long Beach and environs has surged forward vigorously following the decline from aerospace cutbacks between 1969 and 1972. The area job market is large enough to absorb civilians who have lost their jobs due to the current realignment. The city's tax base, its retail firms and supply and maintenance contractors will feel the loss of payrolls. Special aid to education also will be lost. However, growth of the local economy should readily offset these problems. Considering its recreational assets, the city of Long Beach might recapture its retail sales through an expanded tourism promotion program. Current Status A full EAC visit will be scheduled soon to focus on specific problems, ways in which Federal assistance can be utilized, and specific recommendations for the city to overcome initial impacts. Community Location Hamilton Air Force Base is located twenty-four miles northeast of San Francisco. The airfield is at the edge of San Francisco Bay on the east side of the Coast Range Mountains, seven miles northeast of San Rafael and four miles southeast of the city of Novato (Marin County. DoD Impact The current realignments at the base will result in the transfer of 996 military and 108 civilian positions to nearby Merced/Sacramento communities. A total of 990 military and 453 civilian positions will be reduced in addition to the above relocations. EAC Involvement The initial visit by EAC representatives was performed on April 25, 1973. Since a request for assistance was not received from the community, this visit involved the military sector only. On May 22, 1973, a formal request for assistance was received from Congressman Mailliard's office. Mr. Charles Ellington, West Coast Coordinator, Office of Economic Adjustment, has performed five assistance visits to the base and the city/county through June 30, 1973. EAC Program The State of California has established a task force, under the Department of Commerce, to deal with base realignment problems throughout the State. City of Novato officials and the Marin County Board of Supervisors are organized and prepared to address any opportunities arising from the excessing of Hamilton AFB real estate and facilities. Both the City and County have qualified planning commissions equipped with Master Plans for city/county development. These plans |