ONTARIO, Calif. - October 15, 2012 -- Preparing for negotiations with Los Angeles for control of Ontario International Airport (ONT), the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) met Monday for the first time to elect officers and begin planning for the initial operation and management of the airport.
 
The OIAA Commissioners elected Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner as President, San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt as Vice President and Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge as Secretary. Other members of the Authority are Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman and Orange County Business Council President and CEO Lucy Dunn.
 
The actions were taken under provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement establishing the OIAA in August 2012. Under terms of the Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino, two OIAA commissioners are from the Ontario City Council, one member is the San Bernardino County Supervisor representing the district in which ONT is located, and two are prominent community members from ONT's air service market.
 
The OIAA's first meeting came following the release of a report by Los Angeles City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana recommending Los Angeles negotiate for the transfer of ONT to the OIAA. That report and its recommendations were approved by the Los Angeles City Council Wednesday, October 10, 2012.
 
"We are pleased the Los Angeles City Council has approved the recommendations of City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana and we look forward to a meaningful and productive dialogue between the OIAA and Los Angeles," said Loveridge.
 
Calling Monday's meeting a "historic moment," Commissioner Bowman said he looked forward to working "with our colleagues throughout the region to return the Ontario International Airport to the jewel it once was and continue to shine that to the brilliancy that it can be."
 
Dunn said Monday's meeting marked "the first of many, many steps toward success and I'm looking forward to the big celebration in the not too distant future when Ontario Airport returns to the region to which it belongs."
 
Ovitt said it makes sense for the entire area to have its own airport.  "San Bernardino County is excited to be part of this process. I look forward to serving this community."
 
Said Wapner: "This is a momentous occasion for all of us. It is going to take a lot of work to bring the Ontario Airport back to regional prominence and we are all committed to that goal."
 
In other actions, the OIAA Commissioners:
• Appointed Ontario City Manager Chris Hughes as Interim Executive Director of the Authority. 
• Created a subcommittee consisting of Commissioners Bowman and Dunn to develop a preliminary business plan for the initial operation and management of ONT.
• Formed a subcommittee consisting of Vice President Ovitt and Commissioner Loveridge to develop bylaws, policies and procedures for the overall operations of the OIAA and procedural guidelines for the Commissioners.
• Received a staff report related to required filings with the Secretary of State, preparation of a Conflict of Interest Code and other filing requirements.
• Decided to meet on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting will be held on November 5, 2012.

About the OIAA
The City of Ontario and San Bernardino County formed the OIAA in August 2012 by enacting a Joint Powers Agreement. The OIAA will provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. Commissioners are Ontario City Council Members Alan D. Wapner (President) and Jim W. Bowman, San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt (Vice President), Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Secretary) and Orange County Business Council President and CEO Lucy Dunn.

For more information on Ontario's efforts to regain control of ONT, visit SetONTarioFree.com or Facebook/SetONTarioFree.