By KATHERINE PETERSEN
Although it may not be soon enough to affect the issue of air cargo flights at Moffett Federal Airfield, the League of Women Voters plans to explore different alternatives for future uses of the facility.
Once the league has studied alternatives, it will take positions and will have input when Moffett-related issues come before the Sunnyvale City Council.
The future of Moffett is important to the communities down the line because of the various opportunities it presents as it redevelops, said Mary Vrable, a member of the Sunnyvale/Cupertino chapter of the league, which formed nearly 30 years ago.
"Hopefully, there would be something we could back the city on. We're worried about Moffett because NASA needs a new tenant to help out with operating costs," Vrable said.
The league hopes to complete its study and take positions by next spring, but is not concerned that it may miss having input on the air cargo flight issue because other alternatives, such as wetlands, housing or a museum, have been bandied about as uses for the nearly 2,200 acres of land, Vrable said.
She added that having air cargo flights at Moffett may be a viable alternative, at least for now, if it means NASA can stay.
"We've lived for years with the Navy's planes. If flights are not at 4 a.m., air cargo might be a viable alternative, but I don't think people realize how much acreage is out there," she said.
The Sunnyvale/Cupertino and Mountain View/Los Altos leagues, which are working together on the study, are organizing a tour in early fall of the Moffett complex that would be open to a limited number of people, Vrable said.
"The more people know about NASA and its programs and the more they have a feel for the facility, the more they can be informed down the line," said Cynthia Sievers, a member of the Mountain View/Los Altos League chapter.
Each member of the study group will choose an area to study and report back, Sievers said. The group will develop a presentation that will be presented to other members along with consensus questions that will evolve into positions the league will take.
"Then we take it on the road to meetings within the league. We will present materials and the consensus questions and the league members will decided if they support or oppose a particular point of view," Sievers said.
Once the league establishes a position, it will watch local government agendas for pertinent items, Sievers said.
"Then we can support or oppose an issue on behalf of the league," Sievers said.
Over the years, the league has developed credibility because it is deliberate with its studies, Sievers said.
Councilmember Pat Vorreiter, who was a charter member of the Sunnyvale/Cupertino chapter but is no longer involved with the organization, agreed. She added that she has respect for the depth in which the league studies issues.
"They're very thorough and very objective in looking at them, and I applaud any effort that they would do that could help the public understand and help to really explore the options that are reasonable," she said.
The public can become involved with the study by contacting the league at 736-4379.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 31, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.