FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2015
Plans for Advancing Dana Point Harbor Revitalization
The Board of Supervisors will soon consider implementation of the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, which entails the County’s initiation of infrastructure improvements while concurrently soliciting for a public-private partnership to support the successful redevelopment of Dana Point Harbor, Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett announced today.
A Request for Qualifications for a public-private partnership—known as a P3—is expected to be brought before the Board of Supervisors within the next four months. That process would be followed by a formal Request for Proposals from firms determined to be qualified for such a high-profile county project. OC Public Works has completed design of the initial phases of the project.
The proposed P3 partnership as envisioned would be in the form of a master ground lease between the County and a developer, whereby the developer would develop, construct and operate certain improvements within the Harbor. The Board of Supervisors would have to approve the Request for Proposals and award to the prevailing bidder.
It is anticipated that all of the improvements constructed would be managed and operated by the developer for the duration of the lease. In addition to developing and operating the improvements, the developer would professionally administer leases, collect rents and be responsible for all costs associated with running its operations, while paying the County rent based on gross receipts pursuant to leases.
Developing a vision for the Dana Point Harbor has been a collaborative effort over the past 18 years. The plan is composed of two segments—landside improvements and waterside improvements. As the revitalization project continues to move forward, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett’s office and the OC Dana Point Harbor Department have ensured that community stakeholder update meetings will occur and to apprise the community in its entirety of the progress of the project.
In January 2015, the California Coastal Commission allowed the project to move forward.
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What a joke. This “plan” has been studiously mismanaged and corrupted for over ten years. The County has already spent well over $10,000,000 to the husband of a “Real Housewife of OC” on “management” and hasn’t put one brick on top of another.
Since the creation of the Dana Point Harbor in the early 70’s, the Harbor Park has been a mecca for use by all the citizens of Orange County. The Harbor Park at the west end of the harbor consists of Baby Beach, two adjacent parking lots and three Cape Cod buildings on a mole surrounded by docks. Hundreds of persons daily use the Harbor Park campus to have access to swim, kayak, stand up paddle board, paddle outriggers and sail. Instructional programs in maritime skills are provided by the Mariner Sea Scouts, Saddleback College, the Outrigger Club, Westwind Sailing, JSerra Sailing, and Dana Hills High School. The rooms of the of the Orange County Sailing and Events Center are continuously in use by numerous community groups, as well as hosting weddings and community celebrations.
A few years ago the administration of the Harbor Park was removed from the County Beaches, Harbors and Parks department and placed under the newly created Harbor Department. Now it appears that the Dana Point Harbor Department is proposing to privatize the buildings in the park for commercial use. If this is allowed to happen, the park would be destroyed and the people of Orange County would lose a valuable access to the use of the harbor.
Please sign our online petition to Save Harbor Park for youth and community groups and preserve community access: http://chn.ge/1RNinSo
Please write today to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and tell them to keep the Harbor Park available for Sea Scouts, Saddleback College, the Outrigger Club, Westwind Sailing, JSerra Sailing, Dana Hills High School and other community groups.
Office of Supervisor Andrew Do
Orange County Board of Supervisors, First District
333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-834-3110
Email: First.District@ocgov.com
Office of Supervisor Michelle Steel
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Second District
10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-834-3220
Email: Michelle.Steel@ocgov.com
Office of Chairman Todd Spitzer
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Third District
333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-834-3330
Email: Todd.Spitzer@ocgov.com
Office of Supervisor Shawn Nelson
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fourth District
333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-834-3440
Email: Audra.Fishel@ocgov.com
Office of Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fifth District
333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-834-3550
Email: Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com
County of Orange COO
Office of COO Mark Denny
c/o Hall of Administration
333 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Mark.Denny@ocgov.com
714-834-3028
City of Dana Point Mayor
Mayor Carlos Olvera
c/o City of Dana Point
33282 Golden Lantern
Dana Point, CA 9269
Colvera@danapt.org
Thank you!
BTW, that “P#” is nothing more than a shakedown of future campaign contributors.