Breaking News - County Releases RFP for OC Sailing and Events Center
As expected, yesterday the County of Orange issued their request for proposals (RFP) "seeking a qualified and experienced operator and lessee to provide management and operations for the OC Sailing and Events Center". If you haven't already, please read our previous newsletter for additional background on this project. You can read the RFP in full here, and the County's press release here.
 The biggest question (and controversy) while we all awaited the RFP was whether or not it would: 1) abide by the California Tidelands Trust requirements for our harbor's use and preserve the educational and recreational mission of the SEC, and 2) protect the beloved programs that presently operate out of the SEC. The answers are "yes" and "mostly yes".
As the County assured us before the RFP was released, it does indeed include specific language obligating all interested parties to operate the facility in compliance with the requirements of the Tidelands Grant. Additionally, and most notably, the RFP states unequivocally that the SEC must continue to offer "fully accessible water based programs, both educational and recreational, for youth and adults, and offered to the general public, including but not necessarily limited to youth camps, sailing lessons, low cost/scholarship programs (for example entities such as Sea Scouts), Human Powered Craft (HPC) instruction..." and "must include non-profit, water-based education that provides sailing, seamanship curriculum on a low cost/scholarship basis...."
Does the RFP specifically prescribe the protection of entities such as Sea Scouts, Westwind, and other organizations operating out the SEC? No, not exactly. We know from experience that the County won't go so far as to protect specific organizations within an RFP. It can't. But we were pleased, and somewhat surprised, by the specificity of the type of programs that must continue to be offered at the SEC, with Sea Scouts actually cited as an example. And with Sea Scouts, Westwind and others already well established at the SEC, with solid books of business and community support, any operator proposing to take over management of the SEC would be wise to - foolish not to - embrace these organizations in their proposals to the County. In the case of Sea Scouts, which already has its own fleet of boats docked in slips leased under a separate agreement with the County, it would be nearly impossible to replicate the program and abide by the terms of the RFP without adopting Sea Scouts as a partner. The point is, the RFP requires the new operator to provide programs identical to those already built in at the SEC; so the smart move is to embrace and support these existing programs.
However, one element not included in the RFP - one which we'd hoped to see - is cost protections for the non-profits that operate out of the SEC. Some of these organizations operate on very thin margins with all volunteer staff. Any increase in their fees to use the SEC could jeopardize the survival of these groups. Therefore, we are requesting the County amend the RFP to require interested parties to provide a fee schedule for non-profit users of the SEC that demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the affordability of usage fees for these groups.
Your Dana Point Boaters Association remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the future success of the Sailing and Events Center and the established programs that have proven their commitment to serving our Dana Point Harbor Community. Stay tuned for more information.
Respectfully,
James Lenthall
Vice-President
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Thank You
At the Dana Point Boaters Association, our mission is to advocate for the preservation, enhancement, and expansion of affordable recreational boating. We strive to improve the family-friendly atmosphere and breadth of water-oriented activities we all enjoy in our harbor. As Dana Point boater advocates, our strength comes from your support and participation. We are proud of the achievements we've made together on behalf of our boating community, and we won't give up. But we can't do it without you.
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Questions should be directed by email to (Officers). Or call us at (949) 485-5656 and leave a voice mail and we'll get back to you soon.
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Mission Statement:
The Dana Point Boaters Association advocates the preservation, enhancement, and expansion of affordable recreational boating resources. We work to improve the family friendly atmosphere and breadth of water-oriented actives we all enjoy in the harbor. We serve as the watchdog by ethically protecting the rights of all boaters and representing them when collective action is most effective. We actively gather information and communicate our views to educate boaters, external interests, and public officials. We build and maintain constructive, working relationships to achieve common goals with other harbor stakeholders. We will pass on our harbor to the next generation of recreational boaters in better condition than it is today.
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