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Monday, April 10 , 2017
  
 
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Balancing Boater Interests With Visitor Serving Uses

A very interesting article in this weekend's edition of The Log regarding the difficult task of balancing of our recreational boating needs versus the interests of commercial development. Click here to read the full article. This article discusses the day-to-day problems we boaters face when any recreational boat harbor is excessively re-purposed from boating to land uses that generate tax revenue.

The case study in the article was Los Alamitos but the very same issues apply here in Dana Point, as a private developer is now being sought to fund harbor redevelopment, in return for a 50-year master lease on most harbor assets. Click here to see map of what's to be included in Dana Point.



The picture above (from The Log article) is just a mock-up but it tells the story of what the first major risk is to our wonderful recreational boating experience, as we now know it here in beautiful Dana Point Harbor - replacing many boats with a few pieces of "eye candy". Those 6 boats shown in the mock-up would consume the space for at least 36 boats of 32-foot average length. Arguably many more boats than that when also considering the extra space needed for navigation.

However, given there are still are a wide range of slip sizes in our harbor after redevelopment, including most of today's 1800+ slips under 30 feet, what will our monthly slip rates turn out to be? By the terms of the Dana Point Tidelands Trust, the harbor must break even and no funds may leave the harbor's "account" except to pay expenses and taxes. The account we're referring to is County of Orange Fund 108 which is entirely separate from The County's General Fund. The notable exception being harbor Sales, Real Estate, Personal Property and PIT taxes which go directly to the General Fund. That said, the developer won't operate at breakeven. Far from it, as the developer must put a several-hundred-million-dollar investment at risk, just to secure the master lease contract.

OK then, say we still have our slips and dry storage, and we can still can afford our rents. Great! The Log article discusses a third very real concern. Will we still be able to conveniently access and actually enjoy our boats? This is something the boaters of Dana Point have been concerned about ever since participating in the task group which defined "  The 12 Guiding Principles" back in 1997-98 when redevelopment first became a hot topic.

Today and going forward, all the reasons above are precisely why boaters need the Dana Point Boaters Association!

DPBA is heavily involved with most every harbor stakeholder decision, aggressively representing recreational boaters of all types, from SUPs on up. Dry storage and day-use boaters as well as slip tenants. We are nonprofit of course, a California 501C(4) corporation. Our leadership receives no compensation of any kind. Our expenses almost exclusively involve maintaining lines of communication with our fellow stakeholders and supporters.

So why not do your part too, be a donor, and give us a hand? It doesn't take much and you can have confidence that you are making a difference. 
 
Also, please contact us if you have any comments or if we can answer any questions by clicking here to submit them through our Boater Liaison Program.
 
Rodger Beard
President, for the Board of Directors of
Dana Point Boater Association

From BoatUS Press Room
BoatUS Consumer ALERT! 
April 6th, 2017

Official - Looking Vessel Documentation Renewal Notices Can Lead to Confusion and Higher Costs!

SUPP ORT YOUR DPBA  
Remember, to keep Dana Point Boaters voice strong, we need your support. 
Please know your Dana Point Boaters Association works tirelessly towards the advancement and protection of our precious Dana Point boating community.  As Revitalization decisions are now being made on the future of your harbor, do you want your comments and opinions heard?  Do you want a voice in the room to represent YOU?  If so, please help by making a donation to your Dana Point Boaters Association by clicking here!
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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.
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.
 
Dana Point Boaters Association
P.O. Box 461
Dana Point, CA  92629
http://www.danapointboaters.org
    
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.