"DANA POINT HARBOR ADVISORY BOARD"

DPHAB UPDATE !
If you are not caught up on this topic, please see our previous newsletters HERE and HERE. After a few logistical delays, mostly due to scheduling challenges, we are underway again with our harbor partners on establishing the Dana Point Harbor Advisory Board (DPHAB). We have received many excellent applications from exceedingly qualified candidates from each of the harbor stakeholder groups that will be represented on this new harbor oversight committee. We imagine it's going to be tremendously difficult to narrow this fine pool of candidates down to the final nine members. But that's exactly what will take place in early January when the selection committee meets to begin this process. Once these nine community representatives and two ex-officio members are selected, an introductory meeting will be scheduled in late January or early February, where the final membership and bylaws will be ratified, and a calendar of 2018 meetings will be scheduled. These meetings will be open to the public with agendas posted online in advance of the meeting.

Breaking!
Your Dana Point Boaters Association is working in partnership with the Dana Point Harbor Merchant Association to establish the Dana Point Harbor Advisory Board.(DPHAB).

Background history:
We have important news to share in part two below, but first an update to set the scene:  As expected, last Friday morning the OC Parks Commission voted to rescind the Dana Point Harbor Advisory Council that they approved last May; the commission then approved a temporary “ad hoc committee” as a means to gather community input.

We fully support this ad hoc “town hall” for community engagement in our harbor.  However, it will not function as an effective alternative to the proper community-based Harbor Commission that we originally sought.  We believe there is an essential place for a commission of designated community representatives responsible for a mission defined by their charter and accountable to the community they are delegated to represent.  We envision this commission as the essential third leg of a stool supporting the future of our harbor, a deliberative body working in close partnership with government and the private operator.  This model has proven effective in many harbors along our coast and it is especially needed here as we hand the future of our harbor over to a private developer.  And we intend to make it happen.

What is the DPHAB and how does it work?
Working in close partnership with the Dana Point Harbor Merchants Association, we have established the Dana Point Harbor Advisory Board.  This group of community representatives will have the very same mission as the Harbor Commission we proposed last year, with a nearly identical charter, bylaws and membership.  To relieve the County of its perceived legal obstacles to operating a harbor commission, the DPHAB will operate independently, though still in close collaboration with county agencies and our new private developer/operator. DPHAB will consider important operational matters affecting our harbor and report its recommendations to the OC 5th District Supervisor and OC Parks, just as before.

In the coming days, a nominating committee will be paneled to begin selection of the DPHAB membership.  As in our original proposal, membership will be comprised of nine representatives from the following subsets of our harbor:

How can I apply?
Individuals interested in participating in the development of the DPHAB or being considered as a member are asked to complete an interest form here (submissions now closed).  Interested and qualified individuals will be invited to a planning meeting in October where DBHAB membership will be selected, the charter and bylaws will be finalized, and an initial strategic plan developed.  Shortly thereafter, a meeting schedule will be published and agendas will be posted publicly prior to each meeting.  All meetings will be open to the public.

Interest Form Submissions is NOW CLOSED!