Dana Point Harbor operations officially merged into O.C. Parks

SANTA ANA — The days of Dana Point’s Harbor Department acting as an autonomous entity are officially over as the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted last month to merge the independent agency into O.C. Parks. Ironically the vote for the merger came less than one week ahead of Independence Day. Supervisors voted in favor of the merger on June 14 and then again on June 28 as part of the county’s budget hearings. The harbor’s $41 million operation for fiscal year 2016-17 will now be overseen by O.C. Parks. The county’s public works and real estate departments will also have roles in managing Dana Point Harbor’s revitalization project. Orange County Chief Operating Officer Mark Denny said the county’s chief real estate officer will serve as the point person for the revitalization project and Request for Qualification process. O.C. Public Works will lead all construction work during the revitalization. The harbor’s operations were initially part of O.C. Parks when it was first created. Dana Point’s Harbor Department was separated from O.C. Parks and created as an independent entity on April 12, 2005. Denny said at the time the separation of harbor operations from O.C. Parks made sense because all signs indicated the planned revitalization project...