In support of the engaged recreational boating community, Recreational Boaters of California [RBOC] and our national advocacy partner Boat Owners Association of the United States [BoatUS] are urging the Orange County Board of Supervisors to revise the proposed new Ground Lease agreements with Dana Point Harbor Partners, LLC [Commercial Core and Marina Component] to include the boat slip rate pricing policy as presented by Supervisor Foley at the June 23 meeting.
This would be accomplished by revising Attachment B, Master Ground Lease Commercial Core and Marina Component with DPHP, LLC, Section 11.9, to establish a slip rate stabilization policy for future slip rental rate increases after the July 1, 2026, adjustment, including the following requirements:
Require any future slip rate increase to be submitted to the CEO Real Estate Office at least 90 days before the proposed effective date.
Require each proposed slip rate increase to include a detailed marina slip survey of comparable Southern California marinas from Santa Barbara to San Diego, with emphasis on comparable publicly owned marinas.
Limit annual slip rate increases to the cumulative change in the Consumer Price Index and cap any annual increase at 5 percent per slip size category, unless a fifth-year market adjustment applies.
Beginning in 2030, allow a fifth-year market adjustment above cumulative CPI only when supported by a marina slip survey conducted by a credentialed appraiser.
Require the fifth-year market survey to include comparable Southern California publicly owned marinas and prohibit reliance on a single harbor, such as Newport Beach.
Cap any fifth-year market adjustment at 10 percent.
RBOC and BoatUS believe this policy will provide the recreational boating community with important and reasonable assurances on the manner in which potential slip rate increases will be managed during the next 66 years that the agreements will be in effect.