Wieder Is Under Fire Over Sunset Marina Lease : Harbor issue: Some activists, concerned after learning that the supervisor’s son was involved as a lobbyist for the present operator, urge competitive bidding for any renewal.

The long-term future of a county-owned marina at Huntington Harbour should be decided by competitive bidding and without further involvement of Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, boating and recreational-vehicle activists said Monday.

The activists--who have not always agreed with Wieder over use of Sunset Marina Park--expressed alarm at learning that her son represented the marina operator as a lobbyist in lease-renewal negotiations with Orange County officials.

The Times reported on Sunday that, partly as result of Supervisor Wieder’s involvement, the county is close to renewing a long-term lease for Sunset Marina Park and its 276-slip marina--eight years before the current lease expires and with no competitive bidding.

“When she says she didn’t know her son was involved, that’s entirely laughable,” said Edward N. Bynon, president of the Sunset Aquatic Marina Boat Owners’ Assn., adding that his group would like to participate in open bidding for the marina lease.

And recreational-vehicle activist Erlewin (Gil) Gilbert, director of the Southern California Good Sam Club, said: “I think that (Wieder) has exerted her influence enough. I think it ought to be put up for competitive bidding. If the other supervisors allow this to go on, they’re right in bed with it.”

The Good Sam Club, a large association of recreational-vehicle enthusiasts, has long and unsuccessfully sought overnight accommodations at Sunset Marina. Wieder, who has sided with full-time residents of Huntington Harbour who oppose RV facilities there, declined to comment on the criticisms directed at her on Monday.

She did, however, meet with a handful of boat owners at the marina Monday afternoon to discuss their concerns about the lease negotiations and the performance of the marina operator, Goldrich & Kest Inc. Also at the meeting, county officials revealed more details about the proposed lease, including provisions for the county to spend $5 million for improvements and to loan Goldrich & Kest $3.4 million for other upgrading.

Among the complaints from boat owners was that they were unaware that the Sunset Marina lease was even being negotiated. The Times reported that county supervisors approved opening negotiations in early December, 1989.

Moreover, Wieder has said she did not know that her son, Lee E. Wieder, participated in the lease negotiations from 1989 to mid-1990.

Supervisor Wieder’s actions included directing in late 1990 a reshuffling of the county’s negotiating team--resulting in the county’s director of harbors, beaches and parks being removed from the talks.

And in February, Wieder voted with other supervisors to exclude Sunset Marina from a consultant’s study that was to recommend new income-enhancement and management options--including the possible replacement of the current operator at the marina, Goldrich & Kest.

Wieder said last week that any involvement on her part was only to ensure the best terms for the county, while at the same time seeking fair treatment for Goldrich & Kest. Neither Goldrich & Kest’s employment of her son nor the firm’s $1,800 in contributions to her campaigns, Wieder said, have influenced her actions or decision-making.

County officials said Monday that the proposed renewal of the lease with Goldrich & Kest would probably come before the Board of Supervisors for final approval within three weeks. Details of the proposed deal have not yet been made public.

However, Wieder and other top county executives said again on Monday that the proposed lease renewal would significantly boost the county’s share of income generated at the marina, located on the north end of Huntington Harbour. As described by county Environmental Management Agency Chief Deputy Director John W. Sibley, the county’s share of Sunset Marina revenue would jump from its present level of about 20% of the gross to as much as 80% of the net, adjusted income.

Even so, some observers question whether the county could get even better terms if it required the lease with Goldrich & Kest to expire in 1999, and then allowed competitive bidding.

Said Dick Dorsey, a member of the Sunset Aquatic Marina Boat Owners’ Assn.: “Why not put it up for public bid? . . . We’re all business people here. You just don’t do business like this. . . . I’m just uncomfortable with a slam-dunk deal being done for somebody.”

For her part, Wieder said at the meeting that she “was not a part of the negotiations” with Goldrich & Kest. And she blamed the county staff for not responding more quickly to complaints from slip holders about Goldrich & Kest’s management of the marina.

“First thing, we’re going to clean up our act, in-house,” Wieder said. The supervisor also made a point of highlighting the increased income that the proposed lease renewal would generate, but said she knew nothing about other details of the package.

Specifically, Wieder said she had “no idea” that--as described at the meeting by a county aide--the agreement would require the county to spend $5 million for site improvements and to loan Goldrich & Kest an additional $3.4 million.

“This makes it a sweetheart deal for them,” Wieder said.

One activist who publicly opposed the exclusion of Sunset Marina from the consultant’s study at a meeting of the supervisors in February said that she would re-double her efforts after learning of the roles of Supervisor Wieder and her son.

“I feel very strongly that she should not have one more word to say about that park,” said Betty F. Blank, chairwoman of the Fountain Valley Recreational Vehicles Assn.