Action Is Postponed on Sunset Marina Lease

Orange County supervisors have postponed a decision that could determine the long-term control and use of the county-owned Sunset Marina at Huntington Harbour.

Over the past month, officials have said that a proposal to renew the county’s lease with a private operator of the marina would be considered on Tuesday by the supervisors.

The lease became controversial in June when the Los Angeles Times disclosed that the son of Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder had been involved in the negotiations.

But officials said Friday that the supervisors have referred the matter for review to members of the county Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commission.

“It would be premature for the (Supervisors) to meet on this item before the Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commission discussed it,” said Kathleen Campini, spokeswoman for Wieder, whose district includes Sunset Marina.

The Times reported that the supervisor’s son, Lee Wieder, lobbied county officials regarding the lease during negotiations that spanned seven months, from 1989 to mid-1990. And partly as a result of Supervisor Wieder’s actions, the county was close to renewing the Sunset Marina contract eight years before the existing lease expired and without competitive bidding.

Wieder has said that she sought only to get the county the best financial terms possible while ensuring “fair” treatment for the firm that holds the marina lease, Goldrich & Kest Inc. of Culver City.

According to Campini, the Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commission will discuss the marina lease proposal at a meeting on Aug. 28.

Campini said that the matter could come before the supervisors for a vote as early as Sept. 10.