DANA POINT : City Is Advised to Absorb Park District

A county official this week launched what could be the first of many historic changes in local government throughout South County by recommending that the city of Dana Point absorb its 28-year-old independent park district.

James Colangelo, executive director of the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission, said Thursday that a merger of the Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation District with the city would bring greater accountability and public access to local government, as well as save money.

Failing to consolidate has already cost the city $1.4 million in lost property tax revenue, which was cut by the state from the park district budget last year, Colangelo said.

“Had the park district been part of the city last year, they would not have lost that money,” Colangelo said. City officials “should do everything that is foreseeably possible to protect the money they have left.”

Colangelo’s announcement was the culmination of a four-month study by LAFCO into the myriad of obscure, small, independent special districts--some that date back to the 1920s--that splinter the South County.

The six-square-mile city of Dana Point alone has seven water-related special districts--governed by 52 elected officials--whose boundaries predate city limits and spread into San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel.

Colangelo added that special district officials throughout South County should take this long-awaited recommendation as a signal for the future.

“LAFCO is serious about seeing some things changed,” Colangelo said. “We started with the park district because we thought we could handle it a little faster. But this has not slowed us down with the water and sewer districts.”

Members of the park district’s five-member board of directors, who will discuss the recommendation at their meeting Thursday, called LAFCO’s report sad but predictable news.

The loss of $1.4 million, nearly 59% of the district’s $2.4-million annual budget, is too much to overcome, they said.

“It is disappointing, quite frankly, that we can’t maintain the independence of the district,” said Tom Crump of Monarch Beach. “I hate to see it consolidate, but in light of the budget considerations, there is no way out, none. You just simply cannot operate parks and recreation programs with the revenue they have left us.”

Director Bob Wilberg agreed.

“Unless there is a big outpouring from the public, the park district will be dissolved by Dec. 31,” Wilberg said. “I’d like to fight it, but what’s to be gained if the political willpower isn’t there? To preserve local tax monies, we have to consolidate.”

If the park district directors agree unanimously to dissolve their district, the merger could be accomplished without a citywide vote. If one or more directors resist, however, a vote must take place.

LAFCO--made up of two county supervisors, two members of city councils in the county and a member chosen from the public--will discuss the merger recommendation Nov. 3.