Council Deadlocks Over Marine Institute Privatization Balloting

After a six-month deadlock on the question of whether the Orange County Marine Institute should go private, the City Council this week deadlocked again on a proposal to let the voters decide the issue in November.

The stalemate marked the seventh time in six months that council members have failed to take action on the institute’s situation.

Councilman Bill Ossenmacher, who proposed the ballot measure and supports privatizing the institute, argued that residents should decide the matter because the institute is a public asset.

“The City Council has been deadlocked as to where the marine institute should go,” he said. “I believe it is appropriate for us to allow residents of our community to have input.”

But Councilwoman Judy Curreri, who is also in favor of privatizing the institute, said there was no reason why the council should even consider putting the issue on the ballot.

“I think it’s extremely presumptuous,” she said. “It is not proper to put it on a local ballot when it’s a regional issue.”

Founded in 1977, the educational marine facility began as a joint powers authority governed by six public agencies: Saddleback, Rancho Santiago, Coast and North Orange County Community College districts; the Orange County Department of Education; and Orange County government.

Dana Point joined the authority in 1992 after it awarded the institute $100,000 to help buy a research vessel.

To turn private, the institute needs approval from all seven entities. All but Dana Point have already voted “yes.”

Stanley L. Cummings, director of the institute, said that as a private entity it would be able to raise money for expansion by tapping sources not available to public agencies.

“I think the City Council is dysfunctional,” Cummings said Wednesday. “I think the citizens are solidly behind us.”