By Kristina Pritchett
City Council approved a measure to conduct preliminary research on bringing the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center to Dana Point.
During the Oct. 18 meeting, the Council voted five to zero in favor of a preliminary needs assessment to determine what the city would need to do to accommodate the facility, which they believe would be a benefit for the city.
The center is currently located in an industrial park in San Clemente and attempted to move to Dana Point in the early 2000s to where Sea Terrace Park is located, but the Council chose not to pursue the project at the time.
City staff have been working with founder of the center, Dick Metz, along with representatives in the surfing industry to find a permanent home for the center in the city.
City staff told the Council before a potential location is determined, the amount of space needed for the center must be researched.
The Council agreed to award a contract to Griffin Structures, Inc. to prepare a preliminary needs assessment and budget, which will then serve as a platform to engage in more discussions about a specific location and methods of financing the project.
Councilman Carlos Olvera said he was very much in favor of the center moving to Dana Point.
“I can’t support this project enough,” Olvera said. “This is where it needs to be.”
He added that if the center was in Dana Point, it would be “well attended.”
The assessment will take four months to complete at a cost not to exceed $18,500.
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