Agency seeks money for cove

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- A state-funding agency has begun work on securing as

much as $10 million to help pay for the restoration of the state park’s

aging cottages.

Officials at the California Coastal Conservancy, a sister agency of

the California Coastal Commission, have begun considering whether the

money could be tapped from a water bond passed by voters in March 2000.

Conservancy spokesman Dick Wayman said the agency’s board is expected

to know by February whether that bond, Proposition 13, could be a source

of much-needed money.

“The problems that we’re facing are that we are not in control of

Prop. 13 money,” Wayman said. “We would have to apply like anybody else.”

Another potential funding source is a $2.1-billion park bond set to go

before the public in March. About $200 million would be handed to the

coastal conservancy and about $112.5 million to California State Parks

for work on existing state parks.

“That’s a pretty big bucket of money,” California State Parks

spokesman Roy Stearns said.

State Parks will apply to the coastal commission on Nov. 13 to install

a sewer system, visitors center and complete some of the rehabilitation

of the 46 cottages on the beach.

In the longer term, the state is hoping to restore the cottages and

open them to the public for overnight rentals and education.

That could cost between $12 million and $20 million, state officials

have said.

A local assemblyman has criticized the state for failing to find a way

to pay for the work, even though State Parks Director Rusty Areias has

promised that it is a top priority.

John Campbell, who represents Newport Beach, challenged the state to

“show me the money” on Nov. 2.

Environmentalists working with the state on a plan for the historic

dwellings have said they aren’t worried about the financial side of the

equation.

Laura Davick, who co-founded the Crystal Cove Conservancy and has

helped raise $60,000 for the restoration, has also challenged State Parks

to talk more about money issues.

“As I understand it, there are some potential funding sources,” Davick

said. “It’s time for State Parks to come up with a schedule for the

funding of the park.”

Davick said she doesn’t agree with Campbell’s plan to use rental

revenue from the mobile homes at El Morro beach to help pay for the work.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .