DP Insider

New Fire Chief's Salary: $222,254 a Year

The Board of Directors at the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) appointed Contra Costa Chief Keith Richter as its new Fire Chief, replacing Chip Prather who is retiring this July.

Click here to see the entire announcement.

Dana Point is one of the cities served by OCFA, and Councilman Steve Weinberg represents the city on the board of directors. Unlike the sheriff's department, where the city essentially pays for the number of officers it wants, payments for the fire authority in town go straight from the property tax collected. The city doesn't really have any say.

Richter's contract calls for $222,254 annually in salary, plus a vehicle or $500 a month. He can also earn up to 10 percent of his salary annually in a bonus, if directors believe he deserves it. Finally, in addition to the usual slate of benefits, he starts the Orange County job with 120 hours of vacation on the books.

Click here to see a copy of his contract.

LA Times: St. Regis Heading for Foreclosure Sale

Todays' editions of the Los Angeles Times report that the St. Regis in Dana Point is headed toward foreclosure, behind on a $70 million loan.

From the story:

The companies that own the resort are in default on a $70-million loan from Citigroup Global Markets Realty Group, people knowledgeable about the debt said Tuesday.

Negotiations continue in an effort to avoid an auction, according to those sources. But unless something is worked out, the St. Regis will go on the block July 7, to be sold to the highest bidder, according to a "terms of public sale" document obtained by The Times.

Click here to see the whole story.

The Dana Point Times in May featured challenges facing the hotel industry in the troubled economy, and how that might impact the city. See that story here.

Two Starbucks Leaving Town

The Fast Food Maven over at the OC Register is reporting two Dana Point Starbucks are on the latest closure list, including the coffee shop at Ritz Carlton Drive and Coast Highway.

A dozen Starbucks are on the company's latest closure list. Also in Dana Point: The shop at 24502 Del Prado, and the Stabucks in the Von's Center in San Juan Capistrano.

Here's a link to reporter Nancy Luna's full post.