Case Studies of DUFOUR Advocacy Group

Empowering Voices, Strengthening Communities 

Case Studies

S.O.A.R. (Support Our Anaheim Resort), Anaheim, CA

Dufour Advocacy Group provided public outreach and a coordinated opposition effort to combat a proposal allowing high density housing within the Anaheim Resort District in Orange County. Jill Dufour (Kanzler) worked with a team that successfully gathered more than 20,000 signatures to place a referendum on the Anaheim ballot to overturn the council’s decision. At the same time, we gathered signatures for an initiative that would place Anaheim Resort District zoning decisions with the citizens of Anaheim. Working with key community leaders and a highly targeted educational outreach campaign, Dufour Advocacy Group recruited more than 10,000 Anaheim residents to join SOAR, the Save Our Anaheim Resort coalition. With comprehensive government relations and media relations strategies and the power of the SOAR coalition, the Anaheim City Council reversed its position, rejected the housing project, and adopted the terms of the initiative. Dufour continues to serve as the Executive Director of SOAR, a coalition dedicated to educating the community and protecting the interests of Anaheim’s Resort District.

Bolsa Chica*, Huntington Beach, CA

Jill Dufour (Kanzler) was part of the public relations team providing services to Koll Real Estate Group, now Hearthside Homes, on the Bolsa Chica project a highly controversial, 1,700-acre wetlands restoration/development project near Huntington Beach. She worked primarily on the community relations component of the project. The team built an extensive community support base that actively supported the project through the city, county, state, and federal entitlement process.

Montage Resort and Spa*, Laguna Beach, CA

Jill Dufour (Kanzler) provided community relations services to the owners of the former Treasure Island mobile home park, a 30-acre site in Laguna Beach, one of the most no-growth oriented communities in California.  Plans called for redeveloping the site to feature a resort hotel, luxury residential community and open space.  Dufour worked with a team to develop strong community support, which contributed to approvals by the Laguna Beach Planning Commission, City Council, and California Coastal Commission. Along with the strategic public relations team, Dufour worked through a community assessment, met with residents one-on-one and in groups, sponsored a speakers’ bureau, conducted community workshops and briefing sessions, prepared and disseminated educational materials, and served as the client’s liaison to the news media. The project was approved in June 2000.  The Montage Resort & Spa opened to worldwide acclaim in February 2003.

Tonner Hills, Brea, CA

Nuevo Energy Company, an independent oil company, contracted Dufour Advocacy Group to provide a comprehensive program to bolster entitlement efforts to develop a master planned community on a 789-acre operating oilfield in Brea’s Sphere of Influence. After defeating a controversial slow growth measure focused on the Tonner Hills proposal, Dufour Advocacy Group conducted critical community research that helped the team revise the proposal to reflect the environmental and aesthetic concerns of the community. By directly addressing community concerns and highlighting the environmental benefits, we gained unanimous approval from the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Lennar, University Community Plan at UC Merced*, Merced, CA

Jill Dufour (Kanzler) conducted a comprehensive community ascertainment in the County of Merced to determine community attitudes about growth and development for the new University of California, Merced campus and a proposed master planned community. In less than one month, Dufour spoke with key community members and assessed specific issues surrounding agriculture, the environment, infrastructure, the local economy, and the potential for lawsuits. A detailed but succinct report outlining potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats was completed. Based upon this information and other reports, the publicly traded real estate development company was able to determine its plans and level of investment in the 2,100-acre University Community Plan at UC Merced.    

*Dufour worked in conjunction with Gladstone International on these projects. 

Testimonials 