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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Non-Agenda - HandoutsTHE ORANGE COUNTY MGISTER LOCAL NEWS WO)"C ('OWW4,�A Newport Beach votes to decrease mooring fees A view of the harbor from Newport Beach's Marine Park. Mooring permit holders in Newport Beach will now get a break on their yearly fees after a City Council vote Tuesday. By Megan Nicolai I Orange County Register January 27, 2016 at 6:25 a.m. Mooring permit holders in Newport Beach will now get a break on their yearly fees. The City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to charge $35 per linear foot of boat for offshore moorings and $17.50 for onshore moorings, which are typically designed for smaller boats, according to a city staff report. There are about 1,200 mooring permit holders in the harbor. The fee was about $55 per foot for a mooring last year. Fees are put into the city's tidelands fund, which is used for capital improvement projects in the harbor like dredging or bolstering sea walls. The city had cut residential pier fees in February 2015 and asked the Harbor Commission to study yearly fees for moorings. After holding several hours -long community meetings, the commission eventually suggested a $25 per foot rate. The $35 rate is based on an analysis by firm Netzer and Associates that set the fair market rent range at $32 to $38. Councilman Duffy Duffield likened the city ramping up fees for its moorings in recent years with being a "slumlord." Until the amenities for mooring improve, the rate isn't fair, he said. "You're looking at a product that is like a slum apartment," Duffield said. Dozens of mooring holders showed support for fee cuts at the meeting. Carter Ford of the Newport Mooring Association thanked the city for working with permit holders on lowering the rate. "We ask that the council decide tonight that enough is enough," Ford said. Councilmen Keith Curry and Ed Selich voted against the fee cuts, citing a letter from the State Lands Commission sent this week questioning the completeness of the city's appraisal from Netzer and Associates. The State Lands Commission has jurisdiction over state lands. Sheri Pemberton of the commission wrote to the council Monday, asking them to defer their decision. "Based on our review the appraisal lacks important supporting discussion and analysis in a number of areas which may affect the determination of fair market rent," Pemberton wrote. James Netzer of Netzer and Associates said at the meeting he did not see any reason to re -think his analysis. Fees had more than doubled after the council in 2010 voted to implement ramp -ups in the yearly cost for a mooring permit. The goal was to get rents to 14 percent of the fair market value of local marinas. Contact the writer: 714-796-7990 or mnicolai akocregister.com Since the time of this article, there have been no added amenities or improvements of anv kind for mooring holders! N&C coyvwavd; Mooring fees in California 2024 Avalon Moorings are privately owned and are priced on the open market. A 40' mooring was recently sold for $275K. The city takes a 5% transfer fee when the mooring permit is sold. Yearly fees to the city are $1.09 per foot x12. (for overall boat size, not mooring size). 'early fee to city for a 40' boat is $523.20. 24/7 dingy docks provided. Morro Bay Privately owned moorings go for about $1000 per foot. A 40' Foot mooring was found on Craigs List for sale for 40K. Mooring tackle is Owner -owned and must be serviced every 2 years. `'early fee to city is $1320. 24/7 dingy dock provided. San Diego America's Cup Harbor (These are the most expensive moorings in San Diego) No privately owned moorings in San Diego, all are maintained and run by the city. Yearly fee for up to 65' mooring is $1884.84 plus $79 application fee. 24/7 d1pupy dr ck pL°ovidtd. Monterey Bay The mooring user leases the space in the water and the cement weights from the city. Owner provides his own chain and buoy, which must be inspected yearly by private contractor. The harbor Master estimates that inspections are around $300. All sizes moorings yearly fee is $1000. 24/7 dingy dock provided for $600 per year. San Francisco Bay. There are NO mooring fields in all of San Francisco Bay due to windy conditions. Conclusion: Average fees for moorings in California for a 40 foot boat with din" docks provided: $1332.01 We have all been paying way more than this without dingy dock access for years, and it is well within our rights to ask for a RATE DECREASE!