A town hall on Wednesday, May 27, will discuss recent recommendations from the State Lands Commission for Newport Beach’s harbor management and how pricing is set for offshore moorings and residential piers.
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In December, the state commission weighed in after concerns were raised by Newport Harbor mooring holders over a recent appraisal considered by the city’s Harbor Commission and, later, the City Council, when looking at proposed rate increases for public use of the public mooring fields. Some rates to park a book would rise by 400%.
The commission, which oversees the local management of submerged public lands, such as harbors, determined that the appraisal the city was using to consider rate increases “did not violate generally accepted appraisal principles,” but found that the city should demonstrate greater equity in private pier use at homes surrounding the harbor. And, it also found that some accommodations should be made for mooring users to make the opportunities more affordable.
“We are looking forward to the community’s input,” City Manager Seimone Jurjis said of the upcoming meeting.
The meeting on Wednesday evening will be held at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona Del Mar. The two-hour presentation will include city staff’s overview of the commission’s findings in its report and will be followed by a discussion of the city’s harbor management and its compliance with the state commission’s requirements. Community input will be taken, officials said.
The state’s report found several areas of concern and made multiple recommendations, including that the city commission a new and independent appraisal for offshore mooring rates, residential pier leases, and, as part of that, calculate the residential pier rental area, including whether buffer areas and the interior of U-shaped piers should be included.
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The city has more than 1,200 mooring permits and more than 850 permitted residential piers along its bayfront.
In the future, the state commission also suggested that the city continue to use independent appraisals, which should be updated to set mooring permit rental rates. Critical to the commission was also that the city review and align its methodology and reappraisal schedule for both residential piers and mooring permits so that both user groups are treated equitably.
The state commission also suggested ending the program of allowing the sale of private mooring permits, and instead, the city develop a transition plan that is fair to current permit holders.
Following the town hall, which is also expected to be attended by representatives from the state commission, all information will be forwarded to the harbor commission for its consideration, Jurjis said.
The commission will review all comments, appraisals, and the state lands report, and make recommendations to the City Council on programs that should be considered.
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The meeting will be 5 to 7 p.m. at the OASIS Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave.