Special meeting to address tideland fees

The Newport Beach City Council plans to hold a special meeting Wednesday to determine how much the city charges commercial marina owners for using city-managed tidelands.

Business owners have protested the city’s moves to raise fees, and have organized the political action committee Stop the Dock Tax.

The city is proposing to charge either $1.45 per square foot of tidelands rented annually or 20% of gross revenue from slip rentals, whichever is greater. Today, the city charges 36 cents per square foot.

City officials say that rate is well below market value, and the city is obligated to charge market rate for the use of public land.

Marina owners contend that the city’s tidelands revenues are not used solely for harbor- and beach-related purposes, as they are required to be used, so the businesses should not have to pay more until the fund is in compliance.

The special meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

— Mike Reicher

Twitter: @mreicher