MAILBAG:Dock fees give no benefit to owners

The recently addressed subject of raising fees on moorings, commercial and residential docks in Newport Harbor should be two separate issues.

Moorings and commercial docks belong to the city which receives rents and then provides maintenance and services.

However, the approximately 2,500 residential dock owners each pay almost $100 a year to the city just for the privilege of having a dock in front of their house and do not receive any services from the city.

The residential dock owner then has to pay between $25,000 and $70,000 to construct their dock and then another $1,000 to $2,000 annually for maintenance. A dock may last about 15 to 20 years, so these costs are amortized over a rather short period of time.

Also, 80% of the current dock owners use their dock for their own boats, so only a few dock owners rent space to cover cost, not to reap huge profits as the Daily Pilot infers.

In addition, the city can’t even provide dredging permits so the dock owners can hire contractors so boats don’t get grounded at low tide.

This issue could affect property values, therefore affecting the tax that provides virtually all of the income for Newport Beach.

PHIL SMOOT

Balboa Island

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