Boaters and mooring permittees warn proposed rate hikes would erode affordable access
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Summary
Speakers representing mooring permittees said moorings provide affordable coastal access for middle‑class boaters and argued city tidelands fees are inequitable; presenters cited roughly 1,200 moorings and warned proposed rate increases could exceed 500%.
Members of Newport Beach's boating community urged the council to protect moorings they said serve as the only affordable coastal access for many middle‑class boaters.
Chris Bliss said mooring users lack the amenities of private piers and that proposed mooring rate hikes "ranging to more than 500%" would make boating unaffordable. "Over 1,000 middle class boaters rely on these moorings for affordable boating in Orange County," Bliss said in public comment.
Adam Leverens presented slides drawn from the city's tidelands financials, saying "there's about 1,200 moorings in Newport" that contribute about $1.9 million annually to the tidelands fund. He compared that contribution to other tidelands revenues and argued mooring permittees currently pay disproportionately more than commercial slip operators and private piers.
Speakers asked the council to consider equitable fee structures and to engage mooring permit holders in solutions; no council action was recorded on mooring rates at this meeting.
