Big Surf
July 24th and 25th a Southern Hemisphere storm pushed waves over 20 feet high to Orange County beaches. Howard Hamlin launched his helicopter and captured some memories for you; find the link on the Big Weather Page.
Fees study/appraisal
Recent economic challenges suggest either you're big enough to get a bail out, or you align costs with income. Taking a different tack, begun a few years ago, the City commissioned studies to find ways to raise fees to align with costs.
Finally, the City's periodic harbor valuation, for the purpose of adjusting harbor-related fees, is complete, with the professors' submission of their economic report (pdf-3.82MB)  . How did this all begin?
On June 13, 2006, City Council approved this three-part harbor valuation study (pdf - 2.71MB) . Part one of the evalution, the Netzer Appraisal, presents a glaring flaw (*.pdf - 336KB) of comparison (p. 102). It suggests no adjustments are needed for the disparity in value-added services and private access of full-service yacht club moorings compared to those permitted to individuals.
Some of you have helped bring the appraisal to the attention of City leadership by sending this letter voicing concern with the appraisal. Others have responded by writing letters of their own. Read some of the letters shared with the NMA via the Harbor Fees Study page.
The City Manager responded, "...the appraiser will be available in public meetings to justify his methodology. You can question him then, with Council listening." The time and date?
December 16th, City Council Chambers
at 2 PM, before the Finance Committee (the appraiser was not there -ed.).
Part two of the evaluation is a harbor-specific cost of services study (pdf--2.33MB) commissioned from Maximus. Also see the appendices (*.pdf-90 KB) . This study, the appraisal, and the just-released professors' economic report constitute the three-pronged evaluation of Newport Harbor on which the City will rely for determination of new fees harbor-wide.
Part three of the evaluation, the economic study, has been two years in the making. We had one week to review it before it was presented to the City Council Finance Committee (at time & date mentioned above). Please take the initiative to familiarize yourself with the three documents. The liveaboard inspection fee, for instance, is suggested increased from $184/yr to $822/yr (links to p. 17 of the professors' report from above; pdf-3.82MB) . Please share your insights with us; send us an email.
For updates on this story, read the Harbor Fees Study page.
Read The Log's coverage of the Finance committee meeting, released 2008-12-24.
2008 Mooring Fee Survey
Byron Grams just updated the NMA mooring fee comparison survey (Word doc--50KB  ) (or view as webpage) for harbors in southern California. It's worth a read. It shows what harbors elsewhere in the state charge for a mooring permit.
Harbor Resources Department
829 Harbor Island Dr., Newport Beach, CA
92660
(949) 644-3034, fax (949) 723-0589
Do you need to reach Harbor Resources?
Email Harbor Resources with your input.
Slippery Sea Lions
If you need to rethink your sea lion deterrents, please see the NMA Pinniped Pointers page in the NMA documents library. This year sea lions are "loving" the area south of Lido Isle, "F," "H," & "J" fields, and private piers in this area. Your continuing effort to keep sea lions off of your boat helps all of us. Sea lions have sunk about ten boats in Newport Harbor, recently including a 1950's Star  boat.
At the October Harbor Commission meeting, a shortened time frame for notification of permit holders of sea lion problems was approved. Formerly a permit holder had 30 days to effect sea lion deterrents; now the permit holder has just ten days (pdf--53KB) from the first warning letter.
NMA Newsletters
Your eyes are now reading lines of the NMA Electric Pennant, our online newsletter, available only online. It has a hardcopy cousin, NMA Pennant, mailed to all dues-paid NMA members, and is the official newsletter of the Newport Mooring Association. After members receive it via postal mail, recent and past editions are available on the Newsletters page.
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NMA Board Meeting
The Board of Directors meets monthly to review projects and conduct business. Mooring permit holders are welcome to attend. The date and time of the next board meeting is:
TBA, check back!
at the (location TBD).
NMA Members are welcome to attend!
Mooring Appraisal Critique
The Newport Mooring Association has received, from an MAI-designated independent appraiser, a critique of the City's Appraisal of Newport Harbor Moorings. Specifically, it addresses the direct comparison of yacht club moorings to individually permitted moorings with no adjustments. We suspected that such a comparison was not valid, but what does a professional have to say about this? Read the appraiser's critique (pdf--320 KB).
Harbor Patrol News
The Sheriff's Department has named a new Orange County Harbormaster, Lt. Mark Long. According to this story in The Log, he looks forward to building community support and developing relationships with the community of harbor users. We'll go farther working together. Congratulations, Lt. Long!
With the reassignment of Deputy Joel Monroe, a new mooring master has been named; he is Deputy Carlos Contreras. We understand he has hands-on mooring knowledge, as he is a permit holder himself!
Harbor Resources News
Manager Chris Miller presents the Harbor Commission with an update on projects and issues each month. Here is a link to his April 2009 Update (pdf--267 KB) . Click here to find other updates on the Harbor Resources site.
Jiggling Jellyfish
There are fewer moon jellyfish around than earlier in the summer. Have you seen them? Did you know that NASA took some of them into outer space for study?
You may find your answer in our list of FAQs.
We always appreciate your continuing support and valued opinions.
Mooring Loan Permission Form
Need to loan a mooring to a friend? Here is the form you fill out, print, sign, and send to the Harbor Department.
City of Newport Beach
Live News Feed
What's going on in Newport Beach? Have there been any (derelict) boat auctions recently? (YES! Click here!) When the news feed below is working, the blue box will contain latest City news. If the blue box is empty, the feed is broken. Some browsers may still click to open the  news feed direct from the City of Newport Beach.
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About us -
The Newport Mooring Association is responsible for promoting the business and personal interests of mooring permittees and persons holding property, real or personal, adjacent or attached to, residing on, or anchored to tidelands or public property in, upon, or adjacent to Newport Harbor, as those interests relate to the use of the bay area.
Newport Mooring Association
P.O. Box 1118
Newport Beach, CA 92659-0118
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