The Avalon City Council this week approved an increase of cross channel carrier fees, with a sunset date of Feb. 28, 2021.
The staff proposal also suggested a mooring fee increase, but that proposal found no support among either members of the public or the council.
According to City Attorney Scott Campbell, the council couldn’t lower the fees because the public meeting notices had specified increasing mooring fees. Council Member Pam Albers said she had the hope that in two years the city would be in a better financial position.
Cross channel fee
According to the staff report by City Manager Denise Radde, the Harbor Fund does not have enough revenue to pay for operations and pay for harbor improvement costs. According to the report, grants will cover approximately $2.8 million. The city needs to provide $1.2 million in matching funds. “The proposed $1.00 increase is anticipated to generate $650,000.00 in revenue,” the report said.
Councilwoman Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy said she was interested in talking about cross channel fees but not in favor of increasing mooring fees.
Mooring fee outrage
Kathleen Carlisle asked the council to reconsider the mooring fees. Other members of the public echoed similar sentiments during the public hearing. Capt. John King, of Afishinados, said, “We were all asleep at the switch in July,” apparently referring to mooring fee increases.
Gail Fornasiere said she and her husband were thinking about selling their boat because of mooring fees. One woman said that some people live on boats because they can’t afford to live on the land on Catalina Island.
