Editorial: Should Dock Fees Affect a Holiday Boat Parade?

Boaters who own waterfront docks in Newport Beach have been getting nowhere in convincing city council members that the proposed increases in residential dock fees — set to rise from a flat $100 per year to as much as $3,000, depending on the pier size — were excessive, unfair and ill-timed.             When a meeting was planned for Nov. 28 to discuss and finalize those fees, desperate times called for desperate measures, one group of homeowners decided. And so, they called for a boycott of the upcoming 104th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights waterfront home decorating event.             They definitely got everyone’s attention. And the threat made national news.             If waterfront homeowners decide not to decorate their homes or put lighted boats in the local boat parade this year, the city will get a lot less tax revenue — because fewer spectators coming to town for the event would mean fewer people spending money here, boycott proponents told city officials.             At the Nov. 28 meeting, the city council decided to put off making any decision on the dock fee increase plan until Dec. 11 — just days before the...