Source: Caller
CORPUS CHRISTI — Port of Corpus Christi commissioners approved fee increases of more than 500 percent Tuesday to pay for a new marine patrol that port-area industries oppose because of the costs.
The vote was 4-3, with Chairman Ruben Bonilla and Commissioners Kenneth Berry, Francis Gandy and Robert Gonzalez in favor and Richard Borchard, Mike Carrell and Judy Hawley opposed. The same commissioners voted against implementation of the marine patrol, citing ship channel industries’ opposition.
Of 11 people who spoke during a public comment period, 10 spoke against the hikes.
The annual operating cost of the patrol, which includes two boats in the water continuously and one boat on standby, is estimated at $2.3 million in 2010 and $2.9 million by 2011.
The vote raises the the harbor fee for ships from $275 to $2,032, a 639 percent increase, starting April 1, 2010. Barge fees would go from $35 to $230, a 557 percent increase.
In addition to Port Industries of Corpus Christi, an alliance of ship channel industries, the West Gulf Maritime Association, which represents more than 140 maritime companies and organizations from Brownsville to Lake Charles, La., also opposed the fee hikes.
CORPUS CHRISTI — Port of Corpus Christi commissioners approved fee increases of more than 500 percent Tuesday to pay for a new marine patrol that port-area industries oppose because of the costs.
The vote was 4-3, with Chairman Ruben Bonilla and Commissioners Kenneth Berry, Francis Gandy and Robert Gonzalez in favor and Richard Borchard, Mike Carrell and Judy Hawley opposed. The same commissioners voted against implementation of the marine patrol, citing ship channel industries’ opposition.
Of 11 people who spoke during a public comment period, 10 spoke against the hikes.
The annual operating cost of the patrol, which includes two boats in the water continuously and one boat on standby, is estimated at $2.3 million in 2010 and $2.9 million by 2011.
The vote raises the the harbor fee for ships from $275 to $2,032, a 639 percent increase, starting April 1, 2010. Barge fees would go from $35 to $230, a 557 percent increase.
In addition to Port Industries of Corpus Christi, an alliance of ship channel industries, the West Gulf Maritime Association, which represents more than 140 maritime companies and organizations from Brownsville to Lake Charles, La., also opposed the fee hikes.
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