NB Dock Owners’ Hearing Moved to June 20

Byline: Ambrosia Brody

NB Dock Owners' Hearing Moved to June 20

NEWPORT BEACH — The Newport Beach Dock Owners Association will have to wait to have its case against the city of Newport Beach heard in court. The citizens group’s hearing scheduled for May 16 was postponed until June 20, due to an Orange County Superior Court judge’s absence.

The group’s attorney decided to delay the hearing and wait for the judge to return, rather than have another judge be named to hear the case.

The association of citizens and business owners, who were behind a “Stop the Dock Tax” campaign to prevent the city from raising permit fees on private dock owners, filed a suit against the city of Newport Beach on Feb. 12. The group alleged that the city council violated California’s Ralph M. Brown Act — designed to ensure open meetings — with a three-member ad hoc committee that allegedly met to update plans for increased dock fees and other harbor charges.

In response, the city filed a demurrer, which seeks to dismiss the association’s suit for failing to state a cause of action. The demurrer is now scheduled to be heard June 20 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

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