Lombardy Transfers Port Management to Municipalities Amid Fee Changes
The region accelerates the transfer of port management to municipalities. In record time (which is unusual for a public administration), the Lombardy Regional Council (Pirellone) has drafted regulations and criteria that the seaside municipalities will need to follow. Soon, the fees for boat slips will also increase, but only starting from January 1, 2001. For this year, everything remains unchanged. In short, boaters on the lakes will enjoy another 12 months of ease, as the fees will double after that.
The regional government, as previously mentioned, aims to expedite the process by transferring all responsibilities in line with the electoral program. Elections are scheduled for April, and the majority intends to present itself as the government that has initiated a federalist reform.
In recent days, a series of meetings has begun between regional authorities and municipal officials to present guidelines regarding the package of transferred or delegated competencies. Recently, Campione d’Italia was involved, followed by Laveno today, and on February 2, Desenzano. The last meeting will be held in Como.
At the Desenzano meeting, regional officials on one side and municipal representatives on the other will define the procedures for transferring the practices and the timelines to implement this transformation, which is hoped not to affect the citizens negatively.
Confusion of roles and municipal decisions
Yes, because signs of confusion regarding roles and responsibilities are already emerging. By January 31, municipalities must notify Milan whether they intend to manage ports and the public maritime domain alone or through associations. Many municipalities seem unsure about how to proceed.
The Garda Community is trying to bring order by establishing a Garda-based association. On other lakes, some consortiums have already been formed. Nothing similar has happened on Garda.
Meanwhile, many boat owners are waiting to learn about the future of their mooring spots and especially how municipalities will position themselves.
Criteria and regulations for assigning boat slips
For now, the criteria fixed by the Region through its own decree apply, which municipalities must implement. The allocation of boat slips will last at least three years, with priority given to commercial vessels (fishing, taxi services), nautical service yards, and nautical schools.
Municipalities can reserve up to 10 percent of the water space for residents, a quota that can be increased to 20 percent.
New rules, enacted last week through regional legislation, also stipulate an increase in fees for boat slips and other concessions. As mentioned, the amount is nearly doubled, set at 33,000 lire per square meter of displacement starting from January next year.
To calculate the fee, simply multiply the length by the width of the vessel to get the “displacement module,” then multiply that by 33,000.
Mooring buoys outside the port will cost more: 45,000 lire per square meter. Strangely, it is not clear why a boater, besides facing greater difficulties boarding a boat anchored away from the shore, also has to pay more than a colleague mooring directly in the port.
The same criterion was adopted by the Finance Department. However, the Region has introduced for the first time a series of concessions. Boat owners with rowing boats or electric engines will be granted a 40% reduction in fees.
Similar discounts will apply to professional fishermen, nautical associations, public service concessionaires, and those mooring their boats in the port basin. However, this does not include dinghies used solely for docking purposes.
Finally, an 80% discount will be granted to municipalities, other public entities, and owners of boats up to 8 meters in length owned by residents of the islands (for example, Montisola). For the first time — another novelty — the Laghi Governing Management, known as “Navigarda,” will also be paying a fee, albeit reduced by 80%.
Therefore, ships anchored in the port of Desenzano will be nearly equated with other vessels.
This is because, starting next year, Navigarda will become a regional company with its own financial operations.
One final note: this year, boat slip concessionaires can still approach the regional authorities, but for 2001, requests must be submitted to the relevant municipality. The Port Inspectorate will remain open until the end of the year, but it is uncertain whether it will continue as a reference and control body, as provided by regional law.
