Editor:
Re: Waterfront parking ideas ‘far too extravagant,’ June 5.
It is my opinion that the chosen headline on the waterfront parking article had the potential to mislead some readers.
In fact, the mayor’s pay parking task force recommendations were accepted by five of six council members present.
The only council member to not accept the recommendations was Coun. Mary-Wade Anderson, with the remark that “nothing has been done for 30 years… and I don’t think this is the time to do it.”
(Editor’s note: The headline came from Anderson’s comment, “The report is good, but it’s far too extravagant, and it doesn’t suit…”)
The task force was a productive collaboration involving Marine Drive business owners, city staff and BIA representatives. Our ultimate goal is to increase traffic to Marine Drive businesses by removing the frustrations often experienced by visitors to our city and keeping our beach-side community vibrant and alive throughout the year.
The recommendations regarding the price changes to parking were calculated so that there would be no loss in revenue and no cost to be passed on to residents. Various opportunities were highlighted for the city to invest in infrastructure to solve the issue of inadequate parking facilities in the high season and to make parking more profitable for the city in the long term.
We cannot afford to wait 30 more years. We need to work together now and plan a future for our beautiful city.
Jack Sixsmith, BIA president