I feel very strongly in support of paid parking. This program will contribute much needed revenue to our community and will enhance a perceived value of the community. For years we have been giving away our most prized feature, our beautiful waterfront and lagoon. This, at many times, is abused and regarded as being just another given. But if we charged people to park and view this jewel it will become more valued.
There are many other reasons for the parking toll, such as contributing to the cost of cleanup and maintenance. Paid parking will also filter out the 'non-paying tourists' who come with large family parties and use the beach as their own 'back yards'. Many arrive with large barbecues and tents and settle in for the day.
Often the business community says that this will hurt business, but other communities have stated the opposite. Whistler, White Rock and Cultus Lake have benefited greatly from paid parking due to the amount of turnover of parking spaces. People no longer tie up space all day at no charge, but paid parking allows other guests the opportunity to visit and spend money in our community.
In conclusion, I feel that paid parking is a no brainer and it should have been brought in years ago. Having a business background, I feel frustrated that we have lost all this revenue from years of not having this program in place. We only have one industry in this village and it is tourism and we must try to get as much revenue from the tourists during their visit to our beautiful community as we can.
Merv Rose