2 Cents: Parking near the bridge

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Gary Santos; I have served on Mount Pleasant Town Council since 1996, and would like to respond to a station’s editorial which aired on January 9th.  I wish to separate fact from fiction regarding our Town Administrator Mac Burdette’s proposal to charge for parking at our new Waterfront Park.  I understand that this issue has caused passions to ignite and I believe that a factual approach may resolve these issues.
1. Town Council became aware of parking safety issues along Patriots Point Boulevard following a briefing from Mount Pleasant Police Chief Harry Sewell.  The Chief of Police has recommended that parking along Patriots Point Boulevard be eliminated for safety reasons, particularly near the intersection of Patriots Point Boulevard and Coleman Boulevard.
2. Town Council has never discussed charging a fee for parking at Patriots Point Boulevard, or at Patriots Point.
3. There will continue to be free parking at and near the Town’s Soccer Complex and at the small parking lot across the street from the Omar Shrine Temple.
4. Town Council has also heard property owners’ complaints about the current on-street parking situation and litter left behind by bridge walkers.
5. Mount Pleasant Town Council, at this time, continues to evaluate the existing situation with a prevailing eye on safety, and has not acted on the recommendation by Mr. Burdette that parking along Patriots Point Boulevard be eliminated. 
6. The issue of paid parking at Memorial Waterfront Park is a separate issue pertaining to a separate location.  Parking along Patriots Point Boulevard is about safety; paid parking at the park is about operating and maintaining the facility – two separate issues that a responsible Council must address.
7. Our Town Administrator has indeed proposed to charge for parking at the Town’s parking spaces at the upcoming Memorial Waterfront Park.
8. The Administrator’s proposal to charge for parking at the park is to recoup the estimated $300,000 per year cost of operating and maintaining the Waterfront Park.  If users don’t pay then everyone in town will have to pay, even if they never visit the park.  Restrooms, police protection, and maintenance of the park are all part of the necessary costs.  There are no other fees for using the park.
9. Council has not taken action on a fee for parking at our Waterfront Park.  We are carefully reviewing all options before making a decision that will best benefit the residents of Mount Pleasant.
10. Walking the bridge is a worthwhile wellness endeavor; operating a safe and well maintained park another.  But both issues speak to Mount Pleasant’s commitment to safety, wellness, and active living.
11. I commend walkers for walking the bridge, and I welcome the visitors to our new park this summer.  The grand opening will be held during the Fourth of July weekend.  We’ll see you there!