“I’ve always been opposed of paying for parking at the beach anyway.”
Commissioner Willie German would like free parking at the Pere Marquette beach the way it used to be.
“People sometimes can’t pay a fee to go to the beach.”
But mayor Ken Johnson says the commission is not considering an end to Pere Marquette parking fees. He says the money is needed to maintain the beach and other city parks.
“An important revenue source for all our park system we don’t have a park millage.”
But after hearing citizen complaints about recently approved rate increases, the commission is considering an amendment that would roll back some parking pass prices. Commissioner Katrina Kochin:
“Didn’t want to see us making things so expensive that people couldn’t afford to come to the beach.”
The new proposal would still give city residents two free season passes and offer free parking for everyone on Wednesdays. Commissioner Jay Kilgo thinks rates are reasonable
“Compared to some of our neighboring lakeshore towns our fees aren’t outrageous.”
