Council parked requests by two beach users around removing permit parking and paid parking requirements from Tiny's beaches.
"Paid parking is also used by our neighbours in North Simcoe and not just from people coming from afar," said Coun. Cindy Hastings, who chaired the last committee of the whole meeting. "I would not see us being able to get rid of that."
Kim Romans, a Balm Beach resident, had written in earlier in the month asking council to consider removing paid parking around Tiny's beaches, especially the one she lives near. She said the request was only for this year so locals could enjoy their beaches while social distancing.
"Unfortunately, paid parking, while a revenue generator for the township, invites day trippers to Balm Beach and now signage on Balm Beach promotes meter parking at other locations," Romans wrote.
According to a 2019 report shared by Steve Harvey, chief municipal law enforcement officer, total paid parking revenue for last year was $99,503, with the one around Balm Beach being the highest at $48,000.
"The beaches and parking are an ongoing issue," said Hastings. "We had a lot of debate and considered a lot of options and we decided to go to permit parking only."
And while at some point there used to be free parking around Tiny's beaches, she said a solution had to be put in place.
"Like everybody else who grew up in the area, we'd all love it to be the way it used to be," said Hastings. "Unfortunately, over time we've realized there's different types of ownership along the shoreline and I think a greater influx of day trippers compounds the situation for people living down there."
To Romans, that sounds like historic rationale.
"Keeping the parking is not managing the responsibility to the township for health and welfare," she said. "I'm not looking to be the police. I'm not looking for my township to be a police state. They patrol regardless right now and they can make it public that we're not open and have no paid parking. There are ways to manage the situation."
In a separate letter, Dufferin County resident Samantha Pereira had written in asking council to consider removing the permit parking requirement from around Bluewater Beach, so day trippers like herself could enjoy the shoreline.
Hastings said the township has sent out a press release to media in the Greater Toronto Area alerting such day trippers that Tiny's beaches are not open.
"They shouldn't be coming up anyway," she added. "The beaches are not open. Our residents are stressed about the eroding shoreline. As a councillor, I know people are scared and upset about the COVID situation, so I don't want to add to that stress."
According to Harvey's report, last year, the township earned a revenue of $80,970 from resident parking permits and $17,500 from the 175 non-resident parking permits sold by May 27, 2019. The report makes a note that an additional 20 requests were made by non-residents once the limited number had been sold out.
In 2016, council decided that 150 non-resident parking permits be sold. In 2019, council increased that number to 175.
