Barbara Bergwerf has been a member of the Planning Commission for three years prior to winning her council seat. In addition to her civic contributions, Bergwerf is also a volunteer in the community serving as a DNR licensed member of the Island Turtle Team since 1999 as well as a volunteer at the Sea Turtle Hospital of the South Carolina Aquarium and The Center for Birds of Prey.

A graduate of The George Washington University in Washington D.C., with a degree in Government and International Affairs, Bergwerf  feels she is prepared for civic service. She has a broad and diverse work experience which includes: US government service, 15 years as a photojournalist, 22 years as a small business owner of an award-winning stained glass studio, and as the photographer of two award-winning children’s books.

She and her husband, Ben, bought their home on the island about 12 years ago and moved here full-time when they retired seven years ago. The Bergwerfs were drawn to the uniqueness of the Isle of Palms, its beauty and sense of community and have been concerned with the increase in density on the island and the stress put on both the ecology and the economy of the island.

She can be reached at bergwerf1@comcast.net or 886-5355.

1. What is your number one concern for the island and how would you address this concern?

2. If elected, what three goals do you hope to accomplish for the City of Isle of Palms?

•Barbara Bergwerf

My number one concern is how the Isle of Palms is going to look in the next five, 10 or 15 years.  Right now we are in an economic downturn, but that will change and Isle of Palms as a commodity will be back in play. Isle of Palms as a community and not a commodity is my goal. Over the next years many of our older homes are going to be replaced.  We need these to be homes for families and not mini-hotels for dozens of renters each week.

1. An island wide parking plan.  We are trying right now to get a handle on the actual “rights of way” and taking over their management. From there we can work on where parking can be allowed and where we can limit parking.  Part of the parking solution will be to better utilize the existing parking spaces that we have.  The city and county lots are not full the majority of our tourist season.

2. Better communication between the city government and the residents.  I would like to see a monthly “meet and greet” where citizens can sit down and talk to city council informally.  We would have to limit the number of council members at any one meeting (less than a quorum).  This would allow people a comfortable venue without having to stand behind a microphone, to look the city managers and council people in the eye and discuss their problems and concerns.

3. Better planning for the future re-development of the homes on our island. No one wants a huge rental next door to their family home. Our Planning Commission should be called our “Re-acting Commission”. They have to be tasked by city council to work toward a plan to protect our neighborhoods from the encroachment of houses that are out of character for their surroundings.