Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) has proposed a kind of grace period before a final decision on the disputed millions in payments from the city of Potsdam to the Castle Foundation. In the absence of a precise concept for a possible compulsory admission to the Sanssouci World Heritage Park, it was obviously difficult for the city councilors to make a decision, Schubert made clear on Wednesday evening in the main committee.
Therefore, the question is how one can create another year – for example with transitional financing – in order to be able to know and evaluate the model planned by the foundation for admission to the park. According to Schubert, it is also about free access to the park for all Potsdam residents.
The compromise proposal for an additional period was not initially voted on, nor was the million-euro payments themselves. In the presence of the Foundation’s Director General, Christoph Vogtherr, the pros and cons of this question were once again put forward for more than 90 minutes. Several city politicians again demanded that representatives of the founders – i.e. the states of Berlin and Brandenburg and the federal government – also have to take part in the debate.
Vogtherr replied that these invitations would then have to be given sooner than before. At the same time, he made it clear that the city’s millions in payments would be needed for a long time – it was about funds for park maintenance, which was becoming more and more expensive due to climate change.
Left-wing city councilor Sascha Krämer was one of the first city politicians to react on Wednesday evening. He explained that it was nice that Schubert took up his suggestions from the talks on Monday and brought them to the main committee as an idea. In this way, one can negotiate for up to a year longer, so Krämer hopes – and positions and options can be discussed.
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