March 15, 2021

A proposal for a paid parking pilot project was seen as too tentative by Jasper municipal council and administration was sent back to the drawing board March 9. 

Newly minted CAO Bill Given admitted the scheme was conservative by design but suggested the plan would garner important data without ruffling too many feathers.

“Given the complexities of on street parking and the number of affected stakeholders, administration started with a narrow scope,” Given said.

Given explained that obtaining baseline data on usage and getting stakeholder feedback could be achieved by establishing paid parking in two outlying parking lots: Hazel Ave across from the Home Hardware, and Connaught Drive next to the municipal washroom facility. Such an approach could collect up to $100,000, or the equivalent of a 1.9 per cent property tax increase, Given estimated.

But council wanted to see a pilot project that tries paid parking in the downtown core.

“I don’t want to see the project fail because we’ve moved forward in half measures,” Councillor Paul Butler said.

Council passed a motion directing administration to come back to the next committee of the whole meeting with a pilot project that better addresses downtown congestion. Councillor Rico Damota opposed the motion.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com