Jason Stockfish, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Jasper Municipal Council discussed the potential changes to the sidewalk seating and retail area extension program for 2022 at the Feb. 8 committee of the whole meeting.
Complicating matters, explained Mayor Richard Ireland, is the fact that Parks Canada has jurisdiction over land-use planning and development, not the municipality.
Therefore, Parks鈥� expectations surrounding a specific motif that businesses were expected to conform to in 2022 are not under the control of the municipality.
鈥淚 appreciate the tenor of the relationship we have with Parks Canada and working collaboratively to make this work in the interest of our community, and the business sector in particular,鈥� Ireland said.
鈥淏ut I continue to be somewhat mystified as to the role of the architectural motif guidelines as it relates to patios, in particular.鈥�
One of the guidelines that Parks has established is that 鈥渏ersey barriers,鈥� concrete barriers used to separate patio seating from the roadways, are to be removed and replaced with more aesthetically pleasing wooden pedestrian boardwalks.
Another guideline from Parks explains that pop-up tents are not to be permitted on patios.
Umbrellas are allowed but must be neutral in colour and contain no logos.
Seeing that the term 鈥榞uidelines鈥� suggests that relaxations are possible鈥攊f you can meet the desired objective in another fashion鈥擨reland stated that it doesn鈥檛 seem Parks is willing to allow for relaxations.
As a result of this perceived inflexibility by Parks, Ireland explained that he believes there should be an opportunity for businesses to appeal under Parks鈥� architectural motif guidelines.
鈥淚f we can advocate for another season of what we have had for the last two years while we work on what the real rules are, I think that would be the solution most amenable to moving our community forward,鈥� Ireland said.
Councillors expressed varying views on how to move forward with commercial use of sidewalks and parking lanes in the downtown core, but they generally agreed that any changes to the program should be slowly phased in.
In addition, they agreed the timeline of one year expected by Parks, and recommended by administration, could create a great deal of hardship for many businesses if enforced.
鈥淭here is some concern in the business community that monies were spent last year and a one-year phase out would mean that there would be additional funds that would need to be spent to be compliant (with Parks鈥� motif guidelines),鈥� said. Coun. Ralph Melnyk.
鈥淚鈥檓 wondering if there鈥檚 a possibility of a couple of years of crossover to spread that (additional expense) out for business owners as we鈥檙e coming out of this COVID period.鈥�
Coun. Wendy Hall agreed that the increases were too much for one year and would instead like to see changes phased out over three years.
鈥淧eople are just learning how to live with this 鈥榥ew normal.鈥� Our retailers, our restaurants, need to know what鈥檚 happening so they can hire their staff. There鈥檚 already a shortage of staff.鈥�
CAO Bill Given noted that administration had heard from the business community that clarity surrounding the program鈥檚 requirements was necessary.
He added that administration had heard from Parks Canada that more compliance with the architectural motif requirement will be expected.
Therefore, administration is striving to strike a balance between the business community鈥檚 interests and Parks Canada鈥檚 expectations, explained Given.
Adding yet another level of complexity to the issue is the matter of parking in Jasper.
Not only is there a shortage in relation to the number of residents and visitors, but with the implementation of paid parking in 2021, each parking stall has a determined monetary value.
Administration has determined the value of each stall to be $6,624 based on potential revenue derived from hourly daily rates during the months of paid parking enforcement in Jasper.
If businesses are going to be using parking stalls, then essentially each space they use would be 鈥渞ented鈥� from the municipality.
It is administration鈥檚 recommendation that the fee for each stall shall be $1,650鈥攖hat is, 25 per cent of the determined value.
Coun. Kathleen Waxer commented on her concern regarding the increase in fee collections when there was already a strain on small businesses.
鈥淚f we did need to add those additional dollars, I wonder if we could revisit the paid parking to be year-round rather than putting more strain on small businesses that are struggling in this pandemic context,鈥� Waxer said.
In the end, councillors seemed to agree that $1,650 would be a fair rate in non-COVID times, but seeing that the pandemic is ongoing, businesses would benefit from a reprieve of 50 per cent, bringing the suggested rate per stall to $825, an amount similar to 2021.
Discussion on the matter will continue at future meetings as will more consultation with Parks Canada and local businesses.
