Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Jasper鈥檚 new sidewalk season program has been extended, on a week to week basis.
The temporary pilot program, which was launched in June to allow businesses to use the sidewalk or parking spaces outside its premises for seating or product display, was originally scheduled to end on Oct. 16.
Neil Jones, licensing and enforcement manager, said seven businesses have been issued permits and no major issues have come up.
Mayor Richard Ireland said, "If there's a business that perceives (it to be) a benefit I'm fully supportive... Let them stay until the snow flies and we need to remove snow."
Businesses have the option to remove the seating and other materials when they choose to.
Butler emphasized snow removal is the priority and, when the time comes, that it needs to be everyone removing the tables and chairs and associated materials, not just some.
A case for compost collection
Council talked about a recommendation made at an earlier meeting to suspend collection of compost seasonally.
John Greathead, director of operations, said compost collection in the winter is labour intensive and staff have been injured many times taking heavy loads from the bin to the truck.
Compost has also been contaminated at times, with bags, for example.
Councillor Jenna McGrath said composting "is a very meaningful and value-based exercise for people in this community and I'm not ready to give up."
Deputy mayor, Rico Damota, agreed and wants to look into it further.
"I support seasonal suspensions," said coun. Scott Wilson. He said he composts in his yard throughout the year.
"At this point in the season, it's only responsible to suspend it until we have better options," he said.
Coun. Paul Butler said, "We live in a winter climate and have to figure out how to handle this year-round."
Coun. Bert Journault said, "It's best for the safety of our employees to suspend it."
Jasper residents Ryan and Brianna Bray strongly opposed seasonal suspension of compost collection in a letter to council and wanted councillors to vote against it.
They cited a number of studies in their letter, outlining the positives of composting organic materials instead of depositing them in landfill sites.
"As a municipality in a national park we should be leaders in environmental protection,鈥� the letter reads.
鈥淭he compost produced here in Jasper is used by many as a nutrient rich material that is added to yards and gardens.鈥�
Another Jasper resident, Tasha Porttin, wrote in a letter that she wants Jasper to lead by example, "to help protect the environment and slow climate change".
She encouraged council and administration to explore alternate options so "this crucial program remains in place for our generation and generations to come".
Council will discuss it further at their committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 13 and a decision is scheduled for Oct. 20.
Money matters
Council approved an increase of $250,000 for the Jasper Community Housing Corporation project, for a total of $495,000. It was added to an existing $245,000 in the 2020 capital budget.
Council discussed approving an additional net deficit of $34,000 to reopen the arena starting Dec. 1, 2020 or earlier, pending construction, staff availability and training. The hours of operation are estimated to be 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, but are subject to change.
"Bring this back next week for a committee of the whole meeting," Butler said, so a decision can be made on Oct. 20.
Council gave a thumbs up to Tourism Jasper's request to have rental fees waived for their use of the multi-purpose hall, Commemoration Park and Robson Park, for free family entertainment, to complement the Dark Sky Festival鈥檚 programming over the course of two weeks.
The approved motion allows up to $3,812 plus tax, to be waived.
"I want to point out this is a measure taken due to COVID," Butler said.
Ireland agreed: "This is a revenue loss due to COVID."
