• Ken Quackenbush, director of Environmental Services, prepared a request for decision on Mar. 3 to approve the public washroom design and the chosen site which is the 600 block Connaught Drive parking lot, directly across from the Shell Station. 

The need for public washrooms in Jasper’s downtown has been an ongoing issue and was originally included in the 2008 capital plan.

However, Quackenbush said he held off in hopes of prices lowering and believes now may be a more viable time to commence construction. 

Parks Canada will provide 50 per cent of the funding for the project and the MSI grant program will supply the other 50 per cent with a total expenditure of $300,000. 

According to Quackenbush, the design of the project will aim to have a net-zero energy use, depending on whether hot water is available; will aim to meet green standards; use solar energy; have natural light; conservative water use; and be durable so as to deal well with possible vandalism and cleaning issues. 

He has estimated a total running cost of $25,000 per year, but said this was on the “high side.”

• Environmental Services requested the first and second reading of the amended Jasper Levy and Collection of Utility Fees bylaw to reflect the four per cent increase to make them consistent with the Municipality’s operating budget.

Both readings were approved by council so they could be sent to Parks for accreditation and would be ready in time for March billing.

• The Collection of Offsite Levies and Parking Authority’s first readings were approved by Council to have a four per cent increase in accordance with the consumer price index. 

• All councillors voted in favor of the revision that now states, “The Acting Mayor will perform the functions of the Mayor during times when both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are absent at the same time. The Acting Mayor shall be the person who last held the position of Deputy Mayor, except in an election year when the selection for both positions shall be conducted randomly.”

• Jasper resident Roy Everest questioned Council about the decision to go under instead of over the rail crossing at Hazel Avenue.

He said he investigated the issue and found that most jurisdictions decide to go over, rather than under and questioned the cost analysis done by council to reach the decision of an underpass as he believed an overpass would be cheaper.

Quackenbush explained that the costs were relatively similar and that an overpass was less aestheticly pleasing and believes Parks Canada would not be in favor of the construction.

Coun. Ralph Melnyk explained “ease of access” of people with a disability or stroller was also a consideration of the underpass and that an overpass would be “quite the structure” as the ramp would have to be 50 per cent longer for an overpass.

Mayor Richard Ireland suggested Quackenbush share the costs of the underpass versus overpass issue.