Maybe it was the time of day (1 p.m. on a Friday). Maybe it was the spring weather (sunny and warm), or perhaps it had to do with the subject at hand (garbage). Whatever the reason, most Jasperites missed a key opportunity to make suggestions on the municipality’s planned changes to their solid waste rates last week.

The public at the meeting was in fact outnumbered by municipal employees, who turned out in force to discuss the alterations and increases that will have to be made when the town stops subsidizing solid waste services on July 1.

Currently, 30 per cent of the total operating costs are borne by the municipality but a desire for full-cost accounting and the operation of all municipal utilities as break-even operations has motivated the upcoming change. This means that $145,000 needs to be found through a combination of fee restructuring and cost reductions. The options presented by Environmental Services Director Ken Quackenbush at Friday’s meeting would see that first set of changes happen this year in order to make up half of the needed amount.

“Even if we hit this target, we’re only halfway there,” he said. “We have to have a combination of savings and increased revenue because I don’t think anyone would accept a 30 per cent rate increase to get there.”

One of the options outlined by Quackenbush was a simple 15 per cent increase for both commercial and residential rates. The current base rate stands at $786.90 for commercial properties and $148 for residential.

“That would get us to where we need to be,” he said.

Another option would see most of the needed money gained by restructuring the way solid waste rates are calculated for apartments, suites above commercial properties, and some duplexes in town. For now, these types of properties pay a single commercial rate and the per-pickup fee for each additional visit the garbage truck has to make. Under the proposed rate regime, each dwelling in an apartment complex, for example, would be charged the residential rate. If this measure was adopted, it would mean that only a three per cent increase for all rates would be necessary. 

“A per dwelling fee across the board makes it more fair,” argued Nicole Ward, environmental stewardship coordinator for the town. Others claimed that increasing the amount paid by each apartment complex would make rent more expensive for apartment residents. Quackenbush acknowledged that a change in the rate structure for apartments would mean a major financial impact on the larger complexes in Jasper, such as Yellowhead Apartments and Cavell Court, but he added that the cost would break down to $12 per month per residential unit, anywhere in Jasper. How does that compare to what apartment dwellers are already paying for garbage services? “I don’t really know,” Quackenbush said. “I’m not sure that they do either.”

While the municipality did not propose any alterations to the method of calculating the commercial garbage rates, the review process provides an opportunity to look at possible options.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but at the same time just because there is something in place doesn’t mean it’s working or it’s fair,” said Ward. Suggestions from those in attendance included charging commercial rates based on square footage, or implementing Tourism Jasper’s breakdown of space, seats and beds to more accurately divvy up costs. 

“It’s really a shame that garbage couldn’t be tracked to who produces it,” said Karen Phillips, attending the meeting on behalf of the Jasper Home Accommodation Association. Many cities have a tag-a-bag program which allows cost to be determined by waste produced and encourages garbage reduction through recycling and composting where possible. This sort of an approach works well with curbside garbage pick-up, an idea that was trashed long ago in Jasper and other national park communities.

Quackenbush said that no decisions have been made on which approach to take and that the municipality remains open to suggestions. A follow-up meeting may be scheduled in the weeks ahead.