CN seeks funds for railways crossing upgrade
CN has applied for a grant to improve the Hazel Avenue railway crossing and is asking the municipality to chip in to help with the project.
As part of Transport Canada’s Grade Crossing Improvement Project, CN applied for a grant to upgrade the crossing in the interest of improving its overall safety. That grant would cover up to 50 per cent of the project’s total cost. CN is asking that the municipality contribute 12.5 per cent—$35,725 of the total $285,800.
According to the Sept. 15 council agenda, it is typical for municipalities to share the cost of capital improvements where municipal roadways cross rail lines.
If the grant proposal is successful, the plan is to undertake the project in 2017.
Council will vote on whether or not to support the project at its Oct. 1 meeting.
Busking trial set for Culture Days weekend
Musicians will take to the streets with open guitar cases Sept. 25 and 26 as part of a busking pilot project.
Council approved the two-day project along with a list of downtown locations where the musicians can set up between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. over the course of Culture Days weekend.
Following the two day project, the municipality will be collecting feedback from the community to determine how to proceed with busking in the future, as it considers allowing the activity as part of a bylaw regulating commercial use of public land. That bylaw would also address the farmer’s market and sidewalk seating, both of which have had their own pilot projects this year.
For the pilot project, Jasper Habitat for the Arts will receive a busking permit, allowing Marianne Garrah to select local talent to perform in each of the selected locations.
Businesses near the approved busking spots will be notified of the pilot project, as well as the requirements the municipality has set for the musicians, including not to impede or disrupt traffic flow to surrounding businesses.
If Habitat for the Arts can’t find musicians for all eight locations, council prioritized the busking spots to minimize disruptions to businesses.
In support of that idea, Coun. Dwain Wacko pointed to recent complaints from business owners about the Tour of Alberta, which rolled through town at the beginning of September.
“Given some of the negativity that came out of last weekend’s activities, I think we should proceed with caution,” he said.
Reviewing the review: business license procedures
Council is requesting feedback from the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures West Yellowhead on 10 recommendations to improve the town’s business licensing procedures.
The recommendations are from a joint review of Jasper’s land use planning and development undertaken by Parks Canada and the municipality last year. The recommendations include everything from the development of a single document outlining Jasper’s business licensing requirements that could be used by both Parks and the municipality, to preparing a business license 101 guide that can be posted online for prospective business owners.
The results of the business licensing review, completed by MNP Consulting, were released in the Sept. 1 council agenda and council was asked to direct administration to share them with the two local business organizations in order to solicit feedback from the business community. On Sept. 15, council unanimously supported that motion.
Pattie Pavlov, general manager of the chamber, said at first glance she agrees with all 10 recommendations and she looks forward to speaking with the municipality about how the process can be improved, as it is currently convoluted, with businesses often having to deal with both the municipality and Parks.
Update: electric car charging station
Despite a new road block, the municipality is moving ahead with the installation of an electric car charging station.
Earlier this year, the municipality was offered three free electric vehicle chargers from Sun Country Highway, but when Janet Cooper, environmental stewardship coordinator, recently reached out to the company, she was told the offer had expired.
“I sent an update to the contact from Sun Country and he informed me that the program for free charging stations is over,” she told council Sept. 15. “There was never any indication of when the end date was. But, you know, we’ve made so much progress and ... I want to proceed with the project.”
Cooper suggested that the environmental stewardship budget—which is split between the municipality and Parks Canada—could absorb the cost of an electric vehicle charging station and its installation.
“The Sun Country model they were offering is about $1,200 a charger,” she said. “I can absorb buying the charging stations through the environmental stewardship budget, so I still want to proceed with that.
“I think this project has a lot of merit.”
Mayor Richard Ireland agreed with Cooper and offered to approach Sun Country while he is at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Conference, to inquire about its previous offer of free chargers.
If the charging station is to be installed, Cooper said the location currently being considered is in the old fire hall parking lot on Patricia Street.
Nicole Veerman
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