Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Jasper Municipal Council discussed if paid parking would apply to residents for the 2021 pilot project during its committee of the whole meeting on April 13.
The committee recommend that council approve the implementation of the pilot project, meaning council still has to approve this plan at a future meeting.
“I speak in support of that motion and particularly as it relates to whether the parking fees should be universally applied; I agree that it ought to be,” said Mayor Richard Ireland.
The goals of paid parking include generating visitor-based revenue, promoting pedestrian traffic and encouraging turnover in the downtown area.
Administration had returned to council with a revised implementation plan so paid parking would apply to the area currently subject to two-hour parking for the same posted hours.
The program would run from May 3 to Sept. 30.
While noting how the pilot project could be adjusted over the season, the mayor noted that the past council never considered that the two-hour parking, when it was implemented, would not apply to residents.
“It applies to whoever uses that public space and I see no difference in principle applying the same principle to paid parking in the downtown core,” Ireland said.
Under a rate of $2 per hour for each stall, the 246 stalls have the potential to generate $369,000 in revenue this season.
The municipality has been consulting with a stakeholder committee, which includes representatives from the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Jasper.
“All participants in that stakeholder committee confirmed that the did not have concerns at a high level of the concept of paid parking in Jasper,” said Bill Given, chief administrative officer for the municipality.
“None of them, including Tourism Jasper, felt that it would be an impact on visitor numbers and, in fact, they have asserted that generally visitors to Jasper are paying for parking in their home communities.”
Stakeholders did note concerns about the potential for more visitor parking in residential areas and the impact on guest parking for hotels.
They also questioned whether residents should be exempt from paid parking.
Coun. Jenna McGrath suggested that those with residential passes could park for free, potentially up to a maximum of two hours.
“I believe that our focus is to generate some additional revenues to lessen the burden on our ratepayers,” McGrath said.
“Therefore, I see that the people appropriate to be charged for downtown parking should be the visitors.”
She highlighted the potential impact that paying for parking may have on seniors, those with disabilities and businesses that do not have back-alley access.
Coun. Rico Damota said he understood McGrath’s concerns and noted the need to provide access while also encouraging turnover.
“We don’t want to see employees or other people coming in and using a parking stall for eight hours while they complete their shift when that could be accessed to create turnover,” Damota said.
Coun. Bert Journault acknowledged the issues raised by McGrath but emphasized the need for consistency.
“To start relaxing right from the start will lead to some difficulties, for lack of a better word,” Journault said, noting the project was a learning experience.
Coun. Paul Butler noted that downtown residents had responsibilities too when it came to paid parking and that there was a significant number of designated parking spaces for those with disabilities and mobility issues.
“Every decision we make has direct benefits for some, indirect benefits for some and negatives for others and it is the nature of municipal decisions,” Butler said.
In addition, the municipality says it would use advertising and signage to direct visitors to free off-street parking lots while also increasing patrols and enforcement on vehicles parked in residential areas that are not displaying a resident pass.
Given added that the sidewalk seating program may impact paid parking revenues, noting that sidewalk seating cost the municipality $3,000 per two stalls.
