The Municipality of Jasper’s administrative team floated the idea of changing Jasper’s paid parking system, but the majority of councillors indicated they are inclined to keep it, warts and all.

On July 12, Christine Nadon, Director of Legislative and Protective Services, told councillors gathered for their regular committee of the whole meeting that after three months of paid parking, despite the tens of thousands of transactions, 1,400 resident permits issued and nearly $120,000 in revenue, Jasper’s paid parking system has generated “a level of friction with residents higher than anticipated.”

“Our staff have been on the receiving end of a lot of difficult situations,” Nadon told councillors. “People have been very irate, to levels we’ve never seen before.”

That abuse, coupled with the technical issues that residents have been facing when attempting to validate their parking credits, compelled administration to recommend as a potential course of action that council discontinue the 500 hours of free parking for residents and move to a full exemption program.

Currently, Jasperites who live outside the paid parking and residential parking zones can apply for a Resident at Large permit. Paid Parking Zone permits are for residents who live within the paid parking zone (downtown). Resident Parking Only Zone permits are for those who live on streets which buffer the downtown, while Mobility and Technology permits are issued for those with mobility challenges or for those without a smartphone.

 “The main benefit of discontinuing the 500 hour program is we would go from four permit types to one,” Nadon said, noting that the service provider, HotSpot, is onboard with moving to a more simplified system.

But Mayor Richard Ireland suggested that those categories were created to work in a degree of equity into the program—they make paid parking more fair, he argued.

“I’m not inclined to reduce them, particularly after you and your staff have already suffered all the imaginable friction from having them in the first place.

“To walk away from it now destroys the equity in the system.”

Councillor Scott Wilson suggested Jasperites ought to appreciate free downtown parking—something many communities trying to raise revenues don’t give their residents.  

“We’ve made an effort to accommodate residents, residents need to make an effort to accommodate paid parking,” he said.

As of Saturday, July 19, Jasper now has two kiosks where visitors can make parking payments, rather than simply relying on the parking public to pay with their web-based app or internet browser.

Council moved to accept administration’s report, which is available on the municipal website.  

To apply for a parking permit or for more information on paid parking, visit  www.jasper-alberta.ca/p/parking. Paid parking will be in effect until October 31.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com