Smithers council was working through ideas for solutions to the lone sidewalk at the committee of the whole meeting last night.
Most of council turned down the idea of the town paying for a percentage of the cost of a sidewalk, or any off site works that a developer is required to pay for a development over 75 k.
Mayor Taylor Bachrach had the idea of raising that 75k bar to 100k.
“Construction costs have gone up over time, and that number was decided on back in 2011. And when it was decided on it wasn’t backed up with a large amount of analysis,” says Bachrach.
The town has $50,000 in the 2016 capital sidewalk budget above what’s needed for basic repairs and maintenance.
Councillor Phil Brienesse wan’t to see that threshold, or ‘trigger’, amount hit regularly. He says it all depends on what off site costs are needed as a result of a development.
“Not everyone needs a 12 thousand dollar sidewalk,” says Brienesse.
Councillor Gladys Atrill wants to see more communication with the public.
The town planner also spoke about the forming of the bylaw and the lack of analysis that led to the 75 thousand dollar threshold.