Transit and paratransit fees have been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic since city council believes transit is an essential service that helps residents get to grocery stores and pharmacies.
That was one decision city council unanimously made during its March 23 regular meeting to help alleviate the “extreme hardship” many residents are likely facing due to the coronavirus.
Furthermore, council approved the continued enforcement of parking fines and the paying of meters, the discontinuation of disconnecting water utilities for people who are behind in their payments, and the discontinuation of seizing properties for people in arrears. City administration will also provide regular written updates to council meetings on the COVID-19 virus.
Since everyone has been mandated to stay two metres (six feet) away from each other, councillors Heather Eby, Chris Warren and Dawn Luhning participated from home using online technology. Mayor Fraser Tolmie and councillors Brian Swanson, Crystal Froese and Scott McMann were seated further away from each other at the council table.
Council discussion
The City of Moose Jaw does not want to shut off residents’ utilities since soap and water are integral to combatting the coronavirus, said city manager Jim Puffalt. City hall also wants to work with residents to find ways to help them pay their monthly water invoices.
One way to ensure this happens is to have residents go on a regular payment plan, explained finance director Brian Acker. One concern city administration has is that residents who push off these financial burdens will face a massive bill down the road.
“We want to work out ways for them to pay, even if it’s a little at a time. If they can’t pay all at one time, that’s fine. We will not disconnect them,” he said.
Late payments for utilities and taxes will continue to be levied, with city administration to reassess this decision in a month once it has a better idea of what is happening with the pandemic.
The annual taxation process will still occur since this is a long-term procedure, Acker continued. However, city hall will not send out tax notices since that usually happens in late May. Administration will reassess that decision later and determine if it needs to extend the tax payment deadline.
Residents who pay their bills monthly will not suffer any penalties, Acker told Eby. However, city hall expects some residents to face difficulties maintaining that. Administration won’t pursue the enforcement process immediately but will reassess during the coming months.
“Anyone who pays their taxes by the end of this month will get a small discount,” he continued. “Once we go forward, normal taxes (for commercial and residential properties) will be due June 30.”
The paying of parking meters will continue to be enforced and tickets will be issued, said Acker. Fines will be “judiciously” applied since city administration does not want parking to bunch up in one location.
City administration does expect — and has already seen — a decline in transit ridership, while it doesn’t expect numbers to increase even though fees have been waived, he added.
“Ridership has plummeted is the best terminology we can use,” said Puffalt.
Specifically, ridership has decreased by 80 per cent, so city administration will monitor the service to better determine how many people are riding, especially as businesses continue to close.
City administration will keep council informed about ridership, especially if any drastic changes need to be made, Puffalt added. While it wants to provide this service, it doesn’t want to have empty buses driving around the municipality.
The next regular council meeting is set for Monday, April 13, but that could change if the federal or provincial governments mandate more severe restrictions on the number of people in one location.
