Council Chronicles: Last meeting of the year

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyoming -

Sidewalks
In 2008, 69 percent of county voters said they would favor setting aside $1 million for sidewalk improvement as part of the balloting on the Special Purpose Excise Tax (SPET). The town responded by putting together a list of some 21 sidewalk projects.

At Monday’s special meeting, town authorities narrowed the list to eight projects that would use SPET monies. They include: Jackson’s east side from Broadway to Pearl, the west side of Powderhorn from Elk Run to existing
sidewalk to the south, East Broadway’s south side from Willow to Jean, and more.

Parking
The Town of Jackson still wants to hear more feedback regarding their proposal to introduce alternate side parking restrictions in the town development core and possibly into residential neighborhoods. Officials put off moving on the agenda item until staffers could more effectively ascertain who stakeholders were.

Development Review
The Council also took no action Review Procedures that govern each new construction project in Jackson. The Council had received feedback from developers that flip-flopping the order of the Design Review Committee process and Planning Commission reviews would make more sense.

Taxi rules eased
The Council made numerous revisions to their Ground Transportation Ordinances. The exhaustive section of the Jackson Municipal Code governing taxicabs went into effect May 4, and has drawn criticism from the ground transportation industry.

The Town eventually agreed to do away with the mandated orange Wyoming State fingerprint cards that were required of operators. Drivers were also allowed to reactivate their hack license three years after a DUI conviction rather than the five years, originally proposed. Moving violations nullifying a permit were increased from three to four per year.

Karns Meadows
The Karns Meadow Stormwater Treatment Wetland Project was approved Monday. The joint venture between the Town of Jackson, Jackson Hole Land Trust, Teton Conservation District, and Parks and Rec, will provide benefits to the area at the corner of Flat Creek and Snow King.

The restoration project should improve quality of runoff entering Flat Creek at the Karns Meadow property. It will also enhance wildlife habitat in that area.

Ranch scaled back
The Home Ranch Building will move on in the approval process without the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber withdrew its request for office space in the newly designed town restroom and visitor services building at the Home Ranch parking lot.

The Town had approved preliminary designs by Carney Architects at the Oct. 20 meeting. Since then, funding tightened and the Chamber backed out. The Town wants to proceed without the Chamber’s involvement and fund the project with $1.7 million in state Scenic Byway Funds which must be used by December 2010.

One more meeting is scheduled before Carney begins the redesign. 


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Council Chronicles: Last meeting of the year | Planet JH News Article: General News

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