Estevan city council has decided to wait before making a final decision on its new business licence bylaw.
Council was expected to ratify the document during its meeting on Monday night. But due to some confusion about the document, and some public outcry about some of the fees, council delayed giving second and third readings.
The bylaw received first reading on June 6. The public then had two weeks to provide their feedback.
Council is now looking to have a public meeting so that people can offer their opinions. Then they would pass an amended bylaw at their meeting on July 18.
“We just learned today that there was a lot of feedback on this,” said Councillor Greg Hoffort. “I think we should all be very pleased. That’s the process that we’ve recently moved to was to give it first reading … and put it out to the public.”
Hoffort said there have been opinions that were both supportive and in opposition to the document, and so council needs more time to review it.
Councillor Trevor Knibbs said there appears to have been some confusion with the categories for the licences, including the farmer’s market and trade shows. It will cost $125 to receive a farmer’s market licence, and $250 to have a licence for a trade show. The individual vendors at those events do not have to pay the fees each time they participate.
City manager Jeff Ward added they have received a lot of comments regarding that part of the bylaw.
Local resident Cameron Robock spoke to council about his concerns with the document, particularly when it comes to the timing.
“Estevan, having been part of the area where we’ve been hit the hardest with unemployment, to do this now, right away, isn’t the best idea,” said Robock.
If council were to implement a business licence bylaw in a year or two, when the economy is stronger, then Robock believes that would make more sense.
He is also concerned with the lack of clarity with certain aspects of the bylaw, although he was pleased to hear council address some of the confusion regarding the farmer’s market and the trade shows.
Mayor Roy Ludwig noted that since they’re already halfway into the year, the fees might remain the same this year. The increases would take effect in 2017.
“That’s something that council will be addressing in the July (18) meeting, after we have the open meeting, and making any necessary amendments,” said Ludwig.
The bylaw calls for a $100 licence fee for a new business, a $30 licence fee for a commercial business located within city limits and a $500 fee for commercial businesses from outside of city limits, such as vehicle dealerships and hot tub vendors, that have brief sales in the city.
Other licence fees would be: $100 for a home-based business with income under $30,000; $250 for a home-based business with income over $30,000; $250 for a transient trade; $250 for a food truck; $250 for a direct sales contractor or a direct seller; and $125 for sub trades of a contractor for each job.
