COUNCIL REPORT - FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW NO. 958 AMENDMENT – BYLAW NOTIFICATION

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Council
DATE: September 27, 2023
FROM: J. Chow, RPP, MCIP, Senior Planner
MEETING DATE: October 3, 2023

FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW NO. 958, 2016, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1123, 2023 – BYLAW NOTIFICATION

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Town of View Royal provide written notice of Council’s intent to revise the business license fee for Cannabis Retail Stores to the one Cannabis Retail Store business licensee within the Town of View Royal prior to fourth reading of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1123, 2023.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the notice requirements before adopting a bylaw that regulates business, in accordance with section 59 of the Community Charter, prior to Council’s consideration of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1123, 2023.

TIME CRITICAL:

1. Section 59 of the Community Charter requires that before adopting a bylaw that regulates business, a council must give notice of its intention and provide an opportunity for persons who consider they are affected by the bylaw to make representations to council.
2. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1123, 2023 should be adopted by the November 7, 2023, so that the 2024 business license renewals can be sent out in December.

BACKGROUND:

A review of business license fees for Cannabis Retail Stores was presented at the September 12, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting. The staff report for that meeting (see Attachment A) outlines the issues. At the meeting, the Committee of Whole recommended that an annual business license fee be reduced from $7500 to $1500 per year, which would be consistent with the City of Victoria’s business license fee.

DISCUSSION:

Section 59 of the Community Charter states that before adopting a bylaw that regulates business, notice be provided in the form and manner, at the times and as often as the council considers reasonable. Staff has had continuing informal contact with the one current Cannabis Retail Store business licensee throughout the business license fee review, but a formal notice is required.

SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS:

There are no significant sustainability or climate change impacts associated with this proposal.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

There are no substantive financial implications associated with the bylaw notification process for the Town.

ALTERNATIVES:

Council may wish to consider additional forms of notice that it considers to be reasonable.

CONCLUSION:

In addition to the Town’s standard practice for Council agenda notices, staff recommends that written notice of Council’s consideration of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1123, 2023 be provided prior to scheduling fourth reading of the bylaw.

Attachments:

1. Attachment A: Report from the Senior Planner dated September 7, 2023