Hess Village bar owners nearly off the hook for paying extra policing costs - for now

It's been a years-long fight, but it appears Hess Village bar owners are finally off the hook for paying extra money to the city for policing. At least for now.

City council's planning committee voted Tuesday to cover from annual costs of the paid duty policing program about $50,000among seven bar owners from a reserve, at least for a year. It costs more than $50,000, staff say, tocollect the money.

There are still hurdles. City council has to ratify the plan on April 25, and it has a history of overturning Hess Village decisions. And after this year, the city and Hamilton Police Service will have to agree to find room for the program in their budgets.

But Dean Collett, owner of Sizzle/Koi, says he's optimistic.

"It was a positive meeting," he said.

"It's like every year it pops up, and every year, we end up with negative headlines in the press. My hope is (the plan), which makes perfect sense, is properly received in a non-political way."

This issue dates back to 2010, when the city made it mandatory for Hess Village bar owners to pay out of pocket for policing.

Bar owners fought it. Several refused to pay and ended up before the city's licensing tribunal. Colletttook the city to court over it in 2013.

Police want the program to stay. Hess Village gets rowdy on weekend nights, Chief Eric Girt says, and it requires extra time and attention. Hewarned councillors last year that there's still too much drunkenness and problem behaviour to scrap paid duty policing altogether.

Collett insists that's no longer the reality in Hess Village. There are 10 restaurants there, he said, and increasingly smaller weekend night crowds.

"HessVillage is portrayed in a negative light in so many partsof thecity when it's justflatoutwrong."

Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor, has been trying to get the program scrapped for years. With the debate potentially over, Farr said, he hopes Hess Village's reputation turns around.

"Hopefully, the message is more promotional," he said,"and focuses a lot on the great things that have been happening there."