Council to look at new patio fee proposal Monday

Council on Monday will once again debate raising patio fees.

During budget deliberations, council voted to raise patio fees to $5.90 per square foot, charge a $212 administration fee and ask for a $1,000 refundable deposit.

It was a reversal of council's decision to waive the fees until 2018, a decision made about a year ago.

Monday, Coun. Rino Bortolin will propose a standardized patio fee of $1 per square foot be charged to all businesses in 2016.

Patio fees per square foot under Bortolin's proposal would then be as follows, starting in 2017:

• 2017 - $0.50/sq. ft.
• 2018 - $1.00/sq. ft.
• 2019 - $1.50/sq. ft.
• 2020 - $2.00/sq. ft.
• 2021 - $2.50/sq. ft.
• 2022 - $3.00/sq. ft.
• 2023 and beyond - capped at $3/sq. ft.

Bortolin calls his idea a hybrid of the waiver of fees and the $5.90 fee that was approved during the budget.

He will also propose to lower the refundable deposit to $500.

"After speaking with a lot business owners they were concerned. They wanted some sort of idea and stability as to what the fees would be in the future," Bortolin said. "Most business understand that patio fees are normal. I think most understand the fees are necessary. I think where the frustration came was that last year, in the spring, council voted to waive the fees until 2018.

"They understand they have to pay, but there was definitely some concern that $5.90 per square foot for the downtown BIA was probably higher than the provincial average and what other municipalities charge."

Bortolin said among councillors, "the general sentiment is support" for his idea but that there are some councillors who don't like making decisions "beyond their term."

The next municipal election will take place in 2018.

Bortolin said the patio industry is vital to the city.

"When you look at downtown, one of the reasons it's so appealing, and not just for tourists, but for everyone across the city, is to have a seat on the patio in the summertime and enjoy the patio culture," Bortolin said. "We should be looking at how to foster that and help that. It's good business-wise and a good atmosphere to create, not just downtown, but across all our BIAs."

Bortolin did warn "it's a very precarious industry" and that's why fees need to be what he and businesses consider fair and reasonable.

"You're at the mercy of the weather. It could be a cold, wet summer and you could really hurt. If the patio fees are high, around $6 a square foot, you end up paying more for rent of sidewalk space than some people pay for warehouse space," he said.