Vancouver City Council |
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: November 27, 2002
Author/Local: N.Hood/7741
RTS No. 03088
CC File No. 1758CS&B: December 12, 2002
TO:
Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:
General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:
Anchor Rod and Street Activity Permits - Fee Review
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve Anchor Rod and Street Activity Permit Fee increases, generally as set out in Appendix A to this report, which would increase permit fees by approximately 7.2% (when rounded), as an inflationary adjustment reflecting the growth in City costs.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services be requested to prepare the necessary amendments to Street Vending By-law No. 4781, Granville Mall By-law No. 4792, Encroachment By-law No. 4243 and to Street and Traffic By-law No.2849, to implement the revised fees.
POLICY
Permit fees are reviewed periodically to comply with Council policy that fees recover the full cost of providing services or are equivalent to competitive charges where the fee is of a market nature.
PURPOSE
This report seeks approval for an increase in Anchor Rod and Street Activity Permit Fees.BACKGROUND
Council last approved an increase in Street Activity Permit Fees on January 7, 1999. At that time a comprehensive review of fee structures was undertaken, including a comparison with other cities in North America. Anchor Rod Fees were last reviewed in 1995.
DISCUSSION
Street Activity Permits are issued for such things as sidewalk cafes, vending, street entertainment and oversized trucks. The cumulative inflation rate used in building the City's budgets from 1999 to 2002 is 7.2%. Since a comprehensive review of fee structures for Street Activity Permits was undertaken in 1998 to ensure that costs reflect market value and are comparable to other cities, a simple inflationary adjustment of approximately 7.2% is recommended at this time.
Anchor Rod Fees are charged to developers when an excavation needs to be stabilized by the placement of anchor rods subterraneously on City property. Although Anchor Rod Fees were last reviewed in 1995 and the inflation rate is greater than 7.2% since that time, it is felt that the recommended increase will adequately cover any costs that the City may incur from the placement of anchor rods on City property.
Fee increases would be effective January 1, 2003 for Anchor Rods, Granville Mall, Oversize Vehicle, Street Entertainment, News Box and Special Event Market Permits. All other fees would increase on their annual renewal date, which varies for each type of permit.
Some fees have been adjusted up or down for ease of administration. Proposed permit fees are detailed in Appendix A.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Street Activity Permits generated over $575,000 in revenue in the year 2001. The recommended increase in permit fees combined with an anticipated growth in the number of permits issued should result in increased revenues of approximately $45,000. Anchor Rod Fees bring in approximately $850,000 annually and the new fee rate should result in an additional $61,500 in revenues.
CONCLUSION
If Council approves the recommended 7.2% across-the-board fee increase for Anchor Rod and Street Activity Permits, the new fees would more accurately reflect the cost of administering the various programs since Council last reviewed the fees.
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APPENDIX A
Proposed 2003 Street Activity Permit Fees
Permit
Fee
G.S.T.
Total
Authority
Religious Street Meetings
Free
By-law No. 2849
Oversize Vehicle, Single Trip
$21.50
$1.50
$23.00
By-law No. 2849
Oversize Vehicle, More than One Trip
$215.00
$15.00
$230.00
By-law No. 2849
Street Entertainment, 4 Month
$27.10
$1.90
$29.00
By-law No. 2849
Street Entertainment, Annual
$80.38
$5.62
$86.00
By-law No. 2849
Granville Mall, 14 Day
$27.10
$1.90
$29.00
By-law No. 4792
Granville Mall, Annual
$215.00
$15.00
$230.00
By-law No. 4792
Anchor Rods, Sq. metre
$37.50
$2.62
$40.12
By-law No. 4243
Street Vendor, Food
$801.87
$56.13
$858.00
By-law No. 4781
Street Vendor, Other Products
$600.94
$42.06
$643.00
By-law No. 4781
Special Event Market, Daily/Block
$80.38
$5.62
$86.00
By-law No. 4781
Special Event Market, Maximum/Day
$321.50
$22.50
$344.00
By-law No. 4781
Mobile Vendor Motorized, (Ice Cream Truck)
$215.00
$15.00
$230.00
By-law No. 4781
Mobile Vendor No Motor, (Ice Cream Bicycle)
$107.48
$7.52
$115.00
By-law No. 4781
Small Café, Annual
$250.47
$17.53
$268.00
By-law No. 4781
Produce/Flowers, Sq. ft./Year
$3.22
$0.26
$3.48
By-law No. 4781
Large Café, Downtown, Sq. ft /6 Months
$4.61
$0.32
$4.93
License Agreement
Large Café, Not Downtown, Sq. ft./6 Months
$3.22
$0.26
$3.48
License Agreement
News Box
$21.50
$1.50
$23.00
License Agreement
November27, 2002
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