The city won't be writing cheques just yet to refund those who already paid the controversial business licence fee for residential rentals.
During Monday night's meeting, city council was presented with the first two readings of a bylaw that would officially strike the $155 fee from the business regulation and licensing bylaw. Instead of approval or denial, they ultimately decided in a 7-2 vote to wait it out a little longer.
The issue will be brought up again at the June 9 council meeting, giving city staff time to work out alternatives to the charge that council voted to repeal for rental units such as secondary suites and duplexes on April 14.
"Perhaps we need to step back and come up with something which will lead to a better result," said Coun. Dave Wilbur.
Administration had already begun working on alternatives to the bylaw council passed last year when Coun. Frank Everitt brought forward a motion for its repeal. City manager Beth James said after last month's vote, staff stopped working on those options.
"We were looking at a rate structure that would see a decrease to the residential suite and housing rental rate, a further discounted rate for non-profit housing and a tiered fee approach for apartments dependent on the number of dwelling units," said James.
Council made an "ill-fated move" with the decision to establish the business licence fee and if a later group wanted to direct staff to come back with a future bylaw, that was their prerogative, countered Everitt.
"This is the right decision. When you have bad bylaws you have to correct them," said Everitt, who, along with Coun. Garth Frizzell, voted against postponing the decision. "If we want to look really goofy out in the front of the citizens is to have a bylaw started, then a repeal, then a postponement then another bylaw come in front of us that isn't satisfactory to the community."
It's likely too late for that, according to Mayor Shari Green.
"Coun. Everitt thought perhaps this would make council look goofy on this issue - I think we're already there, frankly, because we're a little bit all over the map in terms of the impact people feel about this decision... and here we are trying to correct it," she said. "So there's a difference between correcting it and undoing it. I'm happy to correct it and find some adjustment and give staff the time to do the work that we've already asked them to do."
The city would have to prepare 1,187 refund cheques worth $183,895 to property owners who have already paid the fee since it came into effect at the beginning of the year.
Planning director Ian Wells said his department would have to reallocate money to make up for the shortfall from the forecast $450,000 the fees were supposed to generate.