Town to start charging for special event permits

Councillors have also agreed to hire a consultant, expecting to spend about $80,000 to revise the special event policy.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is the only municipality in the region that doesn’t require a fee associated with special event permits.

That’s according to Coun. Maria Mavridis, who tabled a motion at Tuesday’s council meeting for staff to explore adding a cost for people and groups hosting events in town.

Her motion was approved unanimously, resulting in a $100 free being required starting in the new year.

This will be a way to “create new revenue streams,” said Mavridis, noting that there are some municipalities in Ontario that charge as much as $500 for a special event permit.

“I just want to ensure we’re covering the staff time that’s put into the work being done,” she said.

A report will come to council next year and the $100 fee will be in place until then.

Coun. Erwin Wiens said although the motion is a “placeholder” for now, he suggested that staff also explore creating separate fees for types of events, such as ones held by charities.

Coun. Wendy Cheropita also hopes the review includes the “steps involved” for staff when receiving applications for special events.

She said this would be a way of assessing whether the fee “could be more or could be less” than the $100 that’s now in place.

Fielding a question from Coun. Andrew Niven, treasurer Kyle Freeborn said the change will need an amendment to the town’s fee schedule bylaw, and that payments will likely be paid to the town online.

This isn’t the first time special events have been discussed at town hall.

Late last month, councillors decided a consultant should be hired to interact with the public and other stakeholders to help steer revisions to its special events policy, and to create a better understanding of what can and can’t be planned on private and public properties.

The cost of the study is expected to be $80,000.

By Kris Dube, Niagara-on-the-Lake Local