HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-15-034 - 2015 Street Vendor By-law Staff Report
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REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: March 9, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: C. Tarling, Director of Legislated Services & City Clerk,
519-741-2200 ext. 7809
PREPARED BY: Patricia Harris, Manager of Licensing, 519-741-2200 ext. 7854
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: February 17, 2015
REPORT NO.: FCS-15-034
SUBJECT: 2015 STREET VENDOR BY-LAW
RECOMMENDATION:
That a by-law to licence Street Vendors in the City of Kitchener be prepared for
Council's consideration on March 23, 2015.
BACKGROUND:
Street vendors have been licensed to operate on city property for the past 25 years.
Street vendors consist of refreshment vehicles, such as hot dog carts, as well as
popcorn vendors and portrait artists who wish to operate on public property. In most
cases they are located on city sidewalks in the downtown core. Since the 2014 Street
Vendor By-law expired on December 31, 2014, a new by-law has been prepared for the
2015 season.
REPORT:
The Street Vendor By-law permits the licensing of refreshment vehicles such as hot dog
carts, and a popcorn cart as well as a portrait artist on specifically approved public
property. The locations where the above vendors are permitted are:
• Victoria Park
• King and Gaukel Streets
• King Street East across from 53 King Street East
• King Street West and Water Street
• 45 Woodside Avenue (Harry Class Pool)
• Speakers Corner Park (portrait artist)
Licences are issued to those vendors who have been licensed previously at the specific
locations. If a vendor no longer wishes to be licensed at a location, an ad is placed in
the newspaper inviting applicants to apply to the Manager of Licensing before the
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deadline provided. The Manager of Licensing reviews all applications using the criteria
as set out in the by-law to determine the successful applicant. If there are multiple
applicants meeting the same criteria the names are part of a lottery process whereby
the successful applicant is chosen through a draw.
The licensing of street vendors is an annual process. The by-law is relatively
unchanged except the licence fee has been decreased to $525.00 to be competitive
with the licence fee for food trucks. This licence fee is higher than food trucks to allow
the City to recover the costs for advertising and associated maintenance costs such as
cleaning the sidewalk if there is a grease spill.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Community Priority — Dynamic Downtown
To provide opportunities for small business in the downtown core and attract more
people to their products and services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In 2014 there were three street vendors licensed with revenue of $5,841.00. It is being
recommended that the Street Vendor licence fee be reduced from $1,947.00 per vendor
to $525.00 per vendor to be competitive with food trucks. This will reduce the revenue
for street vendors by $4,266.00. The loss of revenue has been taken into account when
determining Licensing's budget for 2015.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: D. Chapman, Deputy CAO, Finance & Corporate Services
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