Street vendors on City of Powell River property won’t have to pay as high a fee as anticipated.
Council voted on a new fee bylaw amendment at the July 4 meeting. Once the bylaw is adopted, vendors will pay a $200 fee for 30 consecutive days or play a flat fee of $600 for the calendar year January to December.
The previous bylaw amendment had a $200-a-month fee, which was opposed by vendors.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said the change was a nice compromise. “It also balances off with businesses that are paying rent, knowing they are paying a fee plus their business licence,” she said.
Cleve Hamilton, who operates Planet Cleve food cart, said he was pleased with the change. “We’re happy with what you came up with,” he said to council. “We’re just trying to make a living.”
Councillors passed the third reading of the fee bylaw amendment. The bylaw is expected to be adopted at a future council meeting.
At its June 20 meeting, council adopted a bylaw that established new street vending locations. Vendors are allowed to set up mobile carts at the following sites: the southeast corner of Marine Avenue and Alberni Street, the entrance to the north harbour along Courtenay Street, the north harbour, the southeast side of Willingdon Beach Park adjacent to Highway 101, on Marine across from Powell River Historical Museum and Archives, two spots at the Wharf at Westview and at Mowat Bay.
