The following article appeared in the September 25 edition of the Guelph Mercury.
Coun. Bob Bell’s goal to have downtown bar owners pick up the tab for policing and cleanup costs took a tentative step forward Monday night.
A majority of councillors supported his desire to have city staff analyze these costs, though it will not be done until after a current five-week pilot project organized by Guelph Police and the Nightlife Task Force.
Bell noted in 2008 the costs of policing and cleanup related to the downtown bar scene was estimated at $174,000, or approximately $1,100 per night.
“We are doing considerably more now than we were four years ago,” Bell said, noting the “Safe Semester” pilot project now underway which is seeing an increased police presence, weekend late-night road closures and provision of portable washrooms.
Bell said while his ultimate goal is to recoup these costs from downtown bar owners, the goal of his motion this week was simply to refer the matter back to staff for a report on the costs.
Once those costs are identified, Bell said, “we could seek zero recovery or 100 per cent recovery of somewhere in between.”
He noted in 2008 a motion to seek cost-recovery failed on a tie vote “which might have been because the costs were perceived to be relatively small.”
Coun. Gloria Kovach said Bell’s motion was “very timely given the challenges we have been made aware of in the upcoming budget,” adding knowing the costs of the downtown bar scene will allow her to weigh whether the city should take steps to recover those costs during wider budget considerations.
Coun. Leanne Piper similarly supported the motion to seek an analysis of costs.
“It’s important to have the information to make that decision,” Piper said. “I will not presuppose whether I support cost recovery.”
Coun. Ian Findlay, who has sat on the Nightlife Task Force for five years, said the task force will present a final report on the success of the pilot project once it is complete, but said it is unlikely the task force will recommend making the enhanced safety measures permanent because of budget pressures.
Findlay urged his colleagues to be careful if considering “a differential tax rate that is geographically-based,” as it could force bar owners to vacate the downtown core for other parts of the city, which would create more problems.
Coun. Maggie Laidlaw noted the problem downtown became “critical” several years ago after the University of Guelph closed its on-campus bars, and asked Bell if he has considered approaching the university.
“Surely the onus is on them to provide some economic recompense for taking that out of their hands,” Laidlaw said.
Bell conceded he had not considered asking the university to pay the city “for providing alcohol to their students.”
Councillors voted 8-5 in favour of an amended motion seeking an analysis of the costs.