The following editorial appeared in the January 4 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
When council’s finance, administration and corporate services committee directed city staff last June to come back with options on how to recoup the costs of policing, cleanup and garbage pickup downtown, we thought action was finally in the offing in an age-old problem.
That’s why it’s disappointing — but understandable — to see the staff recommendation put off until March. Disappointing because taxpayers will continue to pay the freight until a solution is found; understandable because some bars and restaurants fear they may be stuck with an extra tax while others will get a pass.
Trying to create a livable downtown while working around the ever-present spectre of weekend partying is a daunting challenge, but not an unsolvable one. But simply pinning cleanup and other costs on some businesses — say those that are open after midnight or those that do brisk trade in takeout food — in the form of a special levy is too much of a quick fix. And as city staff have already signalled, trying to determine which businesses are contributing to the problem and which aren’t is proving to be a fool’s game.
Let’s not write off Councillor Ian Findlay’s suggestion to get more litter bins downtown, or get round-the-clock restrooms in place. And bar owners who are unambiguous in their contention that they are already overtaxed by the various levels of government — and who aren’t already doing so — could do their part by employing their own cleanup crews on the Sunday morning sidewalks.
We may not retire all of the city’s estimated $400,000 annual policing and maintenance costs, but it might be a healthy start.