Staff Report — Public Notification Procedures for Liquor Licensing Applications

Staff Report — Public Notification Procedures for Liquor Licensing Applications

to: Council
Date: February 15, 2016
Department: Administration
Application No.: 2240-55 Liquor
Subject: Public Notification Procedures for Liquor Licensing Applications

Background

On January 18th, Council considered a report with respect to Public Notification Procedures for Liquor Licensing. That report indicated that if Council chose to undertake Public Notification with respect to Liquor License applications that there would be a cost to the City in doing so, and that if Council chose not to undertake Public Notification that this would be done (as required) by the BC Liquor Licensing Branch.

Council, at their regular meeting of January 18th, 2016, passed the following resolution:

That Council direct staff to inform the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch that they will not be implementing a notification procedure for liquor license applications, and that Council would recommend that the LCLB have individual applicants provide public notification;

Commentary

Staff has subsequently been informed by the BC Liquor Licensing Branch that any information gained by a Public Notification undertaken under their guidelines would not be made available to Council prior to Council making a resolution with respect to a Liquor License application. Therefore, although Public Notification would occur, the information gained from it would be of no value to the City in making their decision as to whether there have been objections to a liquor license application.

Council, therefore, may wish to reverse its decision of January 18th, 2016 and undertake public notification with respect to liquor license applications on an as-needed basis. Council could then consider a liquor license application at one meeting, determine what level of public notification is appropriate and then give final consideration to the liquor license application at a subsequent meeting.

Financial Implications

A typical mail-out notice for a Public Hearing for any property in the downtown core would include between 200 and 400 pieces of mail. At a cost of $.78 per piece, the cost of providing written notification for a liquor license application could range from $150-$300, not including staff time. The costs would be higher if Council chose to provide notification through a newspaper, rather than a written notice.

2nd Floor • 877 Goldstream Avenue • Langford, BC Canada • V9B 2X8
T. 250-478-7882 F 250-478-7864

Council may be able to impose a Liquor License application review fee to recoup these costs, or simply recover these costs from the commercial taxes paid by the licensed businesses.

Legal Implications

Staff have not yet discussed with the City's solicitor whether a fee to recoup the costs of reviewing a Provincial liquor license application would be legal.

Options

1. That Council direct staff to inform the Liquor Licensing branch that the City of Langford would like to undertake Public Notification for liquor license applications, on an as-needed basis, so that Council may provide the Branch with informed feedback;
2. That Council take no further action at this time with respect to Public Notification procedures for liquor license applications.

Respectfully submitted,

Ike Leskiw, MA
Parks Manager

atthew Baldwin, MOP, RPP
Director of Planning

Bob Beckett
Fire Chief

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Michelle Mahovlich, P.Geo., P.Eng.
Director of Engineering

Steve Ternent
Treasurer

Jim Bowden
inistrator

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