Mr. Rogers and Mr. Dremin presented and provided an overview on the Review of Business Licensing Fees. They noted the purpose of the business licensing fees and the licenses by industry. They further spoke to the business license fee reduction considerations that consist of federal, provincial and City of Mississauga business support as well as business license relief, target approach and impact on the City.
Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:
- Expressed concern and empathized with the affected business sectors;
- Decrease and/or refund of business licensing fees and the revenue impact;
- Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) fees;
- Recommended a target area review;
- Inquired what cut backs the City of Toronto and Brampton are doing;
- No enforcement on business sectors that have remained closed;
- Suggested a decrease scale in 2021 fees;
- Recommended a referral to Council for further consideration;
- Property Tax Deferral Program;
- Focus on the 2021 effected sectors;
- Recommended waiving late fee penalties until a decision is made; and
- Expressed concern regarding the dilemma of selecting which business sectors have been the most impacted.
Mr. Rogers, Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer and Paul Mitcham, City Manager and CAO responded to questions from the Committee.
Item 8.6 was brought forward, amended to reflect the direction to staff to review impacted business sectors and deferred to the May 19, 2021 Council meeting. Councillor Saito suggested that the late fee penalties be waived in the interim until Council makes a decision on the matter.