District of 100 Mile House council unanimously gave first and second readings to Business License Bylaw 1252, 2013 at its May 21 council meeting.
Councillors also passed a resolution to send the bylaw to the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce for input prior to giving it third reading and adoption.
The District’s current business licence bylaw was passed in 2000 and is considered to be significantly outdated, and has been amended several times over the years.
In a memorandum to council, it was noted that on a number of occasions, District staff has been challenged on its interpretation and the application of provisions of the bylaw, as it applied to various business licence scenarios.
With these issues in mind, staff prepared Bylaw 1252 for council’s consideration, with a view to cleaning up past issues in the old bylaw and trying to incorporate a variety of different application scenarios.
Mayor Mitch Campsall says it’s a matter of “bringing the bylaw up to the 21st century [standards].”
For example, he notes the old bylaw didn’t provide an avenue for the District to ensure groups going into the arena had a business licence.
“It’s a matter of making sure we’re being fair to the businesses in our community.
“That’s why we’re sending it to the Chamber to see if they have any questions or issues with our bylaw. Because if there are [issues], they can give it to us right away and we can make the changes while we’re working on it now.”
Noting there have been some questions raised by councillors and staff is going to look into them, Campsall says he has issues with door-to-door sales people who may be “preying” on our seniors.
“Somehow, we have to work on a way to protect them,” he says, adding the District wants to make sure people who are selling goods and services within the municipal boundaries have a business licence.
If the Chamber does come up with some issues, the mayor says council is “definitely open to discussion on those issues and suggested changes.”
