A notice of motion put forward by Mayor Peter Brown to explore waiving business license renewal fees was withdrawn at Airdrie City council’s Jan. 18 meeting.
“This was to support the businesses that are struggling,” Brown said.
Sara Chamberlain, the team lead for Airdrie Economic Development, said it is no secret local businesses are still struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are still several hundred businesses that are under restrictions or even closures,” she said. “We have been in communication with businesses, they are having an array of difficulties. It goes beyond just one cost.”
Chamberlain said business challenges pertain to lease rates, a lack of sales, cost of personal protective equipment and other difficulties. She added to date, two businesses have inquired about fee waivers for business licenses.
Colleen Kinley, chief license inspector with the City, said she has heard from eight local businesses about license fees.
“If someone phones and says they are having a problem paying the fee, we have no problem giving them extra time, or setting up payment arrangements,” she said. “We work with the businesses in order to get the licenses paid.”
Council looked at the possibility of waiving business license renewal fees multiple times in 2020, as the pandemic continued to hurt many local business owners. The subject was approached during the 2020 budget season, and once again in December as a second economic lockdown affected hundreds of local businesses.
According to Kinley, to date, 4,600 renewals were sent out. Of those, 56 per cent – or about 1,500 local business – have already paid their fees for the year. Approximately 924 of the businesses that paid are home-based. The City’s revenue from business licenses as of Jan. 15 was more than $195,000.
Lynn Mackenzie, the City’s team lead for Municipal Enforcement, said it would be challenging to waive the fees, as it is an annual renewal and a large number of businesses have already paid.
Coun. Al Jones said he feels sympathetic for each business that is struggling in Airdrie right now.
“Trust me, I talk to them daily,” he said. “I am very appreciative of not only the community doing their best to support, but all of the hard work [Airdrie Economic Development] and our Chamber of Commerce is doing. I just don’t see a way that we could really do anything effective that would be of any significant help to the business community through business licensing without it costing just as much, if not more, than leaving it status quo.”
Coun. Ron Chapman said he liked the fact City staff are trying to accommodate people who may need more time to pay the fees.
“We are not all big meanies, we understand,” he said.
Brown said based on where council and administration’s conversation went during the item, it would be best to withdraw his notice of motion.
“The outcome would have been probably zero support,” he said. “My decision to withdraw is based on numbers and the fact the staff are working with businesses that are having challenges, and making it work.”
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
