Most businesses in Westlock will soon be required to help fund economic development with annual $100 business licences beginning next year.
Town council passed two business-licensing bylaws at its Dec. 8 meeting; one will update the current bylaw to mandate more businesses get licensed, and another establishes an appeals process.
Under the previous bylaw, businesses located on commercially zoned properties were not required to get licences — only businesses operating out of residential zones and out-of-town businesses needed licensing.
Mayor Ralph Leriger explained the new bylaw will require most businesses in town to get an annual licence, and the money will be earmarked for economic development.
“The intention is to use that for advertising — it’s pretty cheap advertising when you think about it — for use in our business directory as well as funding some of the things that have budgetary implications that come from our economic development strategy,” he said.
A draft of the proposed business licence bylaw was presented to council at the Nov. 17 Committee of the Whole meeting, at which point councillors raised several concerns about the licensing process, including the process for appealing decisions.
The License and Enforcement Appeal Committee will be established via the new bylaw, which appoints the members of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board as members of the committee.
Carol Revega, director of corporate and legislative services, explained that while the board members will take on that additional role, they would not have the same degree of powers when dealing with business licensing issues.
“Even though the SDAB members are an appeal committee for the licensing, they will not act in a quasi-judicial setting,” she said.
People who are denied business licences or have their licences revoked will be able to appeal the decision to this committee.
Coun. David Truckey said he felt the new bylaws are a good way to develop a reciprocal, cooperative relationship between the town and the people doing business within its borders.
“The business community is putting funds toward the committee, which will be used for the development and the future growth of business in town,” he said. “I think that’s a positive step for us.”
Leriger added there’s a benefit to being able to put all the information about local businesses into one place, and the bylaw will help make sure that happens.
“It’s important to know who’s doing business in the community,” he said.
