MONROE - Businesses wanting a sidewalk cafe will now have to pay to keep them.
After allowing a two-year hiatus from permit fees, the Monroe City Council voted 8-1 to pass a resolution setting sidewalk cafe fees - but they still aren't as steep as first proposed in 2006.
On April 18, 2006, the council passed a resolution initially setting fees for sidewalk cafes at $15 per seat for restaurants serving alcoholic beverages or $5 per seat without alcohol. Application fees were $100 for service with alcohol and $50 without alcohol.
But at the time, business owners said the rates were too high, especially in sight of start-up costs and the uncertainty of the success of the venture. The Finance And Taxation Committee reconsidered and in June 2006 had the council waive permit fees for 2006 and 2007.
On Tuesday night, the committee decided it was time to affix a "token" fee of $25 for annual permits, to pay for at least the time involved in issuing annual renewal permits.
The fee is a flat rate, not dependent upon the number of seats, and is not pro-rated, as it was in the original resolution. Application fees remain a one-time charge.
Alderman Thurston Hanson spoke against the measure.
"You tax or fee anything you don't want to see," he said at the committee meeting. Hanson is an alternate member on the committee. He was not filling the seat of an absent member Tuesday night, and therefore had no vote at the committee.
He did, however, vote against the resolution at the council level.
"It sends the wrong message," he said after council adjourned. "It's not a token fee; $100 isn't, $50 isn't."
The council passed the resolution 8-1. Keith Ingwell was absent.
After allowing a two-year hiatus from permit fees, the Monroe City Council voted 8-1 to pass a resolution setting sidewalk cafe fees - but they still aren't as steep as first proposed in 2006.
On April 18, 2006, the council passed a resolution initially setting fees for sidewalk cafes at $15 per seat for restaurants serving alcoholic beverages or $5 per seat without alcohol. Application fees were $100 for service with alcohol and $50 without alcohol.
But at the time, business owners said the rates were too high, especially in sight of start-up costs and the uncertainty of the success of the venture. The Finance And Taxation Committee reconsidered and in June 2006 had the council waive permit fees for 2006 and 2007.
On Tuesday night, the committee decided it was time to affix a "token" fee of $25 for annual permits, to pay for at least the time involved in issuing annual renewal permits.
The fee is a flat rate, not dependent upon the number of seats, and is not pro-rated, as it was in the original resolution. Application fees remain a one-time charge.
Alderman Thurston Hanson spoke against the measure.
"You tax or fee anything you don't want to see," he said at the committee meeting. Hanson is an alternate member on the committee. He was not filling the seat of an absent member Tuesday night, and therefore had no vote at the committee.
He did, however, vote against the resolution at the council level.
"It sends the wrong message," he said after council adjourned. "It's not a token fee; $100 isn't, $50 isn't."
The council passed the resolution 8-1. Keith Ingwell was absent.