Orujao

@MayorofBurnaby @CityofBurnaby Dear Mayor of Burnaby, I would like to respectfully bring to your attention an important concern. As you may be aware, vendors from outside Burnaby who wish to participate in events or festivals held in the city are required to pay a business license fee of $133 for each event. In some cases, even businesses that already hold a valid Burnaby business license have reportedly been asked to pay this fee again. On top of this, vendors must also pay several hundred dollars(or more!) in participation fees to event organizers. It goes without saying that the presence of diverse vendors—offering a wide variety of food, beverages, crafts, and other products—is a key factor in making these events attractive and successful. In today’s very difficult economic climate, food businesses in particular are struggling to survive. Many are doing everything possible, often at great personal sacrifice, to maintain their sales. Even those with permanent storefronts are seeking opportunities at events in order to make up for the significant decline in customer traffic. For such vendors, an additional $133 fee for an event lasting only one or two days every time represents a heavy burden. It is my understanding that farmers’ market vendors are exempt from this license fee. Why, then, cannot a similar exemption be applied to other event vendors? To many of us, it feels as though the City is making events less attractive by imposing unnecessary barriers that discourage vendor participation. Furthermore, it appears that this fee is applied only to food vendors and not to retail vendors. However, the definition of “food vendor” is unclear and seems to vary depending on the city staff member responsible. The rationale for charging only food vendors this fee is also not clearly explained. There is a substantial difference between vendors who prepare and cook food on-site at an event, and those who sell only prepackaged products such as jams, sauces, tea, or packaged baked goods. The latter are in nature very similar to retail vendors, yet they are categorized differently and made subject to additional fees. Should there not be a clear and consistent definition in this regard? In my own case, although my business sells prepackaged products, I was required to pay this business license fee. It is unacceptable that, depending on the discretion of individual staff members, some businesses are categorized differently and may or may not be required to pay the fee. Such rules must be transparent, consistent, and clearly communicated to the public. I therefore strongly urge the City of Burnaby to address this matter with fairness, clarity, and appropriate action. Respectfully, Keiko Nakanishi/Kanadell Bakery