Annual revenue from streetscape licenses would drop by about a third, from $315,000 to $212,000, Cossum guessed, and there might be an increase in staffing needs to accommodate a possible increase in applications and reviews to ensure compliance with the new sidewalk cafe standards.
Councilman Scott Griggs, who has been pushing for simpler streetscape rules for years now, was damn near apoplectic.
“It’s anti-urban — and I also think it’s anti-free market — to charge all these fees,” Griggs said, exasperated, during a rant that lasted several minutes.
Cossum’s proposal would still strangle businesses in red-tape and still discourage them from taking steps to make the city a better, funner, more vibrant place. Plus, it didn’t take into account additional sales and property tax revenue that could be generated by freeing up businesses.
“It’s like we’re grabbing these nickels and we’re going to leave the dollars over there,” he said.