TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: June 24, 2024 Report No. FIN-24-015
TO: Council
FROM: Ian Irvine, Director of Financial Services
SUBJECT: Repeal Bylaw - Commercial Vehicle Licensing Bylaw
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council provide first, second and third reading to Bylaw to Repeal Bylaw, 2002, No. 2494, No. 3141
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The provincial Commercial Vehicle License program ceased in 2019 however the Township's related bylaw remained in place. This repeal bylaw is intended to align the Township's legislation with lack of a formal program.
BACKGROUND:
The Commercial Vehicle Licensing (CVL) program was established by the provincial government in 1906 to provide municipalities with a revenue source intended to offset the impact that commercial vehicles had on local roads. In 1987, through an agreement with the province, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) became responsible for administering the program.
In 2018, the UBCM conducted a review of the CVL program. This analysis considered topics such as revenue distribution, licensing requirements, and feedback from various municipalities. Overall, it was determined that (i) the revenue was insufficient to meet the program's intentions, (ii) program administration costs were significant, and (iii) enforcement was not consistent among jurisdictions. Based on this review, the decision was made to end the CVL program as of December 31, 2019.
ANALYSIS:
In the years before the program ended, the Township received an annual amount of approximately $4,000 from the sale of commercial vehicle licenses. This revenue amount was not seen as sufficient to cover the necessary administration and enforcement costs.
Some local governments responded to the program's discontinuance by introducing their own commercial vehicle licensing program. While that is an option for the Township, due to the required staff resources and potential benefits, these have typically been establ...
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