Georgina's 'ridiculous' red tape strangling community events
Town's permit and licensing process confusing and cumbersome, charge event organizers

YorkRegion.com
May 30, 2018
Heidi Riedner

Community events that attract visitors, promote the town and help local charities in Georgina are being left tied in knots due to bureaucratic red tape, according to some organizers.

BBQFest organizer Forrest Jones says he is "frustrated and disappointed" that he may have to cancel the July 28 event at The ROC and possibly move his event out of the municipality due to "ridiculous" layers of red tape at the town.

Jones is one of many area residents who invest thousands of dollars of their own money each year on top of sponsorships to put on events that are good for the community and benefit local charities.

Funds raised from BBQFest, for example, will go to Jericho Youth Services, Shades of Hope and Routes.

Last year, the event donated $4,000.

With just over two months before this year's event and thousands of dollars already spent, Jones was says he was discouraged to be notified by the town this month of more hoops to jump through.

That includes hiring at least eight paid-duty York Regional Police officers at a cost of $5,000, despite the fact Jones used a private security firm last year, and covering $1,400 in total permit fees for four food truck vendors that committed to the event back in February.

Jones has asked the town to reduce its $350 annual food truck fee to a $100 weekend pass similar to King Township or much cheaper day fee in other municipalities, as well as waive its police background and driver records check.

“Is this really necessary for someone selling hot dogs? These people are not driving the trucks around the whole town; they are parked and stationed for the day. Why can’t the town offer a day pass similar to other municipalities?”

The town, however, says any changes to the food truck vendor bylaw would require council approval.

When asked if Georgina’s food truck regulations are in line with other municipalities requiring a TSSA form, health inspection and insurance as Jones suggests, the town responded it didn’t know.

According to the town, YRP requested a risk assessment for patron safety due to the event’s “expanded scope” this year.

Wading through what Jones calls a complicated lottery licence process with the town over a West Jet raffle package raising funds for Jericho is also causing headaches.

That sentiment is shared by others, including Gary and Gina Semeniuk, who are behind The Ones car show held at the Ice Palace in Keswick.

A day before the show’s 16-week season opener scheduled for May 26, the town notified organizers that food trucks would not be allowed on the property because they didn't have their paperwork in order and that there was a problem with the show's lottery licence despite months of communication on the matter.

"Frankly, I am discouraged by all of the challenges we have had to face with the town since starting the shows when all we wanted to do was bring a fun, free summer event to the community," Gary Semeniuk said.

"They make the process so hard to figure out, with no support, and then they blame you when they are the ones who have basically improperly trained you in the process."

After much back and forth with the town proved fruitless in terms of resolution, the Semeniuks reluctantly withdrew their licence application.

"It's sad we have to cancel the 50/50 draws due to ongoing red tape," Semeniuk says, adding 100 per cent of the $5,500 raised by the draw last year was donated to various local community groups.

The town did not address the specific lottery licence applications, saying it can only discuss the details with the applicant, but it is continuing meetings between event organizers, Mayor Margaret Quirk and department managers this week to "further assist the planning process".