Samantha Craggs

Hamilton city&nbsp;councillors&nbsp;want to eliminate extra policing&nbsp;fees for Hess Village bar owners.

For years, bars along&nbsp;the entertainment strip have been paying thousands extra each year for police to patrol during rowdy weekend nights.

On Tuesday, city council's planning committee voted 7-2 to get rid of the area's official entertainment district designation, in the process&nbsp;scrapping the paid duty policing bill for six bars.

Those in favour of scrapping the fee called it an unfair tax, saying&nbsp;&nbsp;that Hamilton Police Service should have been shouldering the cost — about $55,000 this year — in its budget.

Those opposed said the district still has problems. Supt. Will Mason told councillors&nbsp;there are still a lot of drunken brawls, sexual assaults and other issues. On a warm June&nbsp;night, officers counted about 2,200 people there.

City chasing Hess restaurants for paid duty police fees

After a largely peaceful year between club owners and the city, licensing officials are now chasing restaurant owners near Hess Village for paid duty policing fees.

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Three restaurant owners are scheduled to appear before the city's licensing tribunal on Monday over unpaid paid duty policing fees.

Once the city scraps the fee, said Coun. Maria Pearson of Ward 10, it will be too hard to implement it again. "I'm really concerned about what could happen going forward," said Pearson, who ultimately voted in favour.

Aidan Johnson of Ward 1 also worried about the impact on nearby Strathcona&nbsp;neighbourhood.  

But others said it unfairly punishes businesses.

Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor, said the paid duty costs date back to a time when late-night entertainment was limited to Hess Village. Now the whole downtown is bustling.

City will pay half of Hess Village police costs

The city will pay half of Hess Village club owners’ paid duty policing costs for the next two years as part of a special pilot project passed at city council Friday.

Hess bar owners say clubs in the area are bolstering their food menus and bringing back live music. Will that be enough to replenish depleted crowds in the city's art district?

Hess Village

Hamilton councillors have modified a controversial paid duty police bylaw that saw Hess Village club owners paying for paid duty police officers. Now, a two-year pilot project will see the city pay for 50 per cent of costs and club owners pay the other half.

"I am not suggesting there are not challenges," he said. "But there are other ways to address these challenges. And that's what we do everywhere else in the city, folks."

The costs have been contentious. Several Hess Village businesses have appeared before the city's licensing tribunal for not paying the fee. In 2013, a group of business owners took the city to court.

Police report on Hess Village silent on question of smaller crowds

A new report from Hamilton police on the city’s controversial paid duty bylaw in Hess Village contains no mention of crowd counts and declining attendance – something city councillors specifically asked for to decide if a bylaw change is warranted.

A new report from Hamilton police makes no mention of declining crowds in Hess Village - something councillors specifically asked for to make a decision on a motion to have the city pay a portion of paid duty police in the area.

Dean Collett, co-owner of Sizzle and Koi, said Thursday's vote was "long overdue."

"The bills were huge and frankly unfair," he said.&nbsp;"The city has grown. Night life in the city is busy everywhere."

City council still has to ratify the vote on Sept. 27.

Who was in favour of eliminating the fee:

Doug Conley (9), Matthew Green (3), Robert&nbsp;Pasuta (14),&nbsp;Maria Pearson (10), Jason Farr (2), Chad Collins (5), Donna Skelly (7).

Hamilton city councillors voted to scrap the paid duty policing costs for Hess Village bar owners. But city council still has to cast a final vote.

City councillors vote to scrap extra police fees for Hess Village bar owners

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