Commerce Commission Bill – Recommendations (amended following discussion in RA)
1. This Act establishes a Commerce Commission (CC) in accordance with NL 5-12, the Citizen Involvement Act.
2. The CC will be chaired by MT Lundquist. The CC is charged with gathering input with the aim of revitalising the shopping areas of our sims and making the CDS a vibrant centre of commerce in Second Life with a reputation for innovation and quality.
3. The CC will
a) consider how to empower a public servant (or group of citizens) to promote commerce in the CDS —
Recommendation
Propose that the RA form a Chamber of Commerce for CDS. That this Chamber be made up of volunteer members from those holding and using for commercial purposes commercial land in CDS. That the leader of the Chamber of Commerce be elected by the members of the Chamber of Commerce every six months. That the Chamber of Commerce:
1) Supports the business community and advocates for its members by creating a strong local economy that benefits both commercial and noncommercial activities in the CDS. Supporting the existing shop owners (by having the CDS launch promotional events and do some advertising);
2) Promotes the community. Attracting new content creators willing to open a shop in the CDS; sponsoring events to attract customers; weekly social event shop promotion/events
3) Promotes the community by attracting new content creators willing to open a shop in the CDS; by sponsoring events to attract customers; by holding weekly shop promotion/events; and by funding rebate or discount options from revenues from the surcharge on commercial land.
4) Represents the interests of business with government;
5) Provides networking opportunities by financing a promotional campaign grid-wide to let the SL residents know that the CDS is a shopping destination for high quality products (and services).
b) consider how non-functioning or empty offices and shops in commercial areas can be prevented from continually occupying space where new commercial initiatives could prosper instead (Pursuant of the existing NFS covenant zone P rule (2) ).
It was noted that as at 23rd February 2008:
in NFS there are 13 commercial lots with 2 not used and 1 provided for all citizens
in CN there are 24 commercial lots with 3 empty, 1 museum, 1 info centre, 1 embassy
Recommendation
It was felt important that a definition of commercial activity be established before judging whether land is in commercial use. The following definition is suggested for adoption by the RA.
Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money between two or more entities.
That commerce, as defined, must occur on the commercial lots on a weekly basis and be demonstrable on request to the Chancellor.
That if commercial activity as defined does not occur to the satisfaction of the Chancellor that the following remedies can be applied
That following one month of non commercial activity that , commercial “rents†paid to the CDS should have a rent surcharge of 100% beyond the otherwise applicable rent
Thereafter in each subsequent month the rents be doubled until such time as the land is returned to commercial use at which point it reverts to the standard land rental for the plot.
That the increase in rental be added CDS Tier for the land use and collected by the CDS Treasurer.
misc recommendations
1. That renting commercial lots to another for subsequent trade be considered trade so long as the tenant satisfies the commercial use rules. For avoidance of doubt the tenant is not made a citizen of CDS merely as a result of being a tenant.
2. That the Chamber of Commerce be allowed to advise the Chancellor on the appropriateness of trade i.e. if they receive complaints about the type of commercial activity. For instance it might be considered inappropriate for full nudity skin shops to operate in CDS.
3. That logos for CDS commerce be developed.
4. Direct tp to assist trade (recognised this now exists in CN but not yet in NFS)
5. More actively recruit more offerings from local creators
6. Add a set of LMs or product sample pictures and perhaps a MAP of all known CDS shops.
7. Take that same shopping-in-CDS content and put it on a CDS web site page.
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