ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager, Finance Director, and Director of Community Development with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 18 and CHAPTER 30 of the CODE of the City of Peoria, Related to the ELIMINATION of Various LICENSES and MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS.
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BACKGROUND: At the September 14th City Council meeting, Councilman Denis Cyr asked staff to bring back revisions to the City of Peoria code related to business licenses. The current code requires a significant amount of businesses and functions to be licensed with the City of Peoria. Many of them are outdated and have not been enforced for years.
After a thorough review of the City of Peoria code, staff recommends removing the following license requirements from the City of Peoria:
Arcade games, pinball machines, electronic games, pool tables, carnival rides, moving picture devices, bowling alleys, mechanical music devices, token operated pianos, jukeboxes, movie theaters, pool halls, auctioneers, outdoor advertising, billboards, sexually oriented adult business employee, house movers, horse drawn vehicle drivers, children’s hospitals, scavengers/recyclers, restaurants, stationary engineers, boiler tenders
Please note that while the license requirements would be removed, many of the above-mentioned licenses have performance standards that would still exist. This would allow staff to address issues and complaints that come forward. Little enforcement has occurred in the past on the licenses being recommended for elimination and the amount of revenue generated was only $7,415 in 2020. Removal of the requirements would prevent those complying with our regulations from being unfairly charged versus those who ignore or are not aware of the regulations. Refunds will not be issued to those who applied and were granted a license for 2021, but they will not be required to renew their license in 2022 or going forward.
We have removed Boiler Tenders and Stationary Engineers from the list as we look into that issue further.
License/Permits would continue to be required for the following:
Video Gaming Operator, Video Game Terminal, Cigarette/Tobacco, Liquor, Non-owner Occupied Properties, Hazardous Materials, Electrical/HVAC Contractors, Push Cart/Sidewalk Stations, Place of Assembly, Second Hand Dealers, Cannabis, Bodyworks Establishments, Peddlers, Hotel/Motel, Transient Merchants, Public Events, Sexually Oriented Adult Businesses, Taxicab Owners/Drivers, Short Term Rentals, Parking Lot Paving/Sidewalk/Driveway Contractors, Mobile Home Courts, Sewer Connector Contractor, Retail Gasoline Dealers, Tire Businesses, Mobile Food Vehicles, Dance Halls, Going Out of Business Sales
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $8,000 less in revenue will be generated annually for the City of Peoria.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Regulations of certain activities ensures enhanced quality of live and public safety in our community.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: License requirements will be removed.
IMPACT IF DENIED: License requirements will remain.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Grow Peoria
2. Safe Peoria
3. Beautiful Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Keep taxes and fees competitive.
2. Grow employers and jobs.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development