Streator further discusses business registry

[rocket]

10/08/2013, 9:25 pm
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Jerrilyn Zavada, [e-mail], 815-673-6371


mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=483006

Streator officials continue to debate establishing a business registry.

At a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, the council debated the necessity of such a registry and if it would cause redundancy after a business is required to get an occupancy permit. Any changes the city makes would affect prospective businesses but not existing businesses.

City Manager Paul Nicholson said the aim of the registry, which would either require businesses to be licensed by the state if statute requires or register basic information with the city, would ensure businesses are compliant with building and zoning codes.

"There are any number of businesses coming in we're catching after the fact, and then the city is the bad guy after finding a building or code issue," Nicholson said.

Councilman William Phelan questioned the redundancy and asked if it would be another hoop for businesses to jump through just to get established.

"In this economic environment it just seems like it's another thing," Phelan said. "If it wasn't already covered by occupancy, I'm not sure it's completely necessary."

Mayor Jimmie Lansford said the idea for a business registry stems from the June 2010 tornado aftermath when numerous businesses were coming from outside the town to offer construction work. The city mandated they register at City Hall.

"It was done to protect citizens," Lansford said. "That was done on the recommendation of the attorney general's office. We asked several to leave. They either didn't have insurance or they weren't going to complete the contract."

Council members Ed Brozak and Tara Iverson-Bedei suggested streamlining the registry process for new businesses by having a packet or checklist available at City Hall for prospective business owners.

"Most people don't know what steps they need, what permits they need," Brozak said.

"How do we make sure we don't become a burden," Iverson-Bedei asked. "(A checklist) in my mind is saying (to the owner) we should be doing this. My thinking is ease. We want to keep it simple."

Councilman Bruce Hart spoke in support of a business registry, saying it would assist fire and rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. He asked Nicholson to report back to the council on the requirements of nearby municipalities.

The council agreed to continue the discussion at next month's committee of the whole meeting.


City updated on demolition bids

The low bid for demolition of eight vacant properties is $62,500, Streator City Engineer Jeremy Palm reported Tuesday.

That cost would be for two properties damaged by fire and six additional properties. However, a property owner for one of the fire-damaged properties has applied for a demolition permit, so the cost would be reduced by $4,500 to $57,500.

The city's attorney's office will send letters to property owners, and the city will not be able to move forward for 30 days.

Mayor Jimmie Lansford said an asbestos check after 30 days may influence how much the city is able to spend on property demolition.

In other discussion, the council:
•Agreed to consider a permit for the Saturday, Oct. 12, Worldwide March Against Monsanto, which produces genetically modified grains. The application is for a march from Anderson Fields to Kroger. Mayor Jimmie Lansford asked City Manager Paul Nicholson to confirm what time it is to ensure safety.
•Councilwoman Tara Iverson-Bedei suggested the city list commercial properties on the La Salle County Economic Development website to enhance economic development opportunities. The site lists two properties in Streator compared to 20 in Ottawa. Lansford explained ways in which the city is strengthening economic development ties with various organizations, particularly with Livingston County, since he said any new development would likely be in the southeast quadrant of the city.
•Councilman William Phelan asked where the council stands with outdoor sales in the downtown business district. He previously brought up the issue with some council discussion but no resolution. Nicholson said the downtown redevelopment plan, which is currently being finalized by Vandewalle and Associates, could address the issue and the council could move from there.
•Lansford reported the city was not awarded a grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the Greenway Trail project. He said he, Palm and Nicholson will call to speak to the reviewer to find out why they were denied and possibly reapply next year.




Imo ,this is a bad time to be thinking to implement this.
The economy is on the brink to a major depression to collapse,and no business would even consider this town if they have to obtain an occupancy permit and register their business to be able to run a business here.

[Kyle Mitchell]

Some businesses may still consider coming here Rocket, but I don't understand why we would need this.

The mayor says to protect citizens when there is a tornado, but contractors are already required to be licensed.

The City manager says to make sure they are compliant with building and zoning codes, but a certificate of occupancy, already required, could not be issued if they were not in compliance.

Home businesses are already required to have a permit.

They say that people often open businesses and they don't know until after the fact.

If people are opening businesses without the required certificate of occupancy, what makes anyone think they will go to the City to register the business?

I was at the meeting yesterday.

They said that they want people to come to City Hall before opening a business to find out what is required of them.


Please note that they did not say anything about businesses going to P&Z to find out what is required.

I went to City Hall to find out what was required to open a business, was made wait for months and months to get an answer and then was given a bogus requirement.

Now they want to create another hoop for businesses to have to jump through, when they already have all the means to protect the public safety and be informed of what businesses are here.

If they made it a license requirement, maybe they could make sure that the business owners are members in good standing with the good ol' boy club before granting it?

I just don't understand why they think this is needed.

[Kyle Mitchell]

I agree Sassy.

There are different requirements for different types of businesses and locations though. There would be no sense in sending someone to P&Z if a zoning change or special use permit is not required.

Examples of not even needing to go to P&Z should be:
When a previously occupied location is just being reopened.
If City Hall agreed that greenhouses are the most closely related business activity to Aquaponics.

[dog]

Oct 9, 2013 10:52:58 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

If City Hall agreed that greenhouses are the most closely related business activity to Aquaponics.

I would think that aquaponics would require some type of light industrial zoning, because the process uses a more mechanized process, such as artificial lighting,pumps to circulate the water, etc compared to a greenhouse which uses natural lighting and soil for the growing medium. Aquaponics needs more manmade inputs similar to a factory setting, compared to a greenhouse which uses a lot more natural inputs.

[Kyle Mitchell]

Many greenhouses use artificial lighting as well. I don't think that low power LEDs or a sump pump are really that big of a deal.

Read the zoning ordinance. What business activity do you most closely relate Aquaponics to that requires industrial zoning?

[dog]

Oct 9, 2013 11:56:02 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

Many greenhouses use artificial lighting as well. I don't think that low power LEDs or a sump pump are really that big of a deal.

Read the zoning ordinance. What business activity do you most closely relate Aquaponics to that requires industrial zoning?

I would say that any type of business the uses machines to create a product would be similar. I have also heard aquaponics referred to as industrial agriculture.

[northsider]

You got me curious about aquaponics so I checked it out on the internet.
It seems to me that everywhere it is being allowed there was some type of zoning change to accomidate aquaponics. I couldn't find anywhere that allowed aquaponics simply because it was closest to a greenhouse in some cities current zoning. Can you name any?
In every instance I found the individual made a presentation and went through the zoning process to get it allowed.
I've given many presentations (never to streator) requesting either variances or zoning changes and it's never been done by simply sending a letter to a cities mayor. It sounds like you sent a letter to the mayor and didn't like the answer.
To me it sounds like you were cutting corners. If you had gone to the city council with a proposal and requested a hearing with the planning commission, you could have presented a thorough presentation about why you feel aquaponics should be allowed in a commercial zone. If after doing this you were denied then you would have a reason to b!tch.

[dog]

Oct 9, 2013 12:30:59 GMT -6 northsider said:

You got me curious about aquaponics so I checked it out on the internet.
It seems to me that everywhere it is being allowed there was some type of zoning change to accomidate aquaponics. I couldn't find anywhere that allowed aquaponics simply because it was closest to a greenhouse in some cities current zoning. Can you name any?
In every instance I found the individual made a presentation and went through the zoning process to get it allowed.
I've given many presentations (never to streator) requesting either variances or zoning changes and it's never been done by simply sending a letter to a cities mayor. It sounds like you sent a letter to the mayor and didn't like the answer.
To me it sounds like you were cutting corners. If you had gone to the city council with a proposal and requested a hearing with the planning commission, you could have presented a thorough presentation about why you feel aquaponics should be allowed in a commercial zone. If after doing this you were denied then you would have a reason to b!tch.

This was where I was trying to go. I was trying to act like a potential official and give a possible justification on why I thought  the city would think it would fall under an industrial zoning. I am a freakin nobody, but Kyle has taken the time to try an enlighten me on why it would be closer to a greenhouse business. The point I was trying to make was why didn't he take the time to give the same reasoning to city officials who actually would make the decision. A determined entrepreneur would have never stopped where Kyle did.

[Kyle Mitchell]

I made an appointment, went to City Hall, made an oral presentation, gave them written information and links to get much more, and ask what was required.

I kept asking if they needed more information or had concerns.

Months later, they finally gave their restriction and provided no course for appeal of their decision, only an application for a zoning change.

They never suggested that I make a presentation or go see anyone else about it.

The building owner decided that he did not want to go against the City, since they were obviously not in support of it, so the project ended.

Pet stores have pumps and artificial lighting, should they require industrial zoning?

If our laws actually supported the restriction I wouldn't have a problem with it, but to give out just any restriction they want is wrong in my opinion.

This thread is not about Aquaponics though, if you want to talk about the details of it, please start a new thread or pull up one of the existing ones.

I'm sorry Rocket I thought that I could use it as an example without having it railroad your thread.

[northsider]

From your own research into aquaponics is that how the approval process was done in other communities? I didn't find any. Sounds like you floated an idea and then expected the mayor to do your homework for you.

[metoo]

Oct 9, 2013 13:43:17 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

I made an appointment, went to City Hall, made an oral presentation, gave them written information and links to get much more, and ask what was required.

I kept asking if they needed more information or had concerns.

Months later, they finally gave their restriction and provided no course for appeal of their decision, only an application for a zoning change.

They never suggested that I make a presentation or go see anyone else about it.

The building owner decided that he did not want to go against the City, since they were obviously not in support of it, so the project ended.

Pet stores have pumps and artificial lighting, should they require industrial zoning?

If our laws actually supported the restriction I wouldn't have a problem with it, but to give out just any restriction they want is wrong in my opinion.

This thread is not about Aquaponics though, if you want to talk about the details of it, please start a new thread or pull up one of the existing ones.

I'm sorry Rocket I thought that I could use it as an example without having it railroad your thread.

Here we go again on the Aquaponics thing

[ohhenry]

Oct 9, 2013 6:42:22 GMT -6 Kyle Mitchell said:

Some businesses may still consider coming here Rocket, but I don't understand why we would need this.

The mayor says to protect citizens when there is a tornado, but contractors are already required to be licensed.

The City manager says to make sure they are compliant with building and zoning codes, but a certificate of occupancy, already required, could not be issued if they were not in compliance.

Home businesses are already required to have a permit.

They say that people often open businesses and they don't know until after the fact.

If people are opening businesses without the required certificate of occupancy, what makes anyone think they will go to the City to register the business?

I was at the meeting yesterday.

They said that they want people to come to City Hall before opening a business to find out what is required of them.


Please note that they did not say anything about businesses going to P&Z to find out what is required.

I went to City Hall to find out what was required to open a business, was made wait for months and months to get an answer and then was given a bogus requirement.

Now they want to create another hoop for businesses to have to jump through, when they already have all the means to protect the public safety and be informed of what businesses are here.

If they made it a license requirement, maybe they could make sure that the business owners are members in good standing with the good ol' boy club before granting it?

I just don't understand why they think this is needed.

Again with the Aquaponics Mr. Mitchell. Leave the city alone - get a life - spend time with your family and move on.

[Deleted]

:Dwipe your butt and get over it

[ohhenry]

Oct 9, 2013 15:21:17 GMT -6 jude20 said:

:DDwipe your butt and get over it

who's side are you on???

[Deleted]

no ones life is to short