Peoria City Council members passed a new license requirement for tire service and disposal businesses on Tuesday, despite disagreements over the fee.
In a 7-4 vote, all tire businesses within the city limits will now need to keep records of every tire transaction and disposal for city audits.
Assistant Director of Community Development Joseph Dulin said his department and public works pick up thousands of tires each year. Dulin said the departments, using phone records and the internet, compiled a list of 85 known tire businesses in Peoria — although, a complete number is currently unknown.
Dulin answered 5th District council member Denis Cyr’s question about the ordinance rollout, saying, “If we get any new licenses we’ll work on the 30 to 60 days, reaching out to people, educating people about the need to register with us. Get them (tire and disposal businesses) accustomed.
“We’re not trying to be business unfriendly or go after those who might be filling out paperwork incorrectly not on purpose to cause any issues. We’ll make sure to walk through the process with them. Educate them on what’s required and what we’ll look for. Really wait to get everyone in place before any kind of enforcement would take place,” Dulin said.
The ordinance, as proposed, included a $50 fee for license registration, but six council members decided the fee was an undue burden on businesses, or an unnecessary stream of revenue.
“While I know the registration fee helps us offset the ability to implement this, I think since this is really a partnership with us (and) those in the tire businesses trying to be able to eradicate a problem that has taken over quite a bit of our neighborhoods. I would see what we can do either eliminating that (fee), or bringing that fee down to something even lower. Even though it may not seem high now, (but) I think we’re trying to find partners in this business to be able to help find a solution for the tire compan[ies],” said at-large council member Sid Ruckriegel.
3rd District council member Timothy Riggenbach agreed as he introduced the final motion, including a substitute removing the fee. Council members Cyr, Kelly, Riggenbach, Ruckriegel, Oyler, and Velpula all voted for the substitute motion.
But 2nd District council member Chuck Grayeb, who voted against the substitute motion, believes the fee is necessary and actually should be higher.
“You know I don’t get consulted when I get charged a little bit more for tires when they raise prices on tires,” he said. “Folks, this is a community problem. The deviling of our neighborhoods affecting our real estate values and quality of life issues. There is no such thing as a free lunch.”
Earlier, City Manager Patrick Urich said the fee was nominal and would cover the costs of time expensed through multiple city departments maintaining the new ordinance. These departments include finance, legal, and community development.
Council members Andre Allen, 4th district, Denise Jackson, 1st district, and Beth Jensen, at-large, also voted against the substitute ordinance.
Allen said although he doesn’t personally like the fee, he sees the need to cover the new administrative costs and be “respective of them (city staff).
Jensen asked during open discussions if the city’s recovery funds could be used to cover the new costs. “We keep adding things for the staff to do without giving them more staff and more money, so I hope the majority of the council would support the program as proposed with the fee,” she said.
Jackson thought there needs to be a more complete plan in order to fully tackle the issue.
“I just want to compliment the staff for this first step for what’s been a long-standing process,” she said. “As I mentioned at our last council meeting I know this problem has been going on for at least10 years or more. My hope is that we would have a little bit more meat to our efforts to fully enforce this. I’m concerned if we don’t go about it in a comprehensive way that we won’t nip it in the bud.”
The ordinance will only affect tire and disposal businesses in the city of Peoria leaving individual offenders or out-of-town businesses free from audits and penalties.
“This is not the end-all to fix the issue. I think this is a positive step in the right direction and something we’ll keep looking at. In addition to some of the other things we’ve done in the last few years with illegal tire dumping,” said Dulin. “We’re working with council member Jackson to get some additional signage out in the community to bring more awareness to illegal dumping. We have purchased a few additional deer cameras to help us at night catch people.”
Additionally, the corporation counsel, city manager, and the community development department will reach out to the state attorney’s office to see what they can do to prosecute illegal dumping.
At-Large council member John Kelly read the ordinance where the penalty for businesses in violation includes a fine no less than $750 and no greater than $5,000. He wanted to amend the ordinance to include penalties for any offender.
The specific wording of the ordinance means it will only apply to businesses with licenses. The corporation counsel and Urich said they can come back with further motions applying to anyone illegally dumping tires.
In other news, currently, 44% of city employees are vaccinated against COVID-19. Urich mentioned there is a $25 cash incentive as well as a raffle that does not apply to city council members.
