Liveblogging: Peoria City Council 6
New business:
Jacob is getting an overview on how Capital Improvement Project list works.
Says current budget is a a “champaign budget on a soda pop revenue.” This serves as a reminder that there’s almost no public input when items are given priority.
Oliver says this is the budget in a perfect world. Of course, some items won’t make the cuts.
Manning tears into Illinois Water Company for seeking a 20 percent water rate increase, far exceeding what they promised during “due diligence” period when the city was considering buying the company. Asked CM Oliver to ask IA officers to come to council to explain size of increase.
Spain: Asked to remind viewers of Illinois River Sweep on Saturday.
Chris Setti, 6 Sigma black belt on their audit of Peoria’s HazMat inspections process. He says it’s inefficient use of staff, the business community isn’t happy and the revenue being generated varies from year to year. There are two customers of this process; The public who gets improved haz/mat safety concerning high-risk businesses. The business community is also a customer and they want predictability and fairness, they want their bills to be fair and predicted, and their bill in a timely manner.
Basically, this program seeks to inspect local businesses to see what hazardous materials they use and store, and then keep records for emergencies.
Only 45 percent of businesses has a required HazMat placard at all entrances. There are 1,500 businesses that need inspections, but there’s only manager to inspect 800 inspections a year. Average inspections take 126 minutes to complete, but it takes 118 days to complete permitting process in 2006.
Setti says the city needs to get better information, change the ordinance to make it better and to emphasis safety.
There was no one accurate list of all businesses in Peoria. Need accurate codes to determine need what sorts of inspections.
They want to switch to annual billing. Looking at a category opinion. Will group all businesses by the Industrial Classification code and assigned a risk category, on which fees would be places. Particularly significant risks would be treated individually.
New ordinance is needed, as well as changes in job classifications.
Oliver: Within next 30 days, will meet with business community, later come back with an ordinance codifying any changes city hall wants to make.
Spain: Other comparable communities, what are they up to? What impact would this have, compared to other communities.
Setti: Only community nearby that has a hazardous inspection fee that go along with the permit. Other out-of-state communities apply a fee. Current perception is that the HazMat fee is unfair, because they don’t happen every year. Those that are inspected, end up subsidizing others. With new system, everyone would have to pay, but spread out. This separates revenue generation from the inspections, lets firefighters d what they need to do.
Sandberg: How many businesses? Setti: 6,500 — some bad addresses and some closed.
Of that 6,500 — how many involve hazardous chemicals? Slightly over 1,500 are those that do or might have materials that qualify as hazardous. City probably does 650 to 700 with upper capacity of about 800.
Where would bathroom fixture refinishing business be classified, as a high risk or low risk? Setti is not sure.
Sandberg says the value is that the city ends up knowing where the hazardous materials are located. not that money was raised. If you aren’t honest enough to apply, city doesn’t know. Others can store dangerous stuff where inspectors won’t find them. Or some can take substances home and not tell anyone.Worried that there are to many not participating.
Sandberg worried about businesses have to pay if they fall into a category that is supposed to use hazardous chemicals, even though the really don’t. Setti says they are working for ways to avoid that.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
