Ordinance Review Committee takes up Fayetteville business registry issue today | Opinion
Opinion — By Christopher Spencer on March 24, 2010 at 12:18 amThis isn’t a news story, but an opinion piece. I took a position in favor of the Fayetteville business registry a few days ago.
Today at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall the Ordinance Review Committee takes up the issue. I understand there will be some re-tooling and discussion around home-based businesses like Ozarks Unbound.
I think the facts speak plainly that Fayetteville should give up the lone wolf approach and start requiring a business license. Most communities of any size in Arkansas require it – Little Rock, North Little Rock, Springdale, Rogers – the list goes on.
Some cities attach large fees to the licence, obviously generating revenue. I don’t support that. If I thought the city was going to implement the license to raise revenue, I would oppose it.
The license contemplated in Fayetteville ranges from $57 if filed electronically to $64 on paper. This internal city study shows that the price point is enough to maintain the registry, not enough to raise money. It’s a fee, not a tax.
Karen Minkel, the city’s strategic planning and internal consulting director, provided me with the study when I requested it, along with a draft ordinance and a proposed definition of business.
The ordinance is smart legislation because it gives the city (and anyone else who wants access to the public list) a tool to see of who is doing business in Fayetteville. I’m a fierce fan of knowing what your resources are in order to best promote them.
Hopefully, the city will ask businesses to select a box based on their industry category, be it manufacturing or media or medical services, etc.
It will give us a clear picture of where our strengths and weaknesses are in various business sectors.
The city has its own reasons for wanting a registry. These include the following reasons as articulated in the study:
- Economic Development: The lack of data prevents economic development organizations from providing statistics on job growth and business sector growth and ultimately providing meaningful economic performance measures. Some of these measures include new jobs created and new businesses opened. Without a systematic method for collecting this information, confidence in the accuracy of the measures will be compromised.
- Public Safety: The lack of data also contributes to inefficiencies and public safety concerns. The Central Dispatch Division spends significant time attempting to track new business openings, moves and re-namings. The Fire Marshal’s office also needs this information in order to ensure that new businesses meet current fire codes. In addition, the City lacks information on the storage of hazardous materials and installation of fire suppression systems. The accuracy of this information is crucial for responding to emergencies safely, effectively and efficiently. The Arkansas Department of Health also lacks information about restaurants and food related businesses in Fayetteville, resulting in inefficiencies in its ongoing inspection program. Determining when businesses open, relocate or close also takes significant staff time that could be better spent providing inspection services, according to an interview with James Shumate, Arkansas Health Department Inspector. The haphazard process also increases the likelihood that a restaurant or other food service provider will slip through the cracks, which if a problem arises, could be detrimental to the health of Fayetteville’s citizens and visitors.
- Law Enforcement: A business registry and license program will also assist the City Prosecutor’s Office in addressing code and tax violations. An ordinance that requires a business license in order to conduct business in the City of Fayetteville will provide additional leverage for the City Prosecutor’s office in resolving code and tax violations before they result in a warrant or criminal summons.
See our ongoing coverage: Fayetteville business registry
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