City of Pocatello looking to make changes in business licensing

There could be some changes coming to Pocatello’s business licensing.

The city is working to pass an ordinance allowing for general business licenses and not just specific ones for things like daycare or selling alcohol.

Currently, the city does not have a procedure or requirements for general businesses to open. Terri Neu, assitant planner with the city, said the problem with that is the city and fire department isn’t always aware of when new businesses come in. That means the fire department can’t perform an inspection to make sure all regulations are met. The business may not be meeting life safety requirements and the business could be a hazard.

Neu said that’s what happened with the warehouse in Oakland. Proper requirements weren’t met on the building and it became a danger and ultimately, a fatality. Neu said the city wants to take measures to prevent anything remotely similar from happening in Pocatello.

She said having a general business license option not only benefits the city, but business owners too.

“For a business owner, they get the information up front instead of after the fact,” Neu said. “But then also it lends legitimacy to their business for potential customers, stakeholders, and lending institutions.”

Neu said the city recently did a survey of business owners to see what they thought about the possible change. Out of 100 responses, 40 felt it was necessary and a good idea. The other 60 felt it was unnecessary.

Neu said the city council also wanted to see research on how many other cities offer general business licenses. Neu said they found that five Idaho cities offer it.

Neu said the city is working on writing a draft ordinance to put back before the city council sometime next year.