Ontario may require business registrations

“The purpose of this is to know where all of our businesses are,” Mayor Ron Verini said. “This is about public safety and identification.”

All businesses that open in Oregon are required to register with the state, but Ontario doesn’t require any additional licensing. At this point, the idea is that the ordinance would require all businesses, existing and new, to become licensed.

The Council is looking at the ways the requirement would impact businesses and is taking into account those businesses that have their primary location out of town but come to Ontario to do business.

Tentatively, business owners would have to pay a $25 initial fee and would have to renew their registration annually, which would come with a $10 cost for each renewal. The plan is to issue renewal notices in November and have a Jan. 15 deadline for all registration renewals.

After a business is accepted, it will receive a window cling that must be placed within view of the public to proclaim its compliance with the registration.

Anyone refusing to register a business with the city would be charged $100, plus $10 per day until the owner began the registration process.

Money generated from the registrations would go toward administration costs associated with the new requirements as well as things such as buying window clings.

Interim city manager Tori Barnett said she anticipates the costs associated with the potential registration would be for letters, postage and creating a database.

“The first year, it will take longer than subsequent years, obviously, due to the establishment of the database,” Barnett said. “I don’t have a clear idea on the time it will take, but I don’t anticipate it taking a substantial amount.”

The application will require general information about the business such as the owner’s name, driver’s license number and the name of the business. Applicants must also disclose whether their facility contains hazardous materials, if the business is being used as a residence and if there are any animals on the premises.

A floor plan would also potentially be required for public safety information.

Councilor Charlotte Fugate, who has been working on getting business licenses or registration in Ontario for several years, said she’s “tickled to death” that the potential ordinance has been brought to the Council.

“I’ve been wanting this for a long time,” Fugate said.

In addition to public safety, Fugate said the license would provide advertising opportunities for the businesses that apply.

“It’s just good information, and we can also advertise the business on the city website and link to the Chamber of Com-merce so they’ll have exposure,” Fugate said. “A lot of people have businesses that don’t have a storefront, and it’s good for them. It’s good value for $25, and only $10 per year after that.”

Jessica Else is a news reporter at The Argus Observer. She can be reached at (541) 823-4822 or by emailing jessicae@argusobserver.com. To comment on this story, go to www.argusobserver.com.