City May Curb Some Licensing Cda Council To Consider Freeing Some Professionals From Licenses

What a relief. At least for septic tank cleaners, who are expected to be freed from licensing requirements by the City Council tonight.

Amusement machines, auctioneers, sign companies and taxi drivers also are on the list of people and things that the council will consider relieving of licensing.

Taxi companies will continue to be required to get licenses.

Mandatory five-year bicycle licenses are supposed to ride off into the sunset with the other disappearing regulations in favor of an annual, voluntary registration.

The council also is expected to vote to borrow about $2 million to rebuild 15 blocks of East Sherman Avenue next spring.

That’s about $900,000 less than the city originally expected to borrow for the project.

Monday the Idaho Department of Transportation announced it is giving Coeur d’Alene $870,000 toward the project.

“That may free up between $100,000 and $200,000 for other street projects,” said John Austin, city finance director.

That, however, is contingent upon what happens with the statewide vote on the One Percent Initiative, which would scale back property taxes. “If the 1 percent passes, we will have to rethink all future street projects,” Austin said.

The City Council also will take up the issue of raises for city employees not covered by the three worker unions. About 50 department heads, payroll clerks, personnel assistants and the like are not members of the bargaining units and therefore don’t automatically qualify for pay raises negotiated in 1995 as part of a two-year contract.

City administrators will recommend a 4 percent salary increase, beginning Oct. 1, and an increase in benefits to match what the other employees will receive.

Only City Administrator Ken Thompson isn’t covered by this salary package. He has a separate contract with the city. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COUNCIL MEETING The City Council meets tonight at 7 in City Hall. In other business the council: Will learn of a $78,000 Idaho Department of Transportation grant that will pay 80 percent of the cost of a new street sweeper. Is expected to approve the purchase of two new computers for the city attorney’s office. Consider a proposal for allowing building permits to be issued for up to 20 percent of a subdivision before all of the improvements are completed.