East Peoria brings taxi rates in line with Peoria's

East Peoria will brings its taxi rates more in line with Peoria’s.

At its Sept. 29 meeting, the East Peoria City Council approved a city ordinance to modify the charges for taxi cab service and insurance required by cab operators.

The annual licensing fee for all taxi cabs operating in East Peoria will increase from $15 to $75 per vehicle.

If the company is based in East Peoria, the cost is capped at $250. If the company is not based in East Peoria, the cap is $500 yearly.

Required insurance coverage for all taxi cabs is $300,000 for injury or death and $100,000 for property damage.

The penalty for operating an unlicensed taxi cab in East Peoria is a minimum $100 or a maximum $250 fine. These fines increased from $25 and $100, respectively.
For taxi users, the initial start up rate is $2.80. Each additional mile is $2.80. Waiting time is 25 cents for each 30 seconds.

To date, East Peoria has one taxi business called Central Illinois Taxi Co. located at 222 E. Washington St. Troy Heuck is the president of the company, which opened in August 2008. Heuck, who said he was in the taxi business for nearly a decade, said he saw a need on the east side of the river.

There are six area cab companies in the area, including Heuck’s. Four are in Peoria, one in Morton and one in East Peoria.

In May, Heuck said he was working with city officials who were coming up with an ordinance regarding taxi companies. City leaders told Heuck to certify his cabs in Peoria.

“We’ve never had a taxi cab company operate here,” city administrator Tom Brimberry said in May, adding city officials’ main concern is to ensure cab companies are not charging outrageous prices.

Brimberry said city clerk Berta Dinkins brought the issue of cabs to the council’s attention.

“There are many more attractive events and facilities in East Peoria, so more and more taxi cabs are being used,” he said.

Heuck said it has been really great opening in East Peoria where growth is happening faster than Peoria.

Brimberry said he spoke with two other taxi cab companies that wanted some enforcement to alleviate any renegade services.

Commissioner Mike Unes said East Peoria’s rates mirror Peoria’s.

In other news, the council passed an amendment to an ordinance to further define an “incident” that liquor licensees must report to police.

The amendment focuses on the Smoke Free Illinois Act and the fact that there is no “teeth” in the city’s first ordinance.

In past instances in which liquor licensees did not notify police when patrons were smoking, tickets were issued.

However, in a recent court case, it was ruled that smoking did not constitute an “incident” and that the existing ordinance could not be enforced.

Further explaining the ordinance clarification, it states it is to “avoid arguments that it is unconstitutionally vague.”

The amended ordinance states, “It shall be unlawful for any licensee, or any agent or employee of a licensee, to fail to immediately notify the East Peoria Police Department of any incident he knows to be occurring or which occurs within his view on or about the licensed premises, including the parking lot ...”

An incident is defined as:
• any disturbance, argument, fight or other tumultuous conduct
• smoking within any enclosed area on the licensed premises or any other act or omission which the city’s code prohibits in public places or in places of employment
• any other act or omission which violates this chapter or any other state or local law.
Under commissioner’s comments, Dan Decker stated an idea is being discussed to limit the number of garbage cans residents can set out from seven to five.
Decker said they want to promote recycling. He added that fewer garbage cans would also result in less wear and tear on public work’s employees’ bodies.
Decker encouraged residents to purchase a city toter, which is larger than a regular garbage can.
The toters are lifted by a device on the garbage trucks, so no manual labor has to be used.