Aurora may begin licensing hotels, motels

Aurora officials are poised to crack down on "problem establishments" by enacting a new licensing procedure for new and existing hotels and motels.

City attorney Alayne Weingartz said previously that the proposed licenses are the second part of the city's hotel master plan to allow the city to control the planning of new hotels and "weed out" the problem businesses.

As part of the plan, expected to be approved by aldermen Aug. 11, existing hotels would get a free license good through 2010. New hotel owners would have to pay $200 to get a license and all owners would be subject to an annual $100 fee.

During this week's committee of the whole meeting, aldermen reiterated the need for hotel owners to submit a security plan showing the required internal and external video surveillance systems but took a step back from requiring hotels to keep an ID and credit card on file for each overnight stay.

Tenth Ward Alderman Lynda Elmore said she was concerned the council may be attempting to micromanage hotels by requiring all visitors to post a credit card.

As an alternative, economic development commission retail consultant Mike Turner suggested the city instead require two forms of valid identification, one with a photo, and allow each hotel or motel to decide whether they want to require a credit card from all guests.

Elmore and others, including Fifth Ward Alderman John "Whitey" Peters, said they believe the identification requirement satisfies their safety concerns without trampling the rights of business owners.

Elmore was concerned, however that the planned ordinance would hamper business at local bed-and-breakfast establishments.