The Joliet City Council this week approved some new rules for people to adhere to, one is for regulating the parking of vehicles on private property and front and side yards, the other expands the role of the liquor commissioner to include matters involving tobacco licenses.

The city has determined that the council needs to take action in response to the number of complaints lodged for improper parking.

Discussion of the matter was previously conducted at a Joliet Land Use and Legislative Committee meeting held earlier this month.

The rules, as written, make it clear that parking on private property is trespassing. It goes on to stipulate that parking on front and side yards, or grassy areas not designated for off-street parking or storage, will be deemed property maintenance violations.

Officials also took action to amend the city’s liquor code, place tobacco licenses under the review of the liquor commissioner and expand the job of the liquor commissioner to liquor and alcohol commissioner.

Under the new rules, tobacco and liquor stores are subject to the same oversight. It goes on to stipulate that alternative nicotine products are treated the same as tobacco.

The council needed to take action to modernize the city’s regulations.

To date, there are 168 tobacco licenses in Joliet.

The city currently assesses a fee of $100 for tobacco licenses. That amount rises to $250 under the new rules.

Rules regulating the feeding of wild animals, waterfowl tabled

Also at the meeting, the Joliet City Council decided to table a vote on rules regulating the feeding of wild animals and waterfowl.

Elected officials previously discussed the matter at a meeting of the Joliet Land Use and Legislative Committee meeting held earlier this month. Around that time, some residents came forward with their concerns.

To date, two different cases regarding the feeding wild animals and waterfowls have arisen in the city.

The committee gave a positive recommendation of the regulations at its meeting.

Since then, the mayor has received email communications outlining a problem.

“I think it’d be a good fit to address the issues that have cropped up,” Corporation Counsel Marty Shanahan said.

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