Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/10/2009

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..L CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Discuss amending Chapter 7 (Business Registration Certificate) of the City Code By: Chandra Kreyer, Crime Prevention Specialist Background: In 2003, the City Council established an ordinance requiring every business in the City of Ramsey to obtain a Business Registration Certificate (BRC) in order to operate in the City. That ordinance established Section 7.20 in the City's Code. The intent of amending the current language with the proposed language presented in an attached ordinance is to: 1. Change the name of the ordinance. to Business License. Every other paid certification in the city is considered a license; it would be logical that the Business License would follow suit. Business owners in the past have questioned the "registration" process and viewed it as optional; however, when explained as a "license," the requirement was taken more seriously. 2. Combine all licenses applications into one application (the Business License) and make all other license applications addendums. The' intention is to change the process of getting a license in the city by creating a new simplified application procedure that encompasses all business licensing. Right now, a business has to fill out a different application for tobacco, alcohol, gasoline, etc. With the proposed change, a business must register/license their business and then if there are additional licenses that are required beyond the Business License, they would be an "addendum" to the Business License. Currently we are doing things the other way around. 3. Change the fee requirement if you are applying for any other license that has a higher license application fee. For example, if you apply for a tobacco, alcohol or gasoline license, the "Business License" fee will be waived because they are already paying a higher fee. 4. Expand and clarify which types of businesses are required to obtain a license, including the issue of businesses wanting to be on the "business list" even if they are not required to be. 5. Change the term '()f the license to July 1, in line with the alcohol licensing which is a date that cannot be changed. This will accomplish two things - make the term consistent for all licenses and by changing it to mid-year it will be easier to manage for city staff (not at the same time as elections and other end of year requirements), and allow businesses to apply for all the licenses they need at one time of the year - typically a time that isn't financially stressed.