Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 04/14/2003 - Memo

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INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO A BUSINESS TENANT CERTIFICATE Case of City of Ramsey By: Megan Wald, Associate Planner OBTAIN Background: S taft has collaboratively been working on providing a better means to.keep a comprehensive and up to date list of businesses in R. amsey. Currently staff is notified of a new business moving into Ramsey by new cOnstruction, which- requires site plan review, by sign permits, or by word of mouth. These means do not allow-the City to be notified of every businesses located in Ramsey. For example, 'if a business locates in a multi-tenant facility and. they do not need or want a sign on their tenant bay and do' not need a license to operate in Ramsey, the City would have no way of knowing the business exists. The. tenant turnover in mul%/-tenant facilities Causes the most problem for ~k~eping track of bUsinesses. Therefore staff is requeiting that the City Council introduce the enclosed ordinance requiring all' businesses in Ramsey to obtain a Business Tenant Certificate. The following is enclosed for your information: 1. Proposed Business Tenant Certificate Ordinance Observations: Staff is proposing to establish 'a procedure that requires every business in Ramsey to obtain a permit 30-days prior to occupancy. The fee associated with the permit would be established by fine City Council in the Rates and Charges Fee Schedule. At this ti-me, staff is proposing a $30 fee to cover administration and printing costs. Staff is recommending that the Business Tenant 'Certificate be issued on an annual basis. Some of the information required on the application could change from year to year basis and since implementing this porn-fit is an attempt to keep updated information on Ramsey businesses, it Would seem that the permit should be reviewed on a yearly basis, Staff is proposing a renewal fee of $15:00 after the 'fn:st year for those business that have not changed occupancy: The following departments will be reviewing 'the aPpliCations and assisting in issuance of the permit: Community Development, Fire, Building, and Police. Implementing the Business Tenant Certificate will inform appropriate departments of the current occupancy· and any occupancy changes within the building. It will· also and allow staff the oppommity to update and review records such as emergency contact ·lists, fire preplan, inspection, and hazardous materials. The review process will ensure that the business intending to operate on the premises complies with the State 'Building Code, State Fire Code, City Code. The-information on. the certificate .application will also ·allow the Police Department to be notified of any hazards or Security issues that may affect the community. Recommendation: Staff is recommending that the City Council introduce the Business Tenant Certificate Ordinance. CC: 4.8.03 -211-