Agenda - Council - 07/10/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I il I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CASE ADOPT PAWNSHOP ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FEE By: Mike Auspos, Chief of Police and Bill Goodrich, City Attorney Background/Observations: The City of Ramsey does not have ordinances dealing with pawnshops or second-hand goods dealers. There are currently no pawnshops or second-hand goods dealers in Ramsey, however, neighboring communities do have them and have adopted (largely after the fact) ordinances regulating their operations. Some of these communities are: Elk River, Minneapolis, Anoka, Champlin, Blaine and Anoka County (East Bethel and others) A survey of some of these communities shows licensing fees ranging from $100.00 (Anoka) to $1,750.00 per year (Elk River and Champlin). Because of the potential for this type of business to attract persons of less than sterling character to pawn or outright sell goods which they have acquired by theft or burglary, the types of ordinances considered are quite restrictive and lengthy. The proposed ordinance enclosed goes as far as we can go to determine the character of applicants and regulate transactions to discourage outright and blatant dealings in stolen items. As any investigator in the Metro Area will tell you, however, there are very likely many transactions taking place at some of these establishments that are considered to be outside of the restrictions. There is no way to halt this activity other than to just refuse licensing of these types of businesses and this is, we believe, not possible to do. As you will see in Sections 130.124 through 130.1210 there are many restrictions which will require police man-hours to monitor. Section 130.124 primarily will require a filing process to be established, probably on computer at the Police Department, and this will need daily update work. It is likely we will also receive many queries for information from this file from other law enforcement agencies. You will note that the ordinance also includes second-hand goods dealers. In effect, these businesses are in fact pawnshops and have the same potential for abuse of the ordinance as do pawnshops. Council Action: Adopt Ordinance #90- dealers. requiring licenses for pawnshops and second-hand goods - and - Adopt Resolution g90-07- setting a fee for pawnbroker/second-hand goods dealers of $1,250.00 per year and investigation fee of $250.00, the investigation fee being non- refundable. Review Checklist: City Administrator X City Attorney X City Engineer Community Development Director X Public Works Supervisor Chief of Police X Finance Officer X Planning & Zoning Commission Park & Recreation Commission Other