Agenda - Council - 04/23/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

! I I I I I I I I ! I I I ! I I I I I Case # g INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE TO REQUIRE TRANSIENT MERCHANTS TO BE LICENSED IN THE CITY OF RAMSEY By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: On April 2nd, 1991, I received a complaint from Jackie Nazzal, owner of Flowers by Jackie in River's Bend Plaza, regarding a transient merchant selling flowers 2 blocks from her shop on Easter weekend. Jackie claims that the street peddler created a traffic hazard on St. Francis Blvd. N.W. and that such activities create unfair competition to business owners paying the overhead associated with operating a business in a building on commercial property. The following items are enclosed for your information: a) Letter from Jackie Nazzal dated April 2, 1991. b) Proposed ordinance to amend City Code to require transient merchants to be licensed. Observations: In my review, I determined that Ramsey's City Code only addresses peddlers and solicitors and we have no means of regulating transient merchants. I contacted the cities of Elk River, Andover, Anoka and Champlin for information regarding transient merchants and found that they all require transient merchants to be licensed; and in some communities, the license fee for peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants is substantially higher than what Ramsey charges. I have drafted an ordinance to amend Ramsey's City Code to require that transient merchants also be licensed in Ramsey. I should note at this time that State statute requires peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants to obtain licenses from the county also. Although Section 7.01.10 of City Code currently sets the rate for license fees, the City has been reviewing and setting rates and charges annually by resolution. Setting fees, rates and charges by resolution is the preferred method because it allows the City the ability to review and amend these rates annually without the cumbersome procedure associated with adopting ordinances to amend City Code. Surrounding communities also set fees by resolution to allow the flexibility to more easily amend them annually. City Council has not yet reviewed and set rates and charges for 1991, so transient merchant licenses would be charged $25.00, the same rate established for peddlers and solicitors by a resolution in 1990. I would suggest that the next time these rates are reviewed, that there be an increase. Anoka charges $5.00 per day or $50.00 per year for peddler and solicitor licenses; and $50.00 per day or $500 per year for transient merchant licenses. Champlin charges $10 per day or $100 per year for peddlers and solicitors; and $25 per day or $100 per month or $250 for six months for transient merchants. Andover and Elk River charge $50 per year for peddler, solicitor and transient merchant licenses.