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2. 3. <br /> CC Work Session <br /> Meeting Date: 05/14/2024 <br /> Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: Enhance City's communication through transparency and accountability. <br /> Information <br /> Title: <br /> Discuss the Transient Merchant license approval process for Game Fair <br /> Purpose/Background: <br /> Licensing Process/Issues <br /> There have been instances in the past where solicitors were unable to get an approved license in time for the Game <br /> Fair. Staff would like to discuss the following with the City Council: <br /> 1. The City code requires a Solicitors' License to get a background check and to be approved by the City Council. <br /> Especially for the Game Fair. Last year, City Staff sent reminders to previous vendors/transient merchants/ <br /> solicitors (the "Vendors")regarding the deadline application submittal dates. There are times when Vendors will <br /> submit a license application after the submittal window has closed and they are not issued licenses. For example, <br /> for the 2023 Game Fair, a Vendor submitted the license after the license deadline date;therefore, it could not be <br /> added to the City Council agenda for approval. During Game Fair,the Vendor set up a booth to sell dog toys and <br /> advertise puppies that would soon be available for adoption without the approved license. Staff shut down the <br /> booth. The frustrated Vendor attended the public forum portion of a City Council meeting to discuss the situation. <br /> Staff believes that more education for land owners around 161 st Avenue in the Game Fair Overlay District is <br /> needed to ensure that property owners and potential Vendors know what is needed for a City license. Some <br /> possible solutions that could help these property owners and future Vendors include: <br /> 1)Annually send out letters/emails to previous year Vendors defining the application deadlines so that the <br /> application has time to be reviewed by City Staff,background checks to be completed by the Police Department <br /> and approved by City Council. <br /> 2)Annually send out letters to property owners in the Game Fair Overlay District letting them know what <br /> activities are allowed on their properties without a City license and which activities would require a City license. <br /> Communication for the above options could be expanded to Social Media/Ramsey Resident and the City Website <br /> Another potential option for those who do not meet application deadlines for Game Fair and get formal City <br /> Council approvals, would be to authorize City Staff and PD to process the applications and approve them <br /> administratively with out City Council review or approval. Staff has concerns with this option as it may lead to <br /> unrealistic time expectations on processing the application(Review, fees and PD Background checks) and to <br /> issue the license. Right now, aside from Rental licenses and Contractor licenses,no other city license are <br /> approved administratively. It should be noted that this option would require the CIty Council to amend City <br /> Ordinances. <br /> It should be noted that there are not many instances of Vendors not being able to get their licenses in on-time. This <br /> doesn't appear to be a common issue and more education rather than a change in process might be sufficient to <br /> alleviate these outlier. <br /> Enforcement <br /> Both the Planning Division and Police Department have been involved in enforcement actions for those that do <br />