PRESENTER: Presenter
Matthew Schwarz, Assistant City Secretary
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance to remove the vehicle storage facility and junkyard licensing process, not associated with incident management towing, by repealing Chapter 102 Article II Code of Ordinances and amending Chapter 50 Article II and Chapter 82 Code of Ordinances.
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DEPARTMENT: City Secretary’s Office
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Since 1961, the City Secretary’s Office has issued and maintained vehicle storage permits for businesses operating in compliance with Code of Ordinances Chapter 102 Article II. These applications have required signatures from individuals across the city with the final approval resting with City Council. After reviewing applications and the ordinances governing the licensing process, the City Secretary’s Office determined the ordinance needed to be evaluated. The changes that are presented do not affect the incident management tow process, any wrecker permitting, or any vehicle storage facility requirements as enumerated in Chapter 138 Code of Ordinances.
ISSUE:
The current licensing process is required even when the business is zoned properly for the activity (C-3, M-2A, etc.). For the license to be granted, which is required by ordinance, the application must be signed by the following individuals: the chief of police, the city sanitarian, the fire chief, and the building official. Once the signatures are acquired, the permit goes to the planning director for approval and then to City Council for final approval. This is a redundant and antiquated process that stagnates businesses from participating in an activity (vehicle storage) that they are already zoned for. This ordinance has not been amended since it was first adopted in 1961.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Net loss of $425 per year.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the ordinance as presented.