Sierra Vista city council members voted to approve the first reading of changes to the city code affecting business licenses and solicitors, a rewrite staff said is intended to make requirements easier to understand and enforce.

City staff said the draft ordinance would remove duplicated temporary-use rules, change initial-license billing, clarify exemptions for tax-exempt nonprofits, and tighten requirements for vendors and door-to-door solicitors. "We did a very intensive rewrite of the code to primarily clarify and make it easier for our public to understand," said Miss Adams, staff member, during the presentation.

The revisions matter to small businesses and residents because they change how and when licenses are issued, what vendors may do without a full business license and how solicitors must be documented before interacting with residents. Under the proposal, vendors may receive up to six free vendor permits for individual events in a calendar year; the seventh event would require the vendor to obtain a city business license. Miss Adams said new initial licenses issued after Oct. 1 will receive 15 months of coverage for the first year as an administrative ease.

The proposed solicitor rules require that businesses employing solicitors hold a city business license before solicitors operate in Sierra Vista. The city will no longer require a surety bond from each solicitor; instead the employer must provide proof of insurance for completed operations and product liability to protect customers. Exemptions remain for nonprofit organizations that are door-to-door to share information or solicit donations rather than selling goods or services.

The rewrite also replaces an imprecise sunset-based hour limit for solicitors with fixed hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the shorter months and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the lighter months, Miss Adams said. Council members praised the clarity and staff work during discussion. Councilmember Mark Rodriguez said the changes would help small businesses and applicants navigate requirements more easily.

Because the council approved the item as a first reading, it did not enact final ordinance language tonight; the measure opened the public record for 30 days. Miss Adams said staff will review any comments and return the item to council for final action, likely at a December meeting. "If there are changes or comments that we receive that may adjust any of this in the next 30 days, we're happy to look through them," she said.

The council approved the first-reading resolution by voice vote. Final adoption would occur only after the public-record period and a subsequent council vote.