Lake Stevens amends solicitor license code to comply with state/FBI background-check rules

The Lake Stevens City Council on Sept. 9 approved an amendment to the city’s solicitor-license code to clarify how criminal-history results are handled between the police department and the city. Planner Jill Needham told the council the city updated Title 4 last year to streamline solicitor licensing and to require nationwide background checks. After sending the ordinance to the Washington State Patrol as required, staff were directed to amend language that did not fully meet the state’s requirements for exchange of criminal‑history information with the FBI. Needham said the revised language clarifies that the police department must conduct the background checks and disseminate results to the city rather than to another public entity. Needham said the change implements the technical direction from the Washington State Patrol and cited a public law referenced in her remarks; the transcript rendered that citation imprecisely. The council approved Ordinance 12‑03 as amended and adopted on a voice vote. Council members used the council discussion to confirm that the ordinance requires background checks for each individual canvasser, not just the hiring company. Needham confirmed that each individual must undergo the background check and carry the ID badge and business license while canvassing. City staff noted they had not yet received any solicitor license applications in the current year and urged residents to ask for identification and permits when approached by canvassers. The ordinance language in the meeting packet includes the revisions required by the Washington State Patrol.