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Council weighs enforcement options for six businesses alleged to lack licenses
Summary
Staff reported about six local businesses have not filed business licenses or paid B&O taxes for years; council discussed graduated enforcement (warnings then possible closure), the administrative burden, and directed staff to return with a detailed list and proposed enforcement cutoff, with suggestions to allow five years as a threshold for action.
Councilors discussed enforcement of local business-license and B&O tax compliance after staff reported approximately six businesses operating without up-to-date business licenses.
Staff said most delinquent businesses had been sent letters; some have not responded or completed required filings. Council members noted the enforcement provision in city code currently directs the police to close noncompliant businesses, but members expressed concern about how strictly to apply that directive given Tenino's small-business environment.
One council member proposed a tiered enforcement approach: initial notice, a second warning, and then police action to shut down repeat noncompliance — with a suggested cutoff of five years of delinquency before initiating strict enforcement. Other members urged caution to avoid driving away local employers and suggested staff continue an outreach and remediation-first approach. Staff said they would prepare a public-record list and proposed enforcement steps for council consideration at a future meeting.
No formal enforcement action was taken at the Nov. 12 meeting; council directed staff to return with the list of noncompliant businesses, clarify how far back the delinquencies go, and recommend specific enforcement language or ordinance adjustments.
