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Committee debates stepped late fees for business‑license renewals, tables ordinance drafting
Summary
Staff proposed a stepped late‑fee schedule for overdue business‑license renewals (examples discussed: doubling fines monthly from March through June and voiding licenses on June 30); the committee agreed to have staff draft ordinance language and tabled the item for the next meeting. Members also directed staff to prepare business‑license classifications and fees.
City staff proposed tightening the timeline and enforcement for overdue business‑license renewals: set March 1 as the initial deadline, impose escalating fines that double monthly until June, and consider a business's license void if not renewed by June 30 unless the owner pays fines and reapplies. Staff used example figures for illustration: a $50 license could escalate to $100 in April, $200 in May and $400 by June under the proposed scheme.
"March 1 is the deadline," said Travis Richards, who outlined the proposed schedule and the rationale that stepped fines would be stricter but less punitive than an immediate misdemeanor. Staff and members discussed notice practices (sending an initial notice in November and a reminder) and agreed the city must draft ordinance language and set the official fee schedule before any vote.
S4 moved to table the fee update and staff drafting; the motion carried by voice vote. The committee also asked staff to bring a revised fee schedule with categories (for example: industrial, commercial, residential and short‑term rental classifications) to the next meeting for formal review and potential ordinance drafting.
The committee did not adopt any fee schedule or numeric penalties at the meeting; the example numbers discussed were illustrative and subject to change when staff prepares the ordinance and the updated fee schedule.
