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City staff proposes streamlined renewal affidavit to speed business license renewals
Summary
Staff presented a proposal to simplify occupational (business) license renewals by replacing recurring paperwork with a signed renewal affidavit for returning businesses; staff estimated the change could cut permitting-office processing time substantially and ease the annual dual filing burden for alcohol license holders.
City staff presented recommended revisions to occupational tax (business) license renewals aimed at reducing paperwork for renewing businesses. Jennifer (city staff) told the council there are roughly 578 renewals processed so far this year and proposed using a sworn renewal affidavit for renewals stating that nothing has changed in the applicant’s original information (members, shareholders, location, business name, DBA). New businesses would continue to submit the full initial application and documentation.
Staff said the affidavit has been reviewed by the city attorney and was modeled on other municipal forms. The reported benefit is administrative simplification for the permitting office and reduced duplication for businesses that currently must file both a business license renewal and, when applicable, an alcohol-license renewal with the state.
On alcohol licenses, staff reported 59 alcohol licensees and said nearly all were current; because the state requires extensive documentation for alcohol licensing, opportunities to narrow that process are limited. Staff said renewal affidavits would still require the federal save affidavit and verification that must be submitted annually.
In response to council questions, staff said monthly reporting for alcohol-license food percentage and penalties for late filings are being tracked by permitting staff Kelsey and that staff estimate the department spent roughly 200 hours on the licensing project since December and expects process changes to cut permitting time by roughly half (an estimated 100 department hours saved). The council did not vote on the changes at the workshop and asked staff to circulate the proposed affidavit and receive feedback prior to formal action.
