Council debates broad home-occupation draft; asks for clearer definitions and narrower enforcement triggers

Director Song returned with a revised home-occupation text amendment that removed several previously proposed provisions (those struck-through in blue in the staff copy) and asked for council feedback. She told council the list of restrictive examples comes from recurring neighborhood complaints and that the ordinance's purpose is to distinguish small-scale, incidental home businesses from uses that change neighborhood character.

The mayor said the draft "is still too broad" and urged caution to avoid unintentionally hampering legitimate home-based entrepreneurs. Finance staff Kaye clarified registration and tax thresholds: "Location or office means and includes any structure or vehicle where a business, profession, or occupation is conducted..." and explained that registration is required in many cases while the business-occupation tax applies above roughly $20,000 in gross receipts. Council conducted a 'temperature check' on specific provisions: they retained a cap limiting how much of a home can be used for a home occupation, struck the blanket prohibition on accessory structures, allowed auto-detailing to remain permitted, and asked staff to refine 'commercial truck' language to make clear that 18-wheelers and larger commercial vehicles are not appropriate in residential neighborhoods. The draft ordinance will come back for a public hearing already scheduled for July 13.