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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1992 0219 CC REG ITEM 11H799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 M E M O R A N D U M TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Donald P. Reynolds Jr., Management Analyst DATE: February 13, 1992 SUBJECT: Business Registration Compliance Procedure Summary I I()t �i ITEM //- /� -* (805) 529 -6864 B It is the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee, that the Council offer an "Amnesty" period through April 6, 1992, for payment of delinquent 1991/92 Business Registration fees. If payment is made by April 6, 1992, the City would not seek to collect any delinquent payments for the fees that may be due for all or part of the two prior years. Background On April 19 1989, the City adopted Ordinance No. 108 requiring the registration of each business conducted in Moorpark beginning July 1, 1989, (commonly referred to as "Business Registration "). To comply, a representative of the business completes the Registration application, signs the application and the Registration receipt, and pays $30, (within 60 days of initiating the business activity). Each Registration must be renewed annually. Ordinance No. 108 defines a "business" and the application of the law which requires Registration. The definition for "business" (Code reference 5.06.010) includes "professions, trades or occupations which do not have a fixed location within the City." Section 5.06.020 states that "no person shall engage in any business within the City without a valid business registration." The only exemption to the policy is when a business "is required to obtain a peddler's, itinerant merchant's, solicitor's or similar license pursuant to Chapter 5.02 of this code." To initiate compliance to the program, over 300 businesses were identified using sales tax records, and each received a Business Registration application in the mail. Notices were published in the local papers. The current data base includes registration information for over 700 businesses. Several businesses are being conducted in the City without a valid Registration. Any number of reasons have been cited for failure to PAUL W. LAWRASON JR. BERNARDO M. PEREZ SCOTT MONTGOMERY ROY E. TlL-LEY JR. JOHN E. WOZNIAK Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councirember Councilmember obtain the necessary permit in a timely manner. During the monthly renewal process, staff sends a letter (similar to the sample provided in Attachment "A"), to those businesses identified as not having renewed the Registration during the previous year. The letter currently requests a $60 payment of the 1990/91 and the 1991/92 fee. Of all requests for renewal, approximately 10% are no longer conducting business in the City, and approximately 5% are delinquent on the 1990 registration fee payment. This letter has served to be a useful compliance mechanism, as well as assisting staff to remove business names from the data base. It is important however, to bring all businesses into compliance. The amnesty concept has been successfully used by other public agencies as a relatively inexpensive incentive to collect money due with a minimum of staff time. Discussion In review of various directories and by following the fictitious business names posted in newspapers, staff has identified over 100 businesses that conduct "business" in the City without a valid Business Registration. It is the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee to allow the un- registered businesses to comply with the Business Registration requirement in a cooperative manner by April 6, 1992, by submitting a $30 fee with a completed application to the City. As proposed, those businesses that do not comply by this date, (applications received over the counter or with a post mark after April 6, 1992), will be responsible for the entire amount owed to the City since the inception of the law, or, the initiation of their business activity, if the business has been conducted in Moorpark since July 1, 1989, (which ever occurs last). All applications must be complete. 2 Recommendation That the City Council direct staff to seek compliance by businesses being conducted in the City ( "business" as defined by Section 5.06.010 of the City Code) without a valid Business Registration as follows: 1) Allow all businesses that are not in compliance with the requirement to comply with the City's Business Registration law by submitting a complete application and a $30 fee to the City no later than April 6, 1992, and; 2) Those businesses that do not comply with the Business Registration requirement before this date, (applications delivered to City Hall by hand or with a post mark after April 6, 1992) , be responsible for the entire amount owed to the City since the inception of the law, or the initiation of the business activity, whichever occurs last, and; 3) Direct staff to appropriately publicize this amnesty program. Attachment: Sample Compliance Letter Currently in Use 3 October 9, 1991 MOORPARK 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 Dear Business Owner: (805) 529 -6864 RECEIVED FEB It 1192 r ;'ty of Worpar The city of Moorpark requires that each business renew their permit every year. We have attempted to contact your business 12 months ago, and again in March of this year to renew your 1989 permit. At this time, both the 1991 and 1992 payment of $30 each are due. Your business was registered in October of 1989, and until we have written evidence that the business has discontinued operation in Moorpark, the business will owe $30 /year. A two year payment of $60 is now due. This payment will provide the business with a valid registration through October 1992. Materials for renewal are available by calling the City of Moorpark, at (805) 529 -6864. In the event that the business has ceased operation in the City, please complete the bottom of this letter and return it to 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021. Failure to have a valid business registration is a violation of Title 5 Chapter 08 of the City Municipal Code, and can result in a charge of misdemeanor against the business owner, (a $500 fine and /or 6 months in jail). Sincerely, Donald P. Reyno d , r. Management Analyst vBusiness Name .f;rintl Moorpark. / Signature DR:renew2 is no longer being conducted in the City 0 Title 'Date PAUL W. LAWRASON JR. BERNARDO M. PEREZ SCOTT MONTGOMERY ROY E. TALLEY JR. JOHN E. WOZNIAK Mayor Mayor Pro Tern Councilmember Councilmemter Councilmember