TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear a presentation on proposed regulations, licensing procedures and fees for special business types, specifically: (1) Massage Establishments, (2) Off Track Betting Establishments, and (3) Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Establishments.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Maricopa, like most municipalities, has special business license requirements for certain types of businesses that raise unique concerns. In general, these take the form of additional regulations designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community and its residents.
City staff from various departments have collaborated to identify other special business types and draft corresponding regulations and licensing procedures for each. This project was initiated to ensure that all businesses in Maricopa, now and in the future, are regulated appropriately, in a clear and business-friendly manner. To accomplish this, staff looked to municipalities within Greater Phoenix and throughout the United States to learn what business types they treat as special, why and how they are being regulated. Model cities were selected and used to draft proposed City of Maricopa regulations and licensing procedures for the following special business types:
· Tobacco Retail
· Auctioneers, Pawnbrokers, Scrap Dealers and Secondhand Dealers
· After-Hours
· Magic Arts
· Massage
· Off-Track Betting
· Tattoo and/or Body Piercing
· Teen Dance Hall
Staff has previously requested City Council direction regarding proposed regulations, licensing procedures and fees for (1) Tobacco Retail Establishments, (2) Auctioneers, Pawnbrokers, Scrap Dealers and Secondhand Dealers, (3) After-Hours Establishments, (4) Teen Dance Halls, and (5) Magic Arts Establishments. Staff is now requesting City Council direction regarding proposed regulations, licensing procedures and fees for the three remaining special business types: (1) Massage Establishments, (2) Off Track Betting Establishments, and (3) Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Establishments.
Pending City Council direction to proceed, staff anticipates the following timeline leading to City Council action on the proposed license fees and amendments to City Code - Chapter 8: Business Regulations. Throughout this process, staff would reach out to the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and other relevant business groups for feedback on the proposed regulations, procedures and fees.
· December 16, 2014: City Council Work Session
· December 17, 2014: Posting of Proposed Regulations, Procedures and Fees for Massage Establishments, Off Track Betting Establishments, and Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Establishments
· February 17, 2015: City Council action on adoption of fee schedule and City Code amendments for Massage Establishments, Off Track Betting Establishments, and Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Establishments
This item will be presented by Economic Development Director Micah Miranda.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council receive this presentation, ask any applicable questions and provide direction regarding licensing and regulation of the above special business types.