Title
Ordinance No. 14-80 amending Section 203 (Application for License; Bond and Insurance Requirements; Suspension or Revocation) of Part 2 (Excavations) of Article 3 (Streets and Public Ways) of Chapter 3 (Public Property and Public Works) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to excavation licenses
Body
From:
Sarah Johnson, City Clerk
Summary:
As part of an ongoing effort to make the City of Colorado Springs a more business friendly community, and as one of the City Clerk's 2014 Breakthrough Strategies, the City Clerk conducted a thorough review of all general and specific business license types, requirements, and fees to ensure they are relevant and necessary to regulate activities related to health, safety or other protective purposes. This review includes proposals for removal/clarification of requirements for standardization across all general business license types. These updates to our City Code eliminate unnecessary steps and requirements for a business to operate in our great city, while also aiding the future creation of an online application/renewal business licensing system.
A summary of the proposed changes to the Excavations License Ordinance, effective as of January 1, 2015, is as follows:
1. Modify the expiration date for licenses from June 30 of each year to
one (1) year from the date of issuance;
2. Clarify that license and registration fees are "as established by the City Council
under article 1, part 5 of chapter 2";
3. Amend language in suspension and revocation provisions to align with
the hearing process set forth in Article 1, Part 8;
4. Delete duplicative application requirements and incorporate simplified
general application requirements from section 2.1.403;
5. Shift notice of cancellation requirement from insurer to licensee and
delete 30-day notice period; and
6. Clarify that, in accord with section 1.2.404 of the City Code, the City Attorney shall approve the form of required bonds or surety documents but not the surety(ies) of the bonds themselves.
Previous Council Action:
No previous Council action.
Background:
As part of an ongoing effort to make the City of Colorado Springs a more business friendly community, and as one of the City Clerk's 2014 Breakthrough Strategies, the City Clerk conducted a thorough review of general business license ("general business license") types, requirements, and fees to ensure they are relevant and necessary to regulate activities related to health, safety or other protective purposes. This review includes proposals for removal/clarification of requirements for standardization across all general business license types. These updates to our City code eliminate unnecessary steps for a business to operate in our great city, while also aiding the future creation of an online application/renewal business licensing system.
The Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office, and City Engineering staff during the review process. City Engineering would like to maintain this license requirement in the current form at this time, and these changes are intended to align the excavations license type with the standardized requirements across all general business license types.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The City Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office and City Engineering staff during the review process. The Deputy City Clerk contacted representatives from the current licensees to discuss the proposals and took into consideration any comments and requests received from those licensees into the proposed ordinance.
Alternatives:
Not approve the ordinance.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Motion to approve an ordinance amending Section 203 (Application for License; Bond and Insurance Requirements; Suspension or Revocation) of Part 2 (Excavations) of Article 3 (Streets and Public Ways) of Chapter 3 (Public Property and Public Works) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to excavation licenses.
Ordinance Language
N/A