Title
Ordinance No. 14-88 amending Part 2 (Private Security Services) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to private security service 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 reflected in the Private Security Service License Ordinance, effective as of January 1, 2015, is as follows:
1. Delete social security number and duplicative application requirements, and incorporate simplified general application requirements from section 2.1.403;
2. Eliminate passport photo and fingerprint requirements;
3. Eliminate the notarization requirement for exemption by the City from workers' compensation insurance coverage and require instead a statement that workers' compensation insurance is not required;
4. Minor language revisions to harmonize language used elsewhere in the General Licensing Code;
5. Shift notice of cancellation requirement from insurer to licensee and delete 30-day notice period;
6. Clarify the process for issuing licenses to private security officers in the form of identification cards;
7. Clarify differences between basic training and optional specialized training requirements for private security officers;
8. Increase the number of sets of handcuffs that may be used or carried by private security officers from one (1) set to two (2) sets in response to existing licensee's request; and
9. Facilitate the anticipated shift to an online system for business license applications, renewals, and payment of fees;
10. Incorporate the general application requirements by reference; and
11. Clarify that license fees are "as established by the City Council under article 1,
part 5 of this chapter".
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 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.
The Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office and CSPD during the review process. Security Agency and Security Officer licenses have special concerns for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City, and these changes are intended to align these license types with the standardized requirements across all general business license types, while eliminating unnecessary requirements.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The City Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office and CSPD staff during the review process. The Deputy City Clerk contacted representatives from current private security service licensees to discuss the proposals and took into consideration comments and requests from those licenses into the proposed ordinance.
Alternatives:
Not approve the ordinance.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Motion to approve an ordinance amending Part 2 (Private Security Services) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to private security service licenses on first reading.
Ordinance Language
N/A