Title
Ordinance No. 14-74 amending Part 6 (Escort 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 escort services 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.
The escort services license type is required by state law and is needed to aid CSPD in combating human trafficking, specifically juvenile sex trafficking.
A summary of the proposed changes to the Escort Services License Ordinance, effective as of January 1, 2015, is as follows:
1. Incorporate the simplified general application requirements from section 2.1.403;
2. Clarify that license and registration fees are "as established by the City Council under article 1, part 5 of this chapter"; and
3. Modify/add definitions, transferability, application requirements, renewal application deadline, and mitigating factors provisions to conform with the Colorado Escort Service Code, C.R.S. ยง12-25.5-101 etseq.
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 City Clerk worked closely with City Attorney's Office, and CSPD staff during the review process. The escort services license is required by state law and needed to aid CSPD in combating human trafficking, specifically juvenile sex trafficking. These changes are intended to align the City's escort service license types with the standardized requirements across all general business license types, as well as the Colorado Escort Service Code.
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.
Alternatives:
Not approve the ordinance.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Motion to approve an ordinance amending Part 6 (Escort 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 escort services licenses on first reading.
Ordinance Language
N/A