The City Clerk and Treasurer may from time to time grant, when so authorized by special action of the City Council under his hand and the official seal of his office, to any citizen as the Council shall deem proper and who shall produce to the Council satisfactory evidence of good character, a permit authorizing that citizen to carry on the business of a pawnbroker within the city; provided, that this shall not be construed to relieve that person of the necessity of obtaining a license to do business.
('64 Code, § 18-2)