A. Legislative Purpose: The City Council hereby declares that it possesses a duty to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City. It also declares that it holds a duty to encourage, protect and foster an individual's right to free enterprise and business within the Municipal boundaries of the City. The City Council further finds that these two (2) duties conflict when balancing the need to protect its residents and allowing persons convicted of crimes involving dishonesty or convicted of crimes involving abuse, injury or harm to a person to own or operate a business within the City. Criminal conviction shall mean the final entry of conviction, whether by plea of no contest, guilty or entry of a judicial or jury finding of guilt which has not been set aside on appeal or pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus. A criminal conviction means the offense of which the person was convicted, without regard to the reduced status of the charge after completion of conditions of probation or parole, and charges dismissed under a plea in abeyance or diversion agreement.
B. Scope: The City Council acknowledges that a person convicted of dishonesty or of a crime injuring or harming another has the right, after satisfying the convictions or judgments against him or her, to conduct his or her life with the understanding and belief that his or her debt has been paid. However, the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City demand a balance between a person's right to do business when convicted of crimes involving dishonesty or crimes involving abuse, injury or harm to a person and the safety of City residents.
C. Regulation: Therefore, it shall be unlawful for a person convicted of a felony less than ten (10) years prior to the date of application for a business license to obtain a business license in the City. (Ord. 12-05, 12-18-2012)