(A) County license required. No person shall conduct business as a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant within the city limits without first having obtained the appropriate license from Washington County as may be required by M.S. Ch. 329 as it may be amended from time to time, if the county issues a license for the activity.
(B) City license required. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall conduct business within the city as a peddler or a transient merchant without first obtaining a city license. Solicitors need not be licensed, but are required to register with the city pursuant to § 113.08.
(C) Public parks or property. Peddlers and transient merchants conducting activities on or in public parks or other public property which are sanctioned or promoted by the city or any of its boards or agencies shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
(D) Application. An application for a city license to conduct business as a peddler or transient merchant shall be made at least 14 regular business days before the applicant desires to begin conducting a business operation within the city. Application for a license shall be made on a form furnished by the City Clerk. All applications shall be signed by the applicant. All applications shall include the following information:
(1) The applicant's full legal name.
(2) Any and all other names under which the applicant has conducted or does conduct business, or to which the applicant will officially answer.
(3) A physical description of the applicant (hair color, eye color, height, weight, any distinguishing marks or features, and the like) together with a recent photograph of the applicant not less than 2 inches by 2 inches in size.
(4) Full address of applicant's permanent residence.
(5) Telephone number of applicant's permanent residence.
(6) Full legal name of any and all business operations owned, managed, or operated by applicant, or for which the applicant is an employee or an agent.
(7) Full address of applicant's regular place of business, if any exists.
(8) Any and all business-related telephone numbers of the applicant, including cellular phones and facsimile (fax) machines.
(9) The type of business for which the applicant is applying for a license.
(10) Whether the applicant is applying for an annual or daily license.
(11) The dates during which the applicant intends to conduct business. If the applicant is applying for a daily license, the number of days he or she will be conducting business within the city, with a maximum of 14 consecutive days.
(12) Any and all addresses and telephone numbers where the applicant can be reached while conducting business within the city, including the location where a transient merchant intends to set up his or her business.
(13) A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted within the last 5 years of any felony, gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor for violating any state or federal statute or local ordinance, other than minor traffic offenses.
(14) A list of 3 most recent locations where the applicant has conducted business as a peddler or transient merchant.
(15) Proof of any required county license.
(16) Written permission of the property owner or the property owner's agent for any location to be used by a transient merchant.
(17) A general description of the items to be sold or services to be provided.
(18) Any and all additional information as may be deemed necessary by the City Council.
(19) The applicant's driver's license number or other acceptable form of identification.
(20) The license plate number, registration information, vehicle identification number (VIN) and physical description for any vehicle to be used in conjunction with the licensed business operation.
(21) An investigation fee in the amount established by the city’s fee schedule as it may be amended from time to time.
(E) Fee. All applications for a license under this chapter shall be accompanied by the license fee established in the city fee schedule as it may be amended from time to time.
(F) Procedure. Upon receipt of the application and payment of the license fee, the City Clerk will, within 2 regular business days, determine if the application is complete. An application will be considered complete if all required information is provided. If the City Clerk determines that the application is incomplete, the City Clerk shall inform the applicant of the required, necessary information that is missing. If the application is complete, the City Clerk shall refer the application to the Chief of Police who shall immediately institute the investigation of the applicant's business and moral character as he or she deems necessary for the protection of the public good and shall endorse on the application his or her approval within 72 hours after it has been filed by the applicant with the City Clerk and return the application to the City Clerk. In the case of transient merchants, a copy of each application shall be submitted to the Fire Chief who shall inspect the premises proposed to be licensed for compliance with all applicable fire safety codes, and shall endorse the application in the manner prescribed in this section within 10 days after it has been filed by the applicant with the City Clerk. If as a result of the investigation, the premises are found to be unsatisfactory and not in compliance with applicable codes, the Fire Chief shall endorse on such application his or her disapproval, his or her reasons for the same and shall specify, if applicable, what alterations are to be made to bring this premises into compliance with the applicable codes. The Fire Chief shall return the application to the City Clerk, who shall notify the applicant that his or her application is disapproved and that no permit will be issued. If as a result of the investigation, the premises are found to be in compliance with all applicable fire safety codes, the Fire Chief shall endorse on the application his or her approval and return the application to the City Clerk.
(G) Professional fundraisers not exempt. A professional fundraiser working on behalf of an otherwise exempt group or person shall not be exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 588, passed 12-14-2009)