12-19-01 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 19, 2001 BARB SUCILI Mayor Fahey announced that Barb Suciu is leaving the City for another employment opportunity. He thanked her for her service to the City. Scalze agreed that Barb Suciu did a greatjob for the City and was an important part of the City's staff. PAWN BROKERS Fahey opened the Public Hearing to consider renewal of the pawn brokers LICENSE - license and second hand goods dealers license for Lincoln Pawn & LINCOLN PAWN Jewelry. Fahey noted that Lincoln Pawn &Jewehy has asked the Council & JEWELRY to consider a reduction in the license fee given the additional expense they will incur in implementing automated pawn system (APS) software as an aid to law enforcement and as required under State law. StatT has recommended ^o adjustment in the license fee. Randy Smothers, Lincoln Pawn &Jewehy, reported that he has investigated the various sotiware packages available and found some are good and others not so good. The APS software package they prefer to use costs $5,500. Smothers reported that he is asking the City to consider aone-year adjustment in the $8, ,00 license fee to assist in purchasing this sotiware. Smothers noted that utilizing this system will make it easier for the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department to track and monitor pawn transactions. Fahey suggested that perhaps the County should provide assistance in the cost of the software rather than the City. Fahey also noted that pawnshops are allowed to charge back costs such as this to their customers in the form of transaction fees. Scalze noted that Lincoln Pawn could purchase a lower cost software program and still be compliance with State law. Smothers indicated that they would likely purchase the lower cost system initially, and perhaps upgrade to the more expensive system later in the year. He indicated that the more expensive system requires much less lime for processing transaction information. Scalze agreed with the staffs recommendation that the license fee not be lowered, and pointed out that the City sets fees that are in line with what other cities are charging, She indicated that lowering this fee could set a precedent as far as other license fees are concerned. There was no one from the general public present wishing to comment on this matter. Upon motion by LaValle, seconded by Fahey, the public hearing was closed. Mr. LaValle introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: 2