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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 3C STAFF ORIGINATOR: Julie Bartell, City Clerk MEETING DATE: June 13, 2016 TOPIC: Ordinance Amendments to City Code regarding Background Checks VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 INTRODUCTION Minnesota Statute authorizes the city, specifically the Public Safety Department, to conduct background checks for licensing purposes. BACKGROUND The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) conducts audits of police departments that access their information base for background checks. A recent audit of the Lino Lakes Public Safety Department procedures and records as they relate to background checks indicates that some language in the City Code should be corrected to concur with state law. The recommended changes to the City Code are as follows: Chapter 611 (Lawful Gambling) and Chapter 615 (Special Events) reference licenses as permits. Statute allows for authorized background checks on applicants for licenses but not for permits. Therefore the proposed amendment simply removes the word "permit" and replaces it with "license". Chapter 612 (Pawnbrokers; Precious Metal Dealers; Second Hand Goods Dealers) states only that a license is required for a pawnbroker but does not state the same for precious metal dealer or second hand goods dealer. In order for the city to do a background for those licenses, the requirement for a license should be stated. The addition of language is the proposed amendment. Chapter 601 (Background Checks) establishes the city's requirement for background checks. This chapter currently includes sections regarding access to data and informed consent. The BCA has suggested that these sections are no longer valid since the process for consent and access are now included in state law. The amendment removes obsolete language. These changes are basically technical and not substantive changes to the City Code that will allow the Public Safety Department continued access to needed information. The council approved the First Reading of the ordinance on May 23, 2016.