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Mounds View Planning Commission May 7, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 7 ________________________________________________________________________ Chief Sommer indicated it would be hard for him to say how much extra time would be involved. Commissioner Scotch recommended getting some statistics from the City of Fridley. Commissioner Johnson indicated this is one small pawnshop. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he has issues with the location and issues with regard to youth activities at Mounds View Square including vandalism and theft and he is vehemently opposed to something of this nature in that mall. Director Ericson indicated that Staff had researched the amount of time other cities spend on managing pawnshops and then reviewed the time spent and the cities that were checked. He then said that all cities contacted recommended not allowing handguns. Commissioner Hegland indicated he did not have an issue with the applicant but wants to make sure that the Commission’s recommendation to Council for this ordinance takes into consideration all the possible scenarios and possible owners. Commissioner Zwirn thanked Staff for the information on how much time communities spend on pawnshops but then said that he has information from Blaine, Anoka and Roseville that indicates that pawnshops are an overpowering stress on the department and they cannot supply the demand for following up on items stolen. Further, those departments feel that the fees are a joke and do not cover the manpower that is lost by having a police officer taking time to do the checking and not doing other things he is trained to do making for double time lost. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he feels the need to either increase the fees or deal with the situation with regard to pawnshops in the community. He then said that all the cities he asked said they would be better off with out a pawnshop and he wants Commissioners to really consider whether they want a pawnshop in Mounds View due to the negative aspects associated with it. Chief Sommer commented that the City’s police department is below the state average and the fees will not allow the City to hire additional officers so there will be extra work with the same number of people. Mr. Przetycki said he appreciated the concern that this could be a problem but said it is a legal business and it is something that police departments do use to find recovered merchandise. Mr. Przetycki indicated he has relationships with other pawnshop owners and they have not had much of a problem with stolen merchandise. He then said that he has an incentive to ensure that the merchandise he accepts is not stolen because, if it is stolen, he has to turn the item over to the police and is out the money he spent to purchase it.