08-27-25 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 of 3 Insurance showing the business has current insurance coverage, as well as payment for the associated license fee. Business license fees are based on the City’s fee schedule which is reviewed annually by the City Council. Business Registrations Some businesses do not have a fee associated with the type of business. Generally, these businesses do not have tangible goods/services along with their business, and examples are an insurance adjuster/company, counseling services, etc. Staff mails the same letter and application form to these businesses as they are urged to complete and submit the application and attain a business registration (a Certificate of Insurance is also requested). General Process The process of obtaining a license or registration provides valuable information to the City so that we know what businesses are operating in Arden Hills. Knowing what businesses are here is a tool the City can utilize to provide outreach to the businesses for various reasons (surveys, notification of potential programs for business assistance (think COVID), communications about a road project that will impact them (think Ramsey County’s Lexington Avenue project) and so forth). The City initiates the renewal process generally in October/November for the following calendar year period. Businesses are asked to return their information by a certain due date; however, staff will follow up after the first of the year with a secondary renewal letter, giving the business another opportunity to obtain their license or get registered. Note that this past year, the Deputy Clerk made two additional attempts after the first of the year to connect with businesses that had not yet returned their information. The City does publish a list of businesses that have obtained a license or registration for the current year; however, it is challenging for the City to ensure the list of businesses is accurate. Businesses do not necessarily contact the City when they move into Arden Hills. For example, City staff may learn that a new business has started operating in Arden Hills after receiving a new building or sign permit application. The reviewer of the permit application may inform the Deputy Clerk of the new business to then follow-up with information about the business license and registration process. The City may also learn about a new business through changes to utility billing accounts. During the license process, a business may reply to the City that they are no longer operating in Arden Hills. In general, staff is not typically made aware when a business moves out of a tenant space or if a tenant space is vacant for a length of time. We may only find out about a business being in operation from the above-referenced scenarios. Non-Compliance It can be noted that Chapter 3, Licenses and Regulations in the City Code also establishes penalties for late payment, with the fees being established in the fee schedule. Penalties for late payment are 10% of license fee or $32.00, whichever is greater. However, typically the City has not pursued late fees as it relates to business licensing.