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DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting
<br />Monday, April 2,8, 2008
<br />Page 18
<br />Attachment B
<br />reported, and that pawnshops, creating an opportunity for additional thefts, and re-
<br />lated crime; perceptions, that a pawnshop and similar bus,ines,s,es, were considered
<br />highly regulated functions, increasing the necessity for police calls, in the vicinity
<br />of a public school, and putting children more at risk; and the perception that the
<br />addition of another pawnshop in the community would have a negative impact on
<br />city resources,, calling for more police activity for monitoring, not just responding
<br />to incidents; with one percent of a pawnshop bus,ines,s, indicated to be receipt of
<br />stolen merchandise, representing a higher percentage than a general bus,ines,s, op-
<br />eration.
<br />Councilmember Pus,t noted that many talked about the concept of democracy and
<br />representative government, opining that she made decisions, for residents, all the
<br />time in the normal City business; and that the citizens, had elected the City Coun-
<br />cil to make those decisions, as their representatives, when they weren't available.
<br />Councilmember Pus,t noted that another significant indicator was when people felt
<br />strongly about a decision and showed up at a meeting, noting that of the numerous,
<br />phone calls, she fielded, and the many e-mail comments, and verbal comments, re-
<br />ceived, she opined that she needed to listen to those comments,; and as a result of
<br />those findings, listed, and the public's, perceptions, and concerns,, she opined that it
<br />was, in the best interest of the entire community to vote "no" to the application.
<br />Councilmember Pus,t noted the need for future dis,cus,s,ions, and review of whether
<br />different restrictions, for density or other limitations,, in addition to proximity to
<br />schools, should be required, or if additional pawnshops, should be allowed in Rose-
<br />ville. Councilmember Pus,t concurred with Mr. Smith as, well on scrutiny and
<br />regulatory requirements, for similar bus,ines,s,es, selling secondhand goods,.
<br />Councilmember IhIan spoke in support of the motion and in opposition to the
<br />CUP approval; and also thanked citizens, for speaking and their research, opining
<br />that the research should have been performed by the City Council as part of their
<br />job. Councilmember IhIan opined that the denial was a simple matter of common
<br />sense, that this was, not the location for this type of business, immediately adja-
<br />cent to residential properties, and a school, and with an apartment complex being
<br />redeveloped for affordable housing adjacent to the proposed location, and based
<br />on the inability to take away from the context of the neighborhood; their health
<br />and safety, and in the heart of the City's, retail district.
<br />Councilmember IhIan added to those arguments, made by those public speakers,-,
<br />opining that a pawnshop could make the sale of stolen materials, potentially easier-,
<br />and read City Ordinance, Chapter 311, and it's, statement of purpose and the iden-
<br />tification of a pawnbroker or precious, metal dealer bus,ines,s, needing higher regu-
<br />lations, due to the nature of their business, serving to obligate the City Council to
<br />deny putting such a bus,ines,s, in this location, so close to residential properties,,
<br />schools, and the main retail neighborhood.
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