Title
Approval of Ordinance Amending OMC 5.10.045 Regarding Background Checks for Occupational Licenses
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to suspend the rules and approve the ordinance amending OMC 5.10.045 on First and Final Reading.
[Note: 2/3 affirmative vote of Councilmembers present at the meeting needed for approval on first and final reading]
Report
Issue:
Amendments to OMC 5.10.045 add applicants for Adult Entertainment licenses, as defined in OMC 5.15, to those occupations requiring a full criminal background check.
Staff Contact:
Laura Wohl, Police Department, 360.753.8214
Presenter(s):
Laura Wohl, Police Department
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia regulates the practice of certain occupations that, by their nature, present a heightened public safety risk to the public. In reviewing applications for occupational permits, the City considers an applicant's criminal history. The proposed amendments to OMC 5.10.045 add occupations in the Adult Entertainment industry to the list of occupations requiring a criminal history check and clarifies how the criminal history will be obtained. In addition, the criminal history criteria that will be considered during the Adult Entertainment licensing process are included.
Options:
The Council may choose to forgo the amendments in which case the criminal history background checks for Adult Entertainment licenses will be limited and/or voluntarily obtained by the applicant.
Staff recommends Council adopt the Ordinance on First and Final Reading since the next Council business meeting (for usual Second Reading) is in three weeks, October 14.
Financial Impact:
The cost of fingerprinting and criminal history investigations will be charged to the permit applicant. Additional staff time within the Police Department will be required to process the criminal history applications.