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2007-07 ORDINANCE NO. 2007-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF A VENTURA, FLORIDA; AMENDING THE CITY CODE BY AMENDING ARTICLE II "OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAXES" OF CHAPTER 18 "BUSINESS REGULATIONS, LICENSES AND PERMITS" TO CONFORM WITH RECENT REVISIONS TO FLORIDA STATUTE CHAPTER 205 BY CHANGING THE TERM OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TO LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT; MAKING COLLATERAL CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO OTHER AFFECTED PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE INCLUDING SECTIONS 2-348, 2-396, 14-62, 30-95, 31-21, 31-150, 31-191, 38-32, 45-35; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN CODE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature amended Fla. Stat. Chapter 205 by changing the term occupational license to local business tax receipt; and WHEREAS, this change was necessitated by unscrupulous persons who presented the occupational licenses to consumers as proof of competency to perform certain services; and WHEREAS, the Commission finds that it would be prudent to change the corresponding municipal code to reflect the state law's changes. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF A VENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS! Section 1. Recitals Adopted. That each of the above stated recitals is hereby adopted and confirmed. Section 2. Chauter 18 of City Code Amended. That Article II "Occupational License Taxes" of Chapter 18 "Business Regulations, Licenses and Permits" of the City Code, 1/ Proposed additions to existing City Code text are indicated by underline; proposed deletions from existing City Code text are indicated by striketftf9ygh; presently existing text is indicated by the absence of any underlininl!: or strikethr9ygks. Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 2 is hereby amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 18 BUSINESS REGULATIONS, LICENSES TAXES AND PERMITS ARTICLE II. OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE LOCAL BUSINESS TAXES* Sec. 18-31. Tax imposed. (a) Every person, as defined in F.S. ~ 205.022(3), engaged in or managing any business, profession or occupation in the City is required to have a City local business tax receipt liet:mse and shall, on or before each October 1, before engaging in or managing any business, profession or occupation, register with the City their name, profession or occupation, and their place of business. If October 1 falls on a weekend or holiday, the receipt lieense shall be obtained on or before the first business day following October 1. No person shall engage in or manage any such business, profession or occupation without first obtaining the required local business tax receipt eeeHf'atienal lieense. The City Manager or his designee shall develop administrative procedures relating to the issuance of local business tax receipts lieeBses and designate the department responsible for implementing the procedures and issuing the appropriate receipts lieenses. (b) This oeel:lflationallieense local business tax requirement shall apply to: (1) Any person who maintains a permanent business location or branch office within the City for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business within the City. (2) Any person who maintains a permanent business location or branch office within the City for the privilege of engaging in or managing any profession or occupation within the City. 2 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 3 (3) Any person who utilizes their home for uses as outlined in subsection (b)(I) or (2) of this section for authorized business activities. (4) Any person who does not qualify under the provisions of subsection (b)(I) or (2) of this section and who transacts any business or engages in any occupation or profession in interstate commerce where such liaMse local business tax is not prohibited by section 8 of article I of the United States Constitution. (c) A person shall be required to pay a lieense local business tax to the City as outlined in the schedule contained in this article. A lieense local business tax shall be required for each type of business performed at the applicant's location that requires a separate lieense local business tax as outlined in the schedule contained in this article. Sec. 18-32. Term of receipt lieense; half year receipt lieense; transfer of receipt lieense. (a) Lieenses Receipts issued under this article shall expire on September 30 of each year. No liaense receipt shall be issued for more than one year. For each receipt lieeflse obtained between October 1 and April 1, the full tax for one year shall be paid, and for each lieeRse receipt obtained between April 1 and September 30, one-half the full tax for one year shall be paid. (b) Any lieense receipt may be transferred with the approval of the City Manager or his designee when there is a bona fide sale and transfer of the business and the property used and employed therein as stock in trade, and not otherwise. Such transfer shall be made within 30 days after such bona fide sale has taken place. If the provisions of this section are not strictly and completely complied with in every respect, the lieense receipt pertaining to the business shall be null and void and of no further effect. Such transfer 3 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 4 shall take effect upon payment of a transfer fee of $3.00 and after presentation of evidence of both the sale and of the original receipt lieense. (c) Upon written request and presentation of the original receiot lieeBse, any receipt lieeBse may be transferred from one location to another location upon payment of a transfer fee of $3.00 and upon verification that such use is permitted by the zoning district regulations at the new location. Sec. 18-33. Affidavit of applicant for receipt lieense; annual filing of information. (a) No lieoose receipt shall be issued or granted under this article to any applicant to engage in the business of selling merchandise at retail or wholesale or the practice or pursuit of any profession or occupation coming within any of the categories set forth in this article except upon written application filed with the City. The applicant shall execute an affidavit before an officer or el'l'lployee of the City authorized to administer oaths, which shall set forth the following: (1) The applicant's name, address and telephone number. (2) The particular location in the City wherein the applicant proposes to engage in the business for which the receipt lieense is sought. (3) The date proposed to commence business. (4) A statement as to whether the fee is based on area, capacity, average value of stock carried, number of persons or things employed or engaged, quantity, valuation, or other contingency. (5) The names and addresses of corporate officers. (b) The affidavit shall be filed with the City. 4 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 5 (c) On an annual basis, prior to renewal, the City will may send out a questionnaire and will require all receipt holders lieense€ls to fill in the appropriate information in order for the City to update its files and determine the correct amount to charge as a local business tax lieense fee. Sec. 18-34. Prerequisites for granting receipt lieense; certificate of use required; invalid receipts lieenses. (a) A certificate of use shall be required prior to the issuance of any new local business tax receipt eeel:lpationallieoose. The fee for such certificate of use is $35.00. (b) No receipt lieense shall be granted under this article until there has been full compliance with section 18-33 and 18-34(a), and no receipt lieease which may have been granted without full and complete compliance with the provisions of this article shall be a protection to the applicant in any civil or criminal proceeding. Sec. 18-35. Violations; penalties. (a) Any person convicted of violating this article, or of making a fraudulent return, shall be punished as provided by subsection (e) of this section, in the discretion of the court, and in addition such person shall be penalized a sum equal to 25 percent of any local business tax lieeflse fee-avoided or evaded by and through the medium of such fraudulent return. (b) Each and every day of selling or disposing of merchandise or engaging in a business or profession without making the affidavit and/or without compliance in full with all of 5 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 6 the provisions of this article shall constitute a separate and distinct violation of this article. (c) No person shall engage in or manage any business, profession or occupation without first obtaining from the City a receipt lieense for each separate location in the City and paying the amount set forth in this article. Any person engaging in or managing any business, occupation or profession mentioned in this article between October 1 and November 1 of each year without first having complied with the provisions of this article and paying the amount of lieeflse local business tax as provided for in this article shall be declared delinquent. Those receipts lieens€ls not renewed when due and payable and considered delinquent shall be subject to a delinquency penalty of ten percent for the month of October, plus an additional five percent penalty for each month of delinquency thereafter until paid. However, the total delinquency penalty shall not exceed 25 percent ofthe local business tax oeeapationallieense fee for the delinquent establishment. (d) A lieense receipt shall be required to cover each and every business advertised by sign, newspaper, magazine or otherwise. Such advertisement shall be considered evidence of conducting the business advertised and shall be a sufficient predicate for conviction by the court or other enforcement authority. Such receipt lieens€I shall be issued to cover each and every location of such business, and the assessment and amount of such lieense local business taxes are classified and fixed per annum unless otherwise specified. (e) Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment in the County jail not to exceed 60 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues 6 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 7 shall be deemed a separate violation. This article shall be subject to enforcement under the Local Government Code Enforcement Act, F.S. ch. 162. Enforcement may also be by suit for declaratory, injunctive or other appropriate relief in a court of competent jurisdiction. Sec. 18-36. Grounds for denial of receipt lieense . After interview or investigation, the City shall not grant or issue a receipt lieense under this article to an applicant when the City has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that: (1) Information provided by the applicant is false. (2) Within the past three years the applicant committed any act which if done by any person with a local business tax receipt lieensed to do basiness within from the City would constitute grounds for the revocation of the receipt lieense. Sec. 18-37. Appeal of denial ofreceipt lieease. Any person whose application for a receipt lieense under this article has been rejected shall have a right to appeal the decision of the City licensing official to the City Manager by appropriate written petition. Sec. 18-38. Revocation ofreceipt lieense. (a) Notwithstanding any other section in this article to the contrary, the privilege of doing business within the City allowed by the issuance of a local business tax receipt oeelipatienal lieense will be subject to a summary administrative revocation by one 7 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 8 written 30-day notice of revocation issued to the local business tax receiot lieefls€I applicant by the official designated by the City Manager, if it is determined that one or more of the following conditions exist: (1) Repeated violations ofthis Code. (2) Misrepresentations in the application or affidavit. (3) Use of the business location for illegal or unsafe activities. (4) Use of the business location for activities not contemplated in the application. (5) Misrepresentations made to the City during the application and investigation process. (6) Use of the business not in compliance with the conditions of the receivt lieense. (7) Lack of refuse collection or utility services. (b) Such revocation may be appealed to the City Manager within ten days of notice of revocation. (c) Such revocation of receipt lie€lnse will be deemed to relate back to the original time of issuance of such receipt lieense as if the receipt lieense had been originally denied at the time of application. Such revocation will be effective immediately. In addition to the grounds listed in subsection (a) of this section, the City Commission or City Manager at any time may revoke a receipt lieense, upon providing written notice and hearing, for violation of any ordinance of the City or law of the State or County or for any other good and sufficient reason in the interests of health, safety and welfare. (d) Nothing in this section shall affect the liability of any person or business as required by section 18-35. 8 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 9 Sec. 18-39. Display of receipt lieense. All persons to whom receipts lieenses are issued pursuant to this article shall cause the receipts lieenses to be displayed at all times in a prominent place in their business establishments. Failure to display the receipt lieense in such a manner shall constitute a violation of this article. Sec. 18-40. Unclassified business categories. If application is made for a local business tax receipt ft oeeapational lie€lnse not specifically enumerated in the tax schedule, the City Manager or his designee shall have the authority to determine the most nearly similar category that shall apply to the applicant. Sec. 18-41. Home occupation receipts lieenses. (a) Generally. For purposes of this section, the term "home occupation" shall mean a business or occupation conducted for limited business activities. In any instance where a residential unit is used to conduct a home business consistent with this section, a home use receipt lieense shall be required. No home use business receipt lieense issued pursuant to this article shall be transferable, assignable or otherwise alienable. (b) Permitted activities. The following limited business activities are permitted subject to a home use receipt lieense being issued: (1) Post and receive correspondence of a business nature. (2) Initiate and receive business communications by telephone or fax. 9 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 10 (c) Conditions. The issuance of a home use business receipt lieens€I shall be subject to the following provisions: *** Sec. 18-42. Tax schedule. For the purposes of this article, inventory shall mean the average selling value of annual inventory owned by the business, exclusive of excise tax. Local business oeeapational lieens€I taxes for the following business, occupations and/or professions are hereby levied and imposed: *** Section 4. Section 2-348 of City Code Amended. That Section 2-348 "Schedule of civil penalties" of Chapter 2 "Administration" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-348. Schedule of civil penalties. (a) The following table outlines the sections of the Code, as they may be amended from time to time, which may be enforced pursuant to the provisions of this article, and the dollar amount of civil penalty for the violation of these sections as they may be amended. These penalties shall be in addition to any and all other legal remedies which may be available to the City. Each description of violation in the schedule is for informational purposes only and is not meant to limit or define the nature of the violation or the subject matter of the listed Code sections. To determine the exact nature of the activity proscribed or required by the Code, the relevant Code section must be examined. 10 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 11 (b) The following is the schedule of civil penalties: TABLE INSET: Code Description of Violation Initial Civil Penalty Sec. Failing to comply with oeeapationallieeflse local $250.00 and revocation of 18-31 business tax receipt requirements lieense receipt *** Section 5. Section 2-396 Of Chapter 2 Amended. That Section 2-396 "Further Ethics Standards; prohibitions and restrictions" of Chapter 2 "Administration" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-396. Further ethics standards; prohibitions and restrictions. (a) Certain appearances, work or payment prohibited. Pursuant to section 2-11.1(m) of the Miami-Dade County Code and as further specified herein: (1) No member of the City Commission shall appear before any City department, board or agency and make a presentation on behalf of a third person with respect to any application, license, local business tax receipt. contract, certificate, ruling, decision, opinion, rate schedule, franchise, or other benefit sought by the third person. *** 11 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 12 (b) Continued restrictions after City service. Pursuant to section 2-11.1 (q) of the Miami-Dade County Code and as further specified herein, no member of the City Commission shall, for a period of two years after his or her City service has ceased, lobby the City Commission or any City Officer, department personnel or employee in connection with any quasi judicial, judicial or other proceeding, application, purchasing RFP, RFQ or Bid, request for ruling, or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, charge, accusation, municipal ordinance violation, arrest or other particular subject matter in which the City or one of City's agencies, boards or instrumentalities is a party or has any interest, whether direct or indirect. However, nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall prohibit any individual included within the provisions of this subsection (b) from submitting a routine administrative request or application to a City department or agency during the two years after his or her City service has ceased. The term "routine administrative requestor application", as used herein, means an application for a building permit, local business tax receipt oeeapationw lieens€I, regular city recreation facility or park public use permit request, under those circumstances where no variance, waiver or special privilege is requested. Section 6. Section 14-62 of Chapter 14 Amended. That Section 14-62 "Registration" of Chapter 14 "Buildings and Building Regulations" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 14-62. Registration. All contractors performing work within the municipal boundaries of the City, or who have made application for building permits from the City, shall be required to 12 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 13 register annually with the City. All such contractors shall register with the City Community Development Department at the time of the renewal of their local business tax receipt oeeHf'ational lieeBse or within seven days thereof, or prior to the application for a building permit, whichever applies. Registrations must be renewed annually on or before September 30th for the following fiscal year. Requirements for registration shall be as follows: (1) The qualifier for the contractor must provide each of the items listed in this paragraph. Such qualifier must personally appear at the City's Community Development Department for the purpose of registration unless the qualifier does not have a principal place of business located in the State. a. A current certificate of competency. b. A current liability and workers' compensation certificate of insurance, addressed to the City. c. (i) If licensed by Miami-Dade County, both a State registration and Miami-Dade County registration are required; or (ii) Current State certificate (if State-certified contractor). d. A current local business tax receipt oeelipatioaal lie ease from the area of primary business. If COliBty lieensed, he ffilist alse proviae a ffiliBieipal oeeupationallieease. *** Section 7. Section 30-95 of City Code Amended. That Section 30-95 "Collection of stormwater utility fee; liens" of Chapter 30 " Environment" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 30-95. Collection of stormwater utility fee; liens. 13 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 14 *** (b) For the purpose of calculating stormwater utility fees, the calculation of ERUs is based upon property usage. The property usage shall be determined by the City based on, but not be limited by, State and County land use codes, local business tax receipts oeel:lflationallieenses and site inspections. *** Section 8. Section 31-21 of City Code Amended. That Section 31-21 "Definitions" of Chapter 31 "Land Development Regulations" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 31-21. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meaning herein set out. When these definitions include restrictions, conditions or limitations, such restrictions, conditions or limitations shall be subject to enforcement upon the same basis as other provisions of these Land Development Regulations. *** Hotel shall mean a commercial establishment which provides temporary overnight sleeping accommodations for the general public. No more than five percent of the individual hotel units shall be occupied for more than 90 continuous days by the same occupant of the hotel unit (the "duration of stay restriction"). It shall constitute a violation of this duration of stay restriction to allow any person to attempt to circumvent this 14 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 15 provision by: relocating to another unit in the same hotel; or by allowing a person to temporarily check out of the hotel and subsequently re-register or check back into the hotel for such purpose. Principal access to all rental rooms shall be through an inside lobby or office supervised by a person in charge at all hours. Other typical hotel services must be offered including daily linen and maid service, and receipt and disbursement of keys and mail by the attendant at the desk in the lobby or office, for the occupants of the hotel. No hotel facility shall be converted to or used as a multi-family residential dwelling. Compliance with the restrictions, conditions or limitations set forth in this definition, shall be certified by the lieensee receipt holder at the time of issuance and renewal of the applicable City oeel:lflationallieense local business tax receipt. Section 9. Section 31-150 of City Code Amended. That Section 31-150 "Specific Use Regulations" of Chapter 31 "Land Development Regulations"of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 31-150. Specific use regulations. The specific conditions set out below shall be applied to each proposed use during conditional use and site plan review. *** (11) Warehouse-self storage. A warehouse-self storage facility shall not be permitted to contain businesses which require a oeeapationallieense local business tax receipt for the premises. No wholesale or retail sales are permitted. "Self-service storage facility" shall be defined as a fully enclosed space used for warehousing which contains individual 15 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 16 storage units with floor area no greater than 400 square feet and an interior height not to exceed 12 feet. *** Section 10. Section 31-191 of City Code Amended. That Section 31-191 "Sign regulations generally"of Chapter 31 "Land Development Regulations" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 31-191. Sign regulations generally. *** (b) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Abandoned sign: A sign is considered abandoned if the business or other use advertised on that sign is no longer licensed, no longer has an eeeupatiol'ltH lie€lflse local business tax receivt or is no longer doing business at the location to which the sign pertains. *** (h) Temporary signs. The following temporary signs are authorized in the City: (1 ) Grand opening banner: TABLE INSET: 16 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 17 Residential District Nonresidential District Approvals City Manager. City Manager. necessary: Number One per establishment per calendar One per project. (maximum): year in a multi-tenant center. Sign area 30 square feet. 30 square feet. (maximum): Sign height Four feet. F our feet. (maximum): 14 consecutive days after issuance 14 consecutive days after issuance of Length of of initial oeeupationallieense local initial oeeupationallieense local display: business tax receipt. business tax receipt. Frequency: One per year. One per year. Sign copy shall only include Sign copy shall only include "Grand "Grand Opening" and the name of Opening" and the name of the Other the project. Signs shall indicate project. Signs shall indicate restrictions: expiration date on lower right hand expiration date on lower right hand corner. corner. *** 17 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 18 (m) Removal of improper signs. *** (3) Removal or repair costs. Costs incurred by the City in removal or repair of a sign shall be charged to the real property owner on whose property the sign is located. The City shall assess the entire cost of such demolition, removal or repair, which assessment shall include, but not be limited to, all administrative costs, postal expenses and newspaper publication costs. Such charge shall constitute a lien upon such property. The City Clerk shall file such lien in the County's official record book showing the nature of such lien, the amount thereof and an accurate legal description of the property. No oeel:lpatiofltH lieeflse local business tax receipt shall be approved for such a property until the full amount associated with the lien, or the full amount in the event no lien has yet been filed, has been paid to the City by the property owner. Section 11. Section 38-32 of City Code Amended. That Section 38-32 "Franchise required" Chapter 38 "Solid Waste" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 38-32. Franchise required. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, collect and transport for disposal, from any commercial establishment, multifamily residential establishment or residential unit in the City, solid waste or recyclable material over the streets or public rights-of-way within 18 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 19 the incorporated area of the City without first applying for and receiving the appropriate solid waste franchise from the City to carryon such business. (b) The franchise required by this section shall be in addition to any other permits, registration or oee~ati()ntH lieense local business tax receipt which may be required by federal, state or local law . Section 12. Section 45-35 of City Code Amended. That Section 45-35 "Fees and payments" of Chapter 45 "Telecommunications" of the City Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 45-35. Fees and payments. (a) In consideration for the rights, privileges and permission granted hereunder, a registrant hereunder shall pay to the City annually a sum equal to one percent of gross receipts of the registrant on recurring local service revenues for services provided within the corporate limits of the City. Included within such one percent maximum fee or consideration are all taxes, licenses, fees, in-kind contributions accepted pursuant to F.S. ~ 337.401~ , and other impositions except ad valorem taxes and amounts for assessments for special benefits, such as sidewalks, street pavings, and similar improvements, and oeeliPatienal lieeflse local business tax receipt ~ levied or imposed by the City upon a registrant. In the event that applicable law currently permits or is amended to permit the City to collect a fee higher than one percent, or permits the City to calculate the fee on revenues not specified herein, the registrant agrees to increase, following written notice from the City, its fee payments to the City to that 19 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 20 higher amount on the effective date of such law. In the event applicable law is amended to require the City to collect a fee lower than the current statutory limit, the City shall take all necessary steps to conform the requirements hereof to applicable law. All of the aforestated payments shall be made to the City quarterly, with such payments made within 20 days following the end of each calendar quarter. Payments received after the 31st day shall be subject to interest at the maximum allowed by law. *** Section 13. Severability. That the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable and if any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this Ordinance but 'they shall remain in effect, it being the legislative intent that this Ordinance shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part. Section 14. Inclusion in the Code. That it is the intention of the City Commission, and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of the City of A ventura; that the sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such intentions; and that the word "0 rdinance" shall be changed to "Section" or other appropriate word. Section 15. Effective Date. That this Ordinance shall be effective retroactively from and after January 1, 2007. 20 Ordinance No. 2007-07 Page 21 The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner Auerbach, who moved its adoption on first reading. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Weinberg, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Zev Auerbach yes Commissioner Bob Diamond yes Commissioner Teri Holzberg yes Commissioner Billy Joel yes Commissioner Luz Urbaez Weinberg yes Vice Mayor Michael Stern yes Mayor Susan Gottlieb yes The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Commissioner Auerbach, who moved its adoption on second reading. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Weinberg, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Commissioner Zev Auerbach yes Commissioner Bob Diamond yes Commissioner Teri Holzberg yes Commissioner Billy Joel yes Commissioner Luz Urbaez Weinberg yes Vice Mayor Michael Stern yes Mayor Susan Gottlieb yes PASSED AND ADOPTED on first reading this 10th day of April, 2007. 21 Ordinance No. 2007-0'1 Page 22 PASSED AND ADOPTED on second reading this 1st day of May, 2007. Nhrt City Attorney d Legal Sufficiency: f'\ 22