ITEM TITLE:
Consider approving an Ordinance amending Sections 7-12-1-1201, 7-12-1-1202, 7-12-1-1203, 7-12-1-1205, 7-12-1-1209, 7-12-1-1210 and 7-12-1-1217, Article 7-12-1, Division 7-12, Chapter 7, Business, Lawton City Code, 2015, by clarifying the definition of store front, clarifying that all persons who want to go door-to-door within Lawton shall have a permit, setting the fee as a per person instead of per business, setting forth the hearing process if a door-to-door permit is revoked, adding the requirement for a background check for all individuals going door-to-door, except minors, and setting an exception for the placement of handbills or leaflets on automobiles in public parking lots not to be considered a door-to-door or itinerant vendor activity, providing for severability, establishing an effective date and allowing for floor amendments.
INITIATOR: Charlotte Brown, Community Services Director
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: Charlotte Brown, Community Services Director
BACKGROUND: City staff has received several complaints about vendors going door-to-door within Lawton and not having a permit. This ordinance clarifies the language that you have to have a permit to go door to door. The ordinance will also place the requirement of a background check on the individual going door-to-door. The background check is a safety mechanism for the citizens of Lawton. The proposed ordinance also clarifies the definition of store front by allowing individuals who operate a home occupation, or an internet based business to be a door-to-door vendor as long as they can provide proof of residency. This ordinance also set the fee per individual going door-to-door instead of the business. The City of Norman also charges the fees per individual instead of per business.
The existing code requires that the businesses that obtain a door-to-door vendor permit have a local storefront office within the city limits of Lawton. Without a local storefront, the businesses are not allowed to go door-to-door which helps during certain times of year when we have several out of town companies that come to town in order to try to get quick business and then they leave. The existing code also limits the hours that door-to-door vendors are allowed to go door-to-door. They are limited to 9:00am to 7:00pm. This ordinance will add a time limit of sunset, if it comes before 7:00pm.
This ordinance does not affect those companies that are delivering product by appointment to individual homes.
EXHIBIT: Ordinance No. 23-____, City of Norman Ordinance
KEY ISSUES: N/A
FUNDING SOURCE: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance No. 23-____, waive the reading of the ordinance, read the title only.