Title
Emergency Ordinance extending license renewal fees required under Legislative Code 310.18 and due before August 1, 2020 for 90 days, waiving late fees required under Legislative Code 310.09 and on a one-time basis, and reducing license fees by 25% for businesses listed in the Mayor’s Emergency Order 2020-8.
Body
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-10 Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and Coordinating Minnesota’s Strategy to Protect Minnesotans from COVID-19” pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 12.31, Subd. 2; and
WHEREAS, On March 15, 2020, Mayor Melvin Carter III issued an Emergency Declaration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 12.29; which the City Council consented to on March 17, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Melvin Carter III’s March 15, 2020 Emergency Declaration directed City departments to review ordinance and regulatory requirements that can and should be adjusted or suspended, or to enact emergency regulations to support the residents of the City during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-04 which ordered the temporary closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers and also ordered the temporary closure of places of public accommodation and amusement, including but not limited to: theatres, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs; and Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, and other places of public accommodation that offer alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption until April 10, 2020. On March 18, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-08 clarifying that Executive order 20-04 also applied to salons, barbershops and other similar establishments; and
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-33 which extended Executive Order 20-04 until May 4, 2020. These Executive Orders have partially or fully closed or otherwise significantly impacted many Saint Paul Businesses; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2020, Mayor Melvin Carter III issued Emergency Executive Order 2020--8 to ease the financial burden and aid in the recovery of Saint Paul businesses impacted by Minnesota Governor Walz’s Executive Orders by extending license renewal fees required under Legislative Code §310.18 and due before August 1, 2020 for 90 days, waiving late fees required under Saint Paul Legislative Code §310.09 and on a one-time basis, reducing License Fees by 25% for all businesses listed in Emergency Executive Order 2020-8, and
WHEREAS, Mayor Melvin Carter III’s Emergency Executive Order 2020-8 further requested that the City Council take immediate action by Ordinance to extend Emergency Executive Order 2020-8 for 1 year so all impacted businesses will receive both a 25% reduction of their next annual license fee, and a ninety-day extension of the next due date of those fees; and
WHEREAS, Economic studies have shown that this pandemic will likely force many businesses to close permanently; and Employees at these businesses have been affected severely. Many have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced. Easing the burden on businesses could help them continue to pay employees or rehire once the crisis is over; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul businesses impacted by the Governor’s Executive Orders contribute to the vitality of Saint Paul, provide employment opportunities and services to residents, grow the City’s tax base, and increase our sense of community. Easing the burden on these businesses will assist them in survival and recovery and in turn assist the City in its recovery; and
WHEREAS, many St. Paul Businesses who have been impacted by the Governors Executive Orders hold business licenses that they must renew annually and pay a fee. Reducing License fees for these businesses will assist them in the survival and recovery process; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul City Charter Section 6.06 provides that “[t]o meet a public emergency, to wit, a sudden or unforeseen situation affecting life, health, property, or the public peace or welfare that requires immediate council action, the council may adopt one or more emergency ordinances; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1
The COVID-19 pandemic is an existing public emergency requiring immediate council action.
SECTION 2
For all License Types listed in Section 4, the license fees proscribed under Saint Paul Legislative Code §310.18 will be reduced by 25% for all licenses renewed between April 24th, 2020 and April 23rd, 2021.
SECTION 3
For all License Types listed in Section 4, whose renewal date is before August 1, 2020, a one-time, ninety-day extension of the due date is granted without a late fee.
SECTION 4
This Emergency Ordinance applies to the following license types:
o Bowling Centers
o Cabaret - Class A
o Cigarette/Tobacco-Product Shop
o Dance or Rental Halls
o Entertainment (A)
o Entertainment (B)
o Entertainment (C)
o Gambling Location
o Health/Sport Club
o Health/Sport Club-Exercise Only Facility
o Liquor - Microdistillery Cocktail Room
o Liquor Catering (State Cater/City Liq)
o Liquor On Sale - 100 seats or less
o Liquor On Sale - 101-180 Seats
o Liquor On Sale - 181-290 Seats
o Liquor On Sale - 2 AM Closing
o Liquor On Sale - 291 or more Seats
o Liquor On Sale - Theater
o Liquor On Sale-Club 201-500 Mbrs - B
o Liquor On Sale-Club 501-1000 Mbrs - C
o Liquor On Sale-Club under 200 Mbrs - A
o Liquor-Outdoor Service Area (Patio)
o Liquor-Outdoor Service Area (Sidewalk)
o Malt On Sale (3.2)
o Malt On Sale (Brewery Taproom)
o Malt On Sale (Strong)
o Massage Center - A (Commercial)
o Massage Center - B (Home Location)
o Massage Practitioner
o Recycling Collection Center
o Recycling Processing Center
o Tanning Facility
o Theaters and Movie Theaters
o Wine On Sale
SECTION 5
This Emergency Ordinances shall be effective upon passage, approval, and publication.