ROCK SPRINGS – After being tabled at the last meeting because staff raised concerns about the door-to-door salesman ordinance, it will be up for the vote again at the Rock Springs City Council Meeting on Tuesday.
After Kirby Home Cleaning Systems declared the ordinance was against their rights, the Rock Springs City Council being the process of changing it. Recently Green River changed theirs for the same reasons.
The ordinance went through the third reading but was tabled after staff raised several issues including fees that would be associated with the ordinance. This Tuesday, an amended version of the ordinance will be presented and voted on. The amendments added include a permit application section and a fee section as requested by the Rock Springs Financial Department.
Under the application section, language included states it will eliminate current requirements of photo within 60 days. The city said they currently do not follow this portion of the ordinance.
Photo tracking similar to the Sexually Oriented Business licensing would prove cumbersome with many companies that have a large number of employees according to the city. They said Identification such as driver’s licenses or passports would prove more helpful in the event of complaints that must be followed up by the Rock Springs Police Department.
Another question staff raised was they needed to know if the statement from an applicant regarding convictions refers solely to the applicant or also to persons working for applicant/business. This also is a concern in Section 10-313 of the ordinance.
The wording in the section addressing the revocation of a license by the city was changed to read conviction of the licensee or any participating employee of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
Under fees, a monthly renewal fee of $25 should only apply to smaller companies with less than four salesmen. Monthly renewals for five are $75 a month. Also, the option to apply for a three-month permit at $10 filing fee plus $25 per salesman was added. This actually gives them a price break for quarterly licensing and eliminates additional paperwork for month-to-month renewals. Annual licensing fee of $100 will only apply to businesses with less than four employees. Annual fee for five or more employees will be $500.
Finally, the changes eliminate the wording regarding charitable organization as they are exempt from applying as per section 10-312 of the ordinance.
For a complete look at the changes and the ordinance as it will read go to www.rswy.net and go to the current city council packet under the city council section.
Recreation Department Action
There are two requests coming from the Rock Springs Parks and Recreation Department. Both were approved by the Rock Springs Parks and Recreation Board and now will go before the council for the final stamp of approval.
The first is a request for the Bitter Sweet Bombshells to allow alcohol to be served at the first home meet on May 31 at the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center. The rec board approved the request and explained in a letter to council they will have to follow the same requirements as the Bud Cup Hockey Tournament.
The second is for the Red Desert Humane Society to have its annual Bark in the Park event at the Bitter Creek Bark Park on June 14. This will also include a 5K run. The group has requested some small changes this year including dogs must be kept on leashes and the use of the small dog park for dogs who need to be taken off a leash for a bit. Vendors will also move inside the park instead of outside. The rec board approved all the changes with the understanding it would be up to the humane society to regulate having dogs on leashes because it is exactly opposite of how the dog park is usually run by the city.
Presentations
There will be several presentations, including the presentation of the retirement plaque for Rock Springs Police Office Delbert Gray. Two proclamations include kids to parks day and arbor day and there will be an Urban Renewal Agency update by URA Director Chad Banks.
