PORT ANGELES — A proposed business license ordinance — complete with a mandatory flat fee — would be “for the benefit of the business owners,” one City Council member said Tuesday night.
After a brief discussion, the seven Port Angeles council members directed city staff to continue to develop the proposed law, which would require all business to be licensed with City Hall.
Its purpose would be to create a list of all businesses in Port Angeles.
Staff and a few council members say it would encourage economic development by providing information for prospective businesses owners on what services are already provided.
“We are doing this for the benefit of the business owners,” said council member Cherie Kidd, who proposed the idea.
Council member Max Mania and Deputy Mayor Don Perry also voiced support for creating a citywide business license.
The city has a limited license ordinance that currently covers about 150 businesses.
Those businesses fall under 18 categories, such as ambulances, dance halls that serve liquor, taxis and pawn shops.
Mayor Dan Di Guilio, citing the economic climate, said he opposes the idea if it creates a new fee for businesses.
The City Hall staff is proposing a flat fee of between $35 to $50 to cover the costs of processing licenses.
“I think imposing a fee at this time is just the wrong thing to do,” Di Guilio said.
The city charges a $25 fee for the businesses that are currently required to be licensed.
Kidd said she could only support a license requirement on all businesses if fees are low.
The Port Angeles Downtown Association also supports the business license requirement if it’s not too costly, Executive Director Barb Frederick said earlier Tuesday.
But Ted Simpson, Port Angeles Business Association president and owner of Angeles Electric, said now is not the right time.
“It be better at a different time when the economy was in a little better shape,” he said.
Former Mayor Jim Hallett, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce president, said he didn’t feel “too warm and fuzzy” about the idea unless the fees can be justified.
Hallett owns Hallett and Associates, a financial consulting firm.
Kidd said she intends to bring the proposal to the business associations for input.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
