2864ORDINANCE NO.2864
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5.04 OF THE MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL
CODE ENTITLED "LICENSING REGULATIONS"
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOSES LAKE,WASHINGTON ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Chapter 5.04 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Licensing Regulations"is amended as
follows:
5.04.100 Payment of Fee -Time Limit:
A. All persons,copartnerships,companies,associations,or corporations who are engaged in
business or in practice of their trades or professions in the city shall procure their license to
operate on or before the thirty-firstday of each and every January.In the event the license is
not procured on or before January thirty-firstof each year,the following penalties shall apply:
1.If the renewed license fee is not paid before February first,the sum of twenty percent
(20%) of the required license fee shall be assessed as a penalty;
2.The sum of forty percent (40%) of the required renewed license fee shall be assessed as
a penalty ifthe license fee is not paid before March first;
3.Ifa business license is not renewed byMarch31,enforcement will be taken as provided
for in this section.
B.All persons, copartnerships, companies, associations, or corporations who commence
businessor practice oftheirtrades or professions in the city afterthe thirty-first dayofJanuary
ofeach and every year,shall within one month from the commencement date procure their
license to operate for the current yearand if the license to operate is not procured within the
month,then penalties shall apply and be imposed on the basisofa twenty percent (20%)
penalty oftherequired license fee for the first month the business license is delinquent and
an additional twenty percent (20%)for thesecond month the businesslicense is delinquent.
If a businesslicense isnotprocured after thesixty (60)daydelinquent period,enforcement will
be taken as provided for in this section.
C. Whenthe Finance Director determines thata violation ofthischapter exists,he orshe may
proceed against that violator using the procedures provided in this section.
D.Notice of Violation and Order to Pay. Ifthe Finance Director determines that any person,
copartnerships,company,association,orcorporation has engaged in any business orpractice
of their trade orprofession in violation of this chapter,he or she may issue a Notice ofViolation
and Orderto Pay.This Notice will specifically indicate the following:
1.The name and address ofthe person(s)charged with the violation.
2.The street address ordescription ofthelocation ofthe site on which the violation hasbeen
determined to exist.
3.The amount necessary tocure the violation,including purchase ofa business license.
4. Thedate bywhich the payment isto be made.
5.Astatement that the civil penalties established in Section 1.20 shall be assessed against
the person(s)cited if the payment is not made within the specified time.
ORDINANCE NO.2864
Page 2 May 9,2017
E.Appeals:Any Notice of Violation and Order to Pay issued by the Finance Director shall be
appealable to the Hearing ExaminerunderChapter 20.03.
F.Penalties:
1.Any violation for which a Notice ofViolation and Order to Pay has beenissued but which
has notbeen paid within the time specified shall incur a civil penalty oftwo hundred fifty
dollars ($250)perdayuptoa sumof five thousanddollars ($5,000),beginning ontheday
the payment was tobe made.The cumulative penalty provided for in this paragraphshall
not accrue while an appeal is pending, nor shall the penalty preclude the initiation of
appropriate legal action to bar further operation ofa business,trade,or occupation in
violation of this chapter.
2.If a penalty has been assessed pursuanttoSection 1.20,a courtshallassess that penalty
andany additional penalty thecourt considers appropriate plus court costsandattorney's
fees.
G. Compromise. Settlement, and Disposition ofDisputes or Litigation.The Finance Directorand
the City Attorney maynegotiate asettlementorcompromise,orotherwise disposeofadispute
or litigation when todo so would be in the best interestsofthe city.
Section 2.This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5)days after its passage and publication of
its summary as provided by law.
Adopted by the City Council and signed by its Mayor on May 9, 2017.
odd Votja^vlayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
iMMUL
Katharine L.Kenison,(City