06/26/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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C,\.. d Testimony indicated support for continuing to license armed and unarmed detective and security officers. While we do not recommend licensing each person, we do' recommend that each be required to carry identification and that those carrying firearms be certified by the City as being capable of using .- those fi rearms. 'WI' I would also recommend that the City continue to perform background checks on employees to determine whether a person has been convicted of an offense involving harrassment, assault on another person, theft, or any sex-related offense; if a felony within the preceding five years or a misdemeanor within the preceding three years. The certification card would not be a license, nor would it endorse the individual as an employee. Another concern focused on the title of this business license. Several individuals testified that security guards and merchant/home patroling are a different business than private investigating. We agree that these ~rofessions may be different in the duties they perform, but the community safety issues that concern us are the same for both professions. I would, however, propose that the title of the business license be changed to clearly articulate which professions we are regulating; thus the title should be Detective or Security Agency. There was an additional request for potential employees to have the endorsement of individuals who have known them for at least five years and who are willing to vouch and sign, under notary, for the applicant's honesty, good character, and competency. The ordinance does not continue this practice because: (1) it exposes the City to 1 i abil i ty if we certify the IIgood characterll of a person,who later causes some harm or damage; and (2) we will no longer license each individual. but only perform a background checK. If the industry feels that personai endorsements are helpful, they could make that a e requirement of application to individual businesses.- Finally, there was a request that the private detective industry be allowed to handle client problems themselves. As in the past, unless there is a violation of federal, state, or local laws or rules, the industry will be responsible for handling issues with their clients. B. Social Gambling The major issue raised at the public hearing focused on the definition of "social games." The definition in the code says that games allowed are II . . . poker or gin rummy when played by the rules prescribed by federal and state law and by this chapter." However, the administrative rules governing social gambling allow all games described in Hoyle's Modern Encyclopedia of Card Games, except card games in which the deal does not pass, cannot be won, or require a full-time banker. To prevent any misunderstanding about what is allowed, I recommend changing the definition to read: Social Games. All games described in Hoyle's Modern Encyclopedia of Card Games (Dolphin Handbook No. C512) shall be allowed when played in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, except any card game in which the deal does not pass, which cannot be won, which requires a full- time banker, or which is prohibited by federal or state law. Addit i ona ily, the staff recommends that the background check requi red, for _- owners and the designated person in charge be done by the City and that individuals who meet the requirement.s of the code receive a certification card. The certification card would not be a license, nor would it endorse the individual as an employee. The card would only certify that the person -2-