Item 4: Ordinance Concerning Used Merchandise Dealers

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in the unincorporated areas of Lane County. Automated reporting programs are growing in North America and other jurisdictions in Oregon are now contemplating the future adoption of an automated reporting program. Although the expansion of communities adopting automated reporting is likely several years away, the eventual addition of more stores and more law enforcement agencies to an integrated database should considerably decrease criminal’s options to sell their stolen items. A significant outcome from the pilot project has been the integration of the vendors’ systems with the Area Information Regional System (AIRS). There are no available commercial products that will integrate with AIRS. Over the past three years, the vendor and AIRS staff have committed sizable resources in programming time to make the automated reporting system as seamless as possible. The result of this effort eliminates redundant data entry and allows processing by AIRS (local), LEDS (state), and NCIC (Federal) databases to identify stolen property. No other vendor in the commercial market has a product that will accomplish this without huge upfront programming and infrastructure costs. A question was raised at the public hearing regarding whether the purchase price of goods paid by used merchandise dealers was proprietary business information. The City Attorney has indicated that the City has “a general ability to enact reasonable ordinances for the regulation of businesses under the City’s police power to further the public’s health, safety and welfare.” Other jurisdictions in the state require the collection of pricing information and the state of Oregon requires the information for “pawnbrokers.” The information reporting requirements contained in the ordinance are similar to other requirements upheld in other jurisdictions around the country. RELATED CITY POLICIES The council goals of a “Safe Community -- where people feel safe, valued and welcome” and “Effective, Accountable Municipal Government -- a government that works openly, collaboratively, and fairly with the community to achieve measurable and positive outcomes” are both related to the proposed ordinance. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may choose to: 1.Take action on this item as proposed; 2.Take action on the item after amending the proposed ordinance to include a new alternative financing model; or 3.Delay action on this item until a later date. The proposed ordinance has a number of stakeholders with varying perspectives. In summary: The Public The community has much to gain from this ordinance because the ability of law enforcement agencies to collaborate to reduce the easy sale of stolen property is greatly enhanced. Law Enforcement A regional automated reporting system will provide any law enforcement agency with internet access and password permission access to the database and the ability to match merchandise to lists of stolen serialized property. The system also is linked to state and federal databases. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060213\S0602134.doc