Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, May 05, 2020
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMIT PROGRAM IN LIGHT OF SMALL BUSINESSES EXPERIENCING NEGATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACTS STEMMING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
Both the City Council and the Carson Disaster Council have expressed an interest in an update on the City's Business Licenses and Permit program and, in particular, information on those Licenses and Permits that were either renewed or newly issued in March of 2020, or a subsequent month.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
DISCUSS and PROVIDE direction.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. Direct staff to process REFUNDS for all businesses OR a specified subgroup of businesses for a portion of the Business License tax that would be prorated to take into account the number of months the business was operating, OR
2. Approve the Business License Tax Refund Request application AND direct staff to either:
a. Provide REFUNDS on a case-by-case basis for that portion of the year that the business was not operating, OR
b. Apply a CREDIT to the account for the next renewal period for that portion of the previous year that the business was not operating, OR
3. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
On March 17, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 20-053 (EXHIBIT 4) declaring a local emergency in response to COVID-19. On March 16, non-essential businesses were ordered to close by the County of Los Angeles (Exhibit #4). Many of our Carson businesses that are vital to the economic wellbeing of our community have either had to close because they were non-essential or have had significant reductions in business revenues because of COVID-19.
Most businesses that operate in Carson simply pay the base Business Tax in the amount of $180; however, the tax increases for businesses with six (6) or more employees and for specified business types (e.g., real estate brok...
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