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Home My WebLink AboutA003 - Memo dated September 9, 1994 to City Council from City Clerk AMES MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Sandy Ryan, City Clerk DATE: September 9, 1994 RE: Peddlers' Permits: Current Permit Process Individuals who wish to go "door-to-door" in residential districts in Ames for the purpose of selling goods or services or for seeking donations, and who do not have an indoor place in the City where the same selling of goods and services is done on a continuous and permanent basis, fall into one of the following categories: (1) For-profit groups selling goods or services, (2) community-based non-profit groups selling goods or services or participating in door-to-door fund drives, (3) non-profit groups not based in Ames who are doing door-to-door sales of goods and services, (4) locally based groups seeking donations without sales, (5) groups not based locally seeking donations without sales, and (6) local establishments who conduct door-to-door solicitations. For-Profit Groups: In 1987, the City began regulating for-profit peddling activities in residential districts in Ames. The City Code stipulates that each individual wishing to obtain a Peddlers' Permit must fill out an application providing the Clerk's Office with their name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, and other identifying information such as height, weight, hair and eye color (See Attachment A) . For adults, a photo driver's license, or two other forms of documentary I.D. must be supplied as well. If the individual does not have a permanent residence in Ames, the address and phone of their permanent residence must be supplied. Crews must provide the name, address, and phone number of the person in charge of and responsible for the crew, in addition to supplying the application information for each merchant. The make, model, year, state of registration, and license number of any and all vehicles used in connection with the peddling or soliciting must be supplied. The products being sold and their prices must be listed on the application, as well as the name, address, and phone number of the supplier of the product. Proof of state sales tax permit or exemption must be supplied, except for food products. If the person going door to door is a minor, a parent, legal guardian, or person providing notarized authorization of the parent or guardian must register for that child. Identification must be supplied that establishes the child's identity and the identity of the child's parent or guardian. After completing the application, the applicant is sent to the Police Department where two photographs are taken. One photo remains at the Police Dispatch Desk, while the other is brought back to the Clerk's Office to be laminated onto the applicant's identification badge. The current fee for a Peddlers' Permit is $16.00, and the Permit is good for 60 days. This fee has not been increased since it was established in 1987, and does not cover the present administrative and enforcement costs of the Permit. At a future Council meeting, staff will make a recommendation concerning increasing this fee. During the spring and fall of the year, the Clerk's Office often receives calls from citizens concerned about door-to-door peddlers and donation-seekers and the City's permit process. Most of these callers express surprise when they learn the City "permit" is for identification only. They infer from the registration that the City is vouching for the peddler or product. If someone is found or reported to be selling door to door without a required registration and identification badge, they may be ordered by the Police, representatives of the City Manager, City Attorney, or City Clerk to cease until they have obtained such a badge. Peddling activities are prohibited between the time of sunset and sunrise. Non-Profit Groups: The above procedure does not apply to community based non-profit groups, i.e. service clubs, social groups, school groups, youth organizations, religious or non-profit eleemosynary organizations that have regular meetings of members in the City. Solicitation of donations by these non-profit groups is not currently regulated by the City, although if contacted, the Clerk's Office does request that these groups fill out a registration form (See Attachment B) for identification purposes. A copy of this registration form is sent to the Police Dispatch Desk. Frequency: The Clerk's Office receives an average of 16 Peddler applications per month. The following chart shows the number of for-profit applications processed by the Clerk's Office for the past six months, and the number of non-profit groups who contacted us. Number of Applications Processed by City Clerk's Office April - September 1994 For Profit Non-Profit (Voluntary) April 4 companies, 15 individuals 1 company, 10 individuals May 3 companies, 6 individuals 1 company, 10 individuals June 2 companies, 7 individuals 2 companies, 4 individuals July 4 companies, 5 individuals 3 companies, 8 individuals August 6 companies, 14 individuals 1 company, 1 individual Sept. (to 9/7) 2 companies, 15 individuals As of September 7, 1994, there are 34 valid Peddler Permits in the City. Peddlers'--Perm it Application (Please Print) NAME: HOME PHONE: - - HOME ADDRESS: Street City State Zip ADDRESS WHILE IN THIS AREA: LOCAL PHONE: - - Street City DATE OF BIRTH:_/_/_ SOC.SEC.#:== HEIGHT:_'_" WEIGHT: EYE COLOR: HAIR COLOR: TITLE(Ex.-Manager) : PARENT/GUARDIAN(If Minor): PHONE: - - ADDRESS: Street City State Zip VEHICLE MAKE: MODEL: YEAR: LICENSE NUMBER: STATE: YEAR: COMPANY NAME: PHONE: - - ADDRESS: Street City State Zip SUPPLIER NAME(If Different) : PHONE: - - ADDRESS: Street City State Zip IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: PHONE: - - ADDRESS: Street City State Zip APPLICANT SIGNATURE(Or Parent/Guardian) : NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE CREW: PRODUCTS BEING SOLD(Include Price) : CITY CLERK'S USE ONLY TYPE OF ID SHOWN & ID#: TAX PERMIT # OR PROOF OF .EXEMPTION: $16 FEE PAID: NOTARIZED RELEASE (If Child): BADGE # ISSUED: APPLICATION DATE: EXPIRATION DATE: REMARKS: The City of Ames has a 1% Local Option Sales Tax. You must collect 5% Sales Tax on all products sold in Ames. To obtain an Iowa State Sales Tax Permit, call 239-1203 (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ) or go to the Iowa Dept. of Transportation building at 800 Lincoln Way and ask for the Iowa Dept. of Revenue Representative. Registration Form for Donation-Seekers or Non-Profit Solicitors NAME OF COMPANY: ADDRESS: PRODUCT YOU ARE SELLING: PHONE NUMBER OF YOUR COMPANY: CONTACT PERSON AT THE COMPANY: NAME OF INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISING SALES IN THE AMES AREA: ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER WHERE WE CAN REACH THE ABOVE SUPERVISOR WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AMES AREA: HOW LONG WILL YOU BE SELLING IN AMES? (i.e. - 1 day, 3 days, 1 month, etc. ) DATE: through HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SELL YOUR PRODUCT: (i.e. - door to door, park a truck in a parking lot and sell from that truck, etc. ) DO YOU DELIVER THE MERCHANDISE WHEN THE SALE IS MADE OR IS IT DELIVERED (OR MAILED) LATER? PLEASE LIST THE NAMES, AGES AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SELLING THIS PRODUCT: All peddlers do need to register for a permit when soliciting housing on University property. There is no fee if done by a non-profit group and a small fee for all others. To Register with ISU: Contact Peggy Thorson, 296-7883 (Peggy is the Mayor of the University Student Apartment Community)