AN ORDINANCE relating to pawnshops; extending the limitation of pawnbrokers endorsements issued; and amending the Seattle Municipal Code section 6.288.065.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Seattle Municipal Code Section 6.288.065 is amended as follows:

6.288.065 Pawnbrokers--Limitation on numbers.

A. Until January 1, 1998, only a limited number of Pawnbroker endorsements may be issued for the conduct of pawnbroker businesses at locations not licensed for pawnbroker activity on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. That limited number of new location Pawnbroker endorsements shall be not greater than twenty five percent (25%) of the number of lawful Pawnbroker endorsements existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. If not already a whole number, this growth limitation shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. Moreover, from December 26, 1994, until January 1, 1996, no more than two (2) Pawnbroker endorsements shall be issued for the conduct of pawnbroker business at locations not licensed for pawnbroker activity on December 25, 1994. From January 1, 1996, until January 1, 1998 2000 no more than two (2) Pawnbroker endorsements shall be issued in each calendar year for the conduct of pawnbroker businesses at locations not licensed for pawnbroker activity on December 31st of the immediately preceding year.

B. Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection A of this section, no Pawnbroker endorsement shall be issued for the conduct of a pawnbroker business at a location not licensed for pawnbroker activity in the previous year if, on the March 30th next preceding the effective date of the license for which the Pawnbroker endorsement is sought, the number of locations licensed for pawnbroker activity exceeds one (1) for every fifteen thousand (15,000) inhabitants of the City, as reflected in the then most current final population figures available from the Washington State Office of Financial Management or its functional successor. Subsections A and B shall not restrict reissuance of a Pawnbroker endorsement to a new location.

C. The Chief of Police shall adopt and publicize a process for allocating new Pawnbroker endorsements by chance if there are or there are reasonably expected to be more new applicants in a year or other pertinent time period than the number of new endorsements permitted.

D. The Chief of Police shall report to the City Council's Public Safety Committee or its functional successor during 1997 1999 the status of its program for tracking pawn transactions and monitoring pawnshop operations.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten (10) days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the _____ day of ____________, 1997, and signed by me in opesession in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________, 1997.

_____________________________________ President _______ of the City Council

Approved by me this _____ day of _________________, 1997. ___________________________________________ Mayor

Filed by me this _____ day of ____________________, 1997. ___________________________________________ City Clerk MKD:gh December 1, 1997 pawnord.doc (Ver. 2)