TO: Committee of the Whole - Finance, Administration, and Communications
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Finance |
Kelley Cochran |
425-556-2748 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Finance |
Haritha Narra |
Deputy Finance Director |
|
Finance |
Adam O’Sullivan |
Finance Manager |
|
Finance |
Denise Shinoda |
Business Licensing Program Coordinator |
TITLE:
title
Adoption of an Ordinance Updating Redmond Municipal Code (RMC) Subsection 9.30.060 to Remove Conflicting Code Language
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
RMC 9.30.060 contains an inconsistency with RMC 9.30.020. Under 9.30.020, social card rooms and games are prohibited as a commercial stimulant in Redmond, and the City has never collected gambling taxes on social card rooms and games on that basis. However, 9.30.060 still includes a tax table entry (item 5) addressing social card rooms and games, implying they are a taxable activity. Staff recommend an ordinance amendment deleting item 5 from the 9.30.060 tax table to eliminate this conflict and bring alignment with 9.30.020.
☒ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☐ Receive Information ☒ Provide Direction ☐ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
RMC 9.30.020
RMC 9.30.060
• Required:
City code updates require Council approval.
• Council Request:
N/A
• Other Key Facts:
N/A
OUTCOMES:
Washington's Gambling Act, adopted in 1973, gives the Washington State Gambling Commission primary authority over gambling licensing and regulation statewide, while allowing cities to absolutely prohibit specific gambling activities within their own jurisdictions. In 1999, the Redmond City Council exercised that authority and prohibited social card rooms and games as a commercial stimulant, codified in RMC 9.30.020 (Ordinance 2017). In 2000, RMC 9.30.060 retained a tax table entry addressing social card rooms and games as a taxable activity, language that was never removed even though it is prohibited in RMC 9.30.020, resulting in an inconsistency.
Completing this minor code correction will ensure subsection 9.30.060 aligns with subsection 9.30.020 and will make the RMC more uniform. It will remove confusion and clarify which types of activities are prohibited in Redmond.
COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:
• Timeline (previous or planned):
N/A
• Outreach Methods and Results:
N/A
• Feedback Summary:
N/A
BUDGET IMPACT:
Total Cost:
N/A
Approved in current biennial budget: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
N/A
Budget Priority:
Strategic and Responsive
Other budget impacts or additional costs: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A
If yes, explain:
N/A
Funding source(s):
N/A
Budget/Funding Constraints:
N/A
☐ Additional budget details attached
COUNCIL REVIEW:
Previous Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
N/A |
Item has not been presented to Council |
N/A |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
9/15/2026 |
Business Meeting |
Approve |
Time Constraints:
None.
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
If subsection 9.30.060 of the Redmond Municipal Code is not updated, there will be continued inconsistency within the RMC and potential questions from community and legal experts about acceptable activities in Redmond. Leaving the conflicting language in the RMC would also impact Business Licensing and Accounting staff because it would be difficult to determine how to apply the RMC when making licensing decisions.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Ordinance