Section 3-25 Suspension; revocation; denial of renewal or transfer.



Prior to the adoption of 2002-3-25(g) on 02/25/2002, Section 3-25 read as follows.

     (a)    Notice, hearing.  Any license which has  been applied for or which has been issued or  which may hereafter be issued by the City to an licensee may be denied, suspended, revoked or  transfer refused, as applicable, by the city council pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.  In  the event the city council shall deny any application for a license or for the transfer of any license, or shall revoke or suspend any existing license, the applicant or licensee shall be given notice in  writing from the city clerk with the reasons for the actions stated and which notice shall be mailed  or delivered to the applicant.  Within 15 business days of the date of the notice of the action denying any application or suspending, revoking or refusing the transfer of any license, the party affected shall have the right to give notice in writing to the city council of a request for  a  hearing  with respect to the action taken by the city council.  Thereafter, and within 30 days of the notice of the application for hearing by the applicant or the licensee, the city council shall set a hearing for the party affected.  The hearing provided for in this section need not be at a regular meeting of the city council but may be at such time and place as shall be fixed by the city council in the notice  given to the applicant or licensee.  Provided further, that at any hearing as provided for in this section, the party afforded the hearing shall have the opportunity to present evidence, to cross-examine  opposing witnesses, to have an attorney present to represent the party’s interest, and to have testimony recorded at that party’s expense.


     (b)    Due cause generally.

     (1)    Due cause for the suspension, revocation or denial of the renewal or transfer of any license  shall consist of an act or omission found to be by the city council, after a hearing as above  provided, a violation of any law or ordinance regulating such business, or violation of regulations made pursuant to authority granted for the purpose of regulating such business, or for the violation  of any state or federal law, or for the violation of any city ordinances, other than traffic violations  or ordinances, or failure of the licensee or his employee to promptly report to the police department any violation of the law or ordinance, breach of peace, disturbance or altercation, resulting in violence occurring inside the premises.

     (2)    Due cause may also be found should the licensed establishment  have become a trouble spot  in the judgment of the city council by reason of disturbances or acts of disorderly conduct or  violence having occurred in the establishment or on the premises thereof, provided that when the license of any establishment has been revoked or renewal of license denied because such establishment has become a trouble spot, no further license shall be issued under this chapter to  any person, firm or corporation at such location for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the date of revocation.

     (3)    Due cause shall also consist of the business or the  operation or location thereof, or the owner or any person connected therewith, ceasing to meet any of the qualifications for the issuance of license as stated in this chapter.

     (4)    Due cause may also be found upon the revelation of any false statement or material  misrepresentation in any application hereunder. Any material omission from or untrue or  misleading information which is contained in an original, renewal or transfer application for license hereunder shall be cause for the denial or refusal of a license, and if any license has previously  been granted under such circumstances, the same shall constitute due cause for revocation of such  license.

     (5)    Failure to control operation resulting in public nuisance. If the failure to control the  operation either inside the building or outside on the property results in controlled substance abuse,  prostitution, gambling, flagrant indecent conduct or obscenity, fighting, excessive noise, loitering or illegal parking, to the number of times and extent that the city council, after proper hearing,  should find the establishment to have become a public nuisance, then such failure may be declared to be due cause for suspension or revocation of the alcoholic beverage license for such  establishment, or the denial of renewal application for such license.

     (c)    Emergency due cause; failure or refusal to cooperate with the city police acting in line of duty. On evidence of failure or refusal of the licensee or employee hereunder to cooperate with any  police officer on any reasonable request or action within such officer's duties, responsibilities or powers, including all police powers, rights and duties to investigate to determine any pertinent fact relating to the establishment, the licensee, any employees or corporate officers or partners, the chief of police shall immediately order all sales of any alcoholic beverages suspended until after a hearing as set out in the due cause hearing provided for in paragraph (a), such hearing to be  concerning such failure or refusal to cooperate.

     (d)    Refund of license fee. When a license is so  revoked or suspended, the city shall not be required to refund any portion of the license fee.

     (e)    Effect of revocation by state. Whenever the state shall revoke any permit or license to sell any alcoholic beverage at retail, the city license to deal in such product shall thereupon be  automatically revoked without any action by the city council or any municipal officer. If the  state has suspended the license or placed such license on probation, then the city license is automatically  suspended or probated, as the case may be.

     (f)    Emergency situation. The mayor is the delegated authority to suspend any license hereunder in any emergency situation, and such suspension may be made effective immediately and remain in force until the next regular or called meeting of the city council. In addition, in any  emergency situation, the chief of police is hereby authorized to cause the business in question to close temporarily until he decides the emergency or possible riotous situation to be at an end, or until such decision is made by the city council at its next regular meeting, whichever occurs first.

     (g)    Penalties for sale of alcoholic beverages to underage  persons. Upon determination by the  city council that a sale of alcoholic beverages to an underage person has taken place by a license  holder, including the license holder's agent or employee, such determination having been made after  a show cause hearing as contemplated in subsection (a), the license holder and the license holder's employee, if applicable, shall be penalized according to the following schedules:


 

 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE VIOLATORS--LICENSE HOLDERS  

 SALES TO UNDERAGE PERSONS  

Disposition  

Violation/time frame  

With training program  

Without training program  

 Issuance of license  

 Verbal  warning  

 Warning--advise that training  program is  mandatory for all  employees/clerks  

 First offense  

 Written warning to license  holder  $500.00  fine or thirty (30)  days  suspension of  license  at the  election of the  holder  

 $2,000 fine--require  mandatory training  program for  employees/clerks  and sixty (60)  days suspension  

 Second offense  within twelve (12) month period  

 $1,500 fine and sixty  (60) days suspension  

 $2,000 fine and ninety (90) days suspension--require  mandatory training  program for all  clerks/employees  

 Third offense within twelve (12) month period  

 $2,000 fine and ninety (90) days  suspension  

 $2,000 fine and revocation of  license for one (1)  year  


 Alcoholic beverage license holders shall follow guidelines established by the city manager in conducting training programs mentioned in subsection (g).


 

 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE  VIOLATORS--EMPLOYEES  OF LICENSE HOLDERS  

 SALES TO UNDERAGE PERSONS  

 Issuance of employee permit  

 Warning  

 First offense  

 $200 fine and warning  

 Second  offense  

 $300 fine and revocation of  permit for 30 days and warning  

 Third offense  

 $300 fine and revocation of  permit  


 Any monetary penalty established by the city council for the sale of alcoholic beverages to underaged persons shall be paid by the license holder on or before the seventh working day following the establishment of such penalty.

 (Code 1958,   5-8; Ord. of 1-23-89(1),  1; Ord. of 9-25-89,  1; Ord. of 4-22-96(1),   II; Ord. of  3-10-97,  IV)