(A) The governing body is authorized to regulate by ordinance, not inconsistent with the state’s Liquor Control Act, being Neb. RS 53-101 through 53-1,122, the business of all retail, bottle club or craft brewery licensees carried on within the corporate limits of the municipality.
(B) During the period of 45 days after the date of receiving from the state’s Liquor Control Commission an application for a new license to sell alcoholic liquor at retail, a bottle club license or a craft brewery license, the governing body may make and submit to the Commission recommendations relative to the granting or refusal to grant such license to the applicant.
(C) The governing body, with respect to licenses within the corporate limits of the municipality, has the following powers, functions, duties with respect to retail, bottle club and craft brewery licenses:
(1) To cancel or revoke for cause retail, bottle club or craft brewery licenses to sell or dispense alcoholic liquor issued to persons for premises within its jurisdiction, subject to the right of appeal to the state’s Liquor Control Commission;
(2) To enter or to authorize any law enforcement officer to enter at any time upon any premises licensed under the state’s Liquor Control Act to determine whether any provision of the Act, any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the Act, or any ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation adopted by the governing body has been or is being violated and at such time examine the premises of such licensee in connection with such determination;
(3) To receive a signed complaint from any citizen within its jurisdiction that any provision of the Act, any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated pursuant to the Act or any ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation relating to alcoholic liquor has been or is being violated and to act upon such complaints in the manner provided in the Act;
(4) To receive retail license fees, bottle club license fees and craft brewery license fees as provided in Neb. RS 53-124 and pay the same, after the license has been delivered to the applicant, to the Municipal Treasurer;
(5) To examine or cause to be examined any applicant or any retail licensee, bottle club licensee or craft brewery licensee upon whom notice of cancellation or revocation has been served as provided in the Act, to examine or cause to be examined the books and records of any applicant or licensee and to hear testimony and to take proof for its information in the performance of its duties. For purposes of obtaining any of the information desired, the governing body may authorize its agent or attorney to act on its behalf;
(6) To cancel or revoke on its own motion any license if, upon the same notice and hearing as provided in Neb. RS 53-134.04, it determines that the licensee has violated any of the provisions of the state’s Liquor Control Act or any valid and subsisting ordinance or regulation duly enacted, adopted and promulgated relating to alcoholic liquor. Such order of cancellation or revocation may be appealed to the Commission within 30 days after the date of the order by filing a notice of appeal with the Commission. The Commission shall handle the appeal in the manner provided for hearing on an application in Neb. RS 53-133; and
(7) (a) Upon receipt from the Commission of the notice and copy of application as provided in Neb. RS 53-131, to fix a time and place for a hearing at which the governing body shall receive evidence, either orally or by affidavit from the applicant and any other person, bearing upon the propriety of the issuance of a license. Notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the municipality, one time not less than seven and not more than 14 days before the time of the hearing. Such notice shall include, but not be limited to, a statement that all persons desiring to give evidence before the governing body in support of or in protest against the issuance of such license may do so at the time of the hearing.
(b) The hearing shall be held not more than 45 days after the date of receipt of the notice from the Commission, and after such hearing the governing body shall cause to be recorded in the minute record of their proceedings a resolution recommending either issuance or refusal of such license. The Municipal Clerk shall mail to the Commission by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a copy of the resolution which shall state the cost of the published notice; except that, failure to comply with this provision shall not void any license issued by the Commission. If the Commission refuses to issue such a license, the cost of publication of notice shall be paid by the Commission from the security for costs.
(D) (1) When the state’s Liquor Control Commission mails or delivers to the Municipal Clerk a license issued or renewed by the Commission, the Clerk shall deliver the license to the licensee upon proof of payment of:
(a) The license fee if by the terms of Neb. RS 53-124(5) the fee is payable to the Municipal Treasurer;
(b) Any fee for publication of notice of hearing before the governing body upon the application for the license;
(c) The fee for publication of notice of renewal, if applicable, as provided in Neb. RS 53-135.01; and
(d) Occupation taxes, if any, imposed by the municipality.
(2) Notwithstanding any ordinance or charter power to the contrary, the municipality shall not impose an occupation tax on the business of any person, firm or corporation licensed under the state’s Liquor Control Act and doing business within the corporate limits of the municipality in any sum which exceeds two times the amount of the license fee required to be paid under the Act to obtain such license.
(Prior Code, § 10-109) (Ord. 2000-7, passed 5-1-2000)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 53-131(2), 53-134, 53-134.03