(A) All applications for a license must be referred to the Chief of Police and to such other departments as the Council deems necessary for verification and investigation of the facts set forth in the application. The Chief of Police must cause to be made such investigation of the information required in this subchapter as is necessary and must make a written recommendation and report to the Council and the report must include a list of all violations of federal or state law or municipal ordinance. The Chief of Police is directed to trace the assets of the applicant individual, partnership or major stockholders of a corporation. This requirement is waived for corporations traded on the New York, American Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealers National Market System or is a publicly held or traded corporation where no one individual has more than 25% of the stock ownership. In this investigation the Chief or the Chief’s designated agent must require the applicant to provide substantiating documentation regarding the funds available for operation of the on-sale or off-sale licensee's liquor operation. The Council may order and conduct such additional investigation as it deems necessary.
(B) The requirement that the Chief of Police trace the applicant's assets has been waived for certain corporations as set forth above. In lieu of an investigation of the principals in the business, these publicly held corporations must designate with their application a manager or operator who shall be legally responsible for compliance with all federal, state, and local laws relating to the sale of intoxicating or 3.2 percent malt liquors. The named manager or operator who shall be responsible must agree in writing to accept service of any legal process relating to the operation of the licensed premises. The person responsible must have on file with the city at all times their current address where service of process will be accepted. At the time of the original application or at any time thereafter when the responsible manager or operator is changed, the Chief of Police must conduct a criminal investigation (not a financial investigation) to determine that the responsible manager or operator meets the city's standards applicable to obtaining a license and subject to all the fees and requirements set forth in §§ 112.032 and 112.035 of this code. The City Council must at its sole discretion approve or decline to approve the manager or operator to operate a public corporation's premises licensed to sell intoxicating malt liquor.
('72 Code, § 805:55) (Am. Ord. 1981-371(A), passed 12-14-81; Am. Ord. 1993-728, passed 7-12-93; Am. Ord. 1997-841, passed 3-24-97; Am. Ord. 2001-960, passed 11-26-01)