For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
HOTEL. A building or group of buildings containing one or more sleeping rooms occupied, intended or designed to be occupied as the more or less temporary abiding place for members of the public who are lodged with or without meals for compensation. The term shall include hotels, motels, tourist homes, houses or courts, lodging houses, inns, rooming houses, bed and breakfast inns, and all other facilities where rooms, sleeping facilities, or spaces are furnished for a consideration. As defined herein, HOTEL shall not include camps, hospitals, sanitariums, asylums, orphanage, nursing homes, buildings where persons are housed under restraint or dormitories or other housing facilities owned or leased and operated by an institution of higher education for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodations for persons engaged in an educational program or activity at the institution.
OCCUPANCY. The use or possession of, or the right to use or possess, any room or rooms in a hotel.
OCCUPANT. A person who, for a consideration, uses, possesses, or has the right to use or possess any room or rooms in a hotel or space in an RV park under any lease, concession, permit, right of access, license to use, or other agreement.
OPERATOR. Any person operating a hotel or RV park in this city, including, but not limited to, the owner, proprietor, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee or any other person otherwise operating such hotel or RV park.
PERSON. An individual, partnership, society, association, joint stock company, corporation, estate, receiver, trustee, assignee, referee or any other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a court or otherwise, or any combination of the above acting as a unit.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A vehicle which is:
(1) Built on a single chassis;
(2) Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light duty truck; and
(3) Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as a temporary living quarters for recreation, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK (RV PARK). Any parcel or tract of land under the control of any person, organization or governmental entity wherein one or more camping unit sites are offered for, or let for the use of, the public or members of an organization by rent or lease.
RENT. The consideration received for occupancy valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits and property or services of any kind or nature, and also any amount for which credit is allowed by the operator to the occupant, without any deduction therefrom whatsoever.
RETURN. Any return filed or required to be filed as herein provided.
ROOM. Any room or rooms of any kind in any part or portion of a hotel that is available for, let for the use of, or possessed for the purpose of lodging or sleeping.
TAX COLLECTOR. The City Treasurer and/or any employee of the city Finance Department.
(Ord. 2001-02, passed 1-16-01; Am. Ord. 2011-1, passed 1-3-11; Am. Ord. 2015-21, passed 10-5-15; Am. Ord. 2021-14, passed 12-20-21)