(a) If the business license officer determines that a license issued under this chapter should be suspended or revoked, he or she shall request the city clerk set a public hearing before the city council to consider such action. Notice of the public hearing shall be mailed by certified or registered mail or personally delivered to the applicant at least ten days prior to the hearing and shall set forth the grounds on which the license is to be suspended or revoked.
(b) At the public hearing, the licensee or legal representative of the licensee shall have the right to bring witnesses to testify on his or her behalf. Hearings need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses.
(c) The city council may suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter if the city council finds that one or more of the following conditions exist:
(1) The building, structure, premises or equipment used to transact or conduct the business fails to comply with any applicable health, zoning, fire, or building and safety laws of the United States, the state of California, or the city;
(2) The licensee has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of material fact in the application for a business license, in the application for an exemption pursuant to Section 5.04.180 of this chapter, or in any other report or statement required to be submitted to the business license officer;
(3) The licensee or any of the licensee’s employees or agents has violated any provision of federal or state law or any provision of this code or any other rule or regulation regarding the business premises or otherwise in transacting and carrying on the business; or
(4) Any other condition for which a business license application could be denied under Section 5.04.210 of this chapter.
(d) Within thirty calendar days after the conclusion of the public hearing, the city council shall adopt and issue a written decision. The decision shall contain a determination of the issues presented. Any decision to suspend or revoke a license shall be based on the grounds set forth in paragraph (c) of this section. Notice of the city council’s decision shall be mailed by certified or registered mail or personally delivered to the licensee within three business days following the adoption of the written decision by the city council.
(e) Whenever a license is suspended or revoked under this section, the business license officer or a representative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff shall take into his or her possession the business license for the subject business. The licensee shall surrender the business license, license stickers, and similar evidence of a license to the business license officer or to a representative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff. No business license tax refund shall be issued to any licensee upon suspension or revocation of a business license.
(f) Upon revocation or suspension of a business license under this section, the licensee shall cease operation of the business activity immediately. Except as otherwise provided, in the event the license is suspended, the licensee may resume operation after the suspension period has expired.
(g) Upon revocation of any business license under this section, no business license to operate the same business shall be granted to the same person within one year after such revocation.
(h) Suspension or revocation of a business license under this section shall be in addition to other penalties provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 776 § 2 (part), 1999)