(A) The City Controller shall issue all hotel licenses in the name of the City.
(B) In deciding whether or not to issue, revoke or suspend a license, the City Controller may request or receive recommendations from any source to act upon in the City Controller’s discretion.
(C) The City Controller is hereby given the following general powers with respect to licensing hotels:
(1) To adopt all forms to be used in applications and licenses;
(2) To adopt, issue, amend, rescind and enforce reasonable regulations and orders in the administration and enforcement of all provisions of this chapter;
(3) To institute an investigation to determine the qualifications of the applicant or licensee. Each applicant for a license or the renewal of a license shall have the burden of proving that the applicant is qualified and is entitled to a hearing before the City Controller or someone appointed by the City Controller to present evidence as to the applicant’s qualifications. Each applicant for a license may be required by the City Controller to submit evidence under oath or in the form of an affidavit. No charge shall be made by any notary public employed by the City for any affidavit required under this section;
(4) To request or receive information from any source regarding an applicant or licensee, either during the course of a hearing or otherwise;
(5) To exercise sound discretion, taking into consideration the effect of the hotel or proposed hotel on the public welfare, including in particular its effect on surrounding property and nearby residents and businesses;
(6) If the City Controller finds an applicant qualified to receive the license for which the applicant has applied, the City Controller shall issue the license with the official seal of the City affixed;
(7) If any license is refused by the City Controller, the reasons for the refusal shall be stated in writing and delivered to the applicant upon request; and, if the applicant remedies the reasons for the refusal and becomes qualified for the license, and the facts are presented the City Controller and found by the City Controller to be correct, the license then shall be issued; and
(8) In the granting or denying of any license, the City Controller may take into consideration the effect of the hotel upon surrounding property and upon residents or inhabitants thereof; and in granting, denying or revoking the license, the City Controller may exercise sound discretion as to whether the license should be granted, transferred, denied or revoked.