(A) It is necessary that a licensee actually conduct the business authorized by such a license or else the license will be declared dormant and become null and void after 90 days. Such is the intent of this section. Realizing that a licensee, like other business, may have his or her business interrupted by situations not under his or her control, various exceptions to the dormancy rule have been included in this section.
(B) Any license under which no substantial business is transacted during a period of 90 days or repeated shorter periods, shall be considered dormant and rescinded by the City ABC Administrator. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “no substantial business” means either no alcohol beverage transactions during the 90 day period in question, or using comparable data, the City ABC Administrator determines in his or her discretion that the license is being underutilized such that sales for such periods) and such deficiency is not caused by circumstances otherwise excused by this subchapter. Comparable data available to the City ABC Administrator may include, but not limited to, sales data from comparable businesses and past sales data of the licensee in questions. Upon a determination of dormancy by the City ABC Administrator, the license shall be surrendered to the City ABC Administrator. If the license is not voluntarily surrendered, it shall be revoked by the City ABC Administrator.
(C) Except that the provisions of divisions (A) and (B) hereof shall not apply to any licensee who is unable to continue in business at the premises for which a license is issued due to construction, an act of God, casualty, death, the acquisition of the premises by any federal, state, city or other governmental agency under power of eminent domain, acquisition is voluntary or involuntary, or loss of lease through failure of landlord to renew existing lease. Such licensee shall furnish to the City ABC Administrator a verified statement setting forth the fact that the licensee is unable to continue in business prior to the expiration of the 90 days of inactivity, for any of the reasons set forth herein, and the City ABC Administrator may grant an extension of the dormancy with the license continuing to remain in effect during the license period or until same is transferred to another premises, notwithstanding the fact that no business is transacted during said period; provided, however, no such license shall be considered valid unless business is conducted there under within 12 months from the date of notice to the City ABC Administrator. Such extension may not extend beyond the renewal date but may be for such times as the City ABC Administrator deems appropriate in exercise of his or her sound discretion.
(D) All renewal licenses must be on file with the City ABC Administrator within 30 days prior to the expiration of the licenses for the preceding license period or the same shall be cancelled, except where the license is unable to continue in business at the same premises licensed during the preceding license prior due to construction, an act of God, casualty, death, the acquisition or threatened acquisition of these premises by any federal, state, city or other governmental agency or private corporation, possessing power of eminent domain, whether such acquisition is voluntary or involuntary, or loss of lease through failure of landlord to renew existing lease; that said licensee shall file a written verified statement no less than 20 days from the expiration date of the license, setting forth these facts, and the City ABC Administrator is hereby authorized to extend the time for filing of a renewal of such license for a reasonable length of time within the sound discretion of the City ABC Administrator; provided, however, such licensee shall pay a license fee from the expiration date of the former license or licenses. Said license fee shall not be payable until application is made for the transfer of said license to a new location.
(Ord. 2010-05, passed 4-19-10; Am. Ord. 2011-07, passed 7-5-11; Am. Ord. 2016-15, passed 9-29-16)