(A) Preliminary background and financial investigation. On an initial application for a license, on an application for transfer of a license and, in the sound discretion of the Council that it is in the public interest to do so, on an application for renewal of a license, the city shall conduct a preliminary background and financial investigation of the applicant or it may contract with the Commissioner of Public Safety for the investigation. The applicant shall pay with the application an investigation fee of $500 which shall be in addition to any license fee. If the cost of the preliminary investigation is less than $500, the unused balance shall be returned to the applicant. The results of the preliminary investigation shall be sent to the Commissioner of Public Safety if the application is for an on-sale intoxicating liquor license or an on-sale wine license.
(B) Comprehensive background and financial investigation. If the results of a preliminary investigation warrant, in the sound discretion of the Council, a comprehensive background and financial investigation, the Council may either conduct the investigation itself or contract with the Commissioner of Public Safety for the investigation. The investigation fee for this comprehensive background and financial investigation to be paid by the applicant shall be $500, less any amount paid for the initial investigation if the investigation is to be conducted within the state, and $10,000, less any amount paid for the initial investigation, if the investigation is required outside the state. The unused balance of the fee shall be returned to the applicant whether or not the application is denied.
The fee shall be paid in advance of any investigation and the amount actually expended on the investigation shall not be refundable in the event the application is denied. The results of the comprehensive investigation shall be sent to the Commissioner of Public Safety if the application is for an on-sale intoxicating liquor license or an on-sale wine license.