In every case where this article imposes a license tax or fee, it shall be deemed that a license is required to perform the activity and that a license can and must be issued by the City Clerk with respect to that activity, but only upon payment of the requisite fee and completion of the requisite application. The imposition of a license tax by this article shall mean that the payment of the tax is a prerequisite to the lawful conduct of the activity upon which the tax is imposed.