A. When an application is filed, the City Clerk shall refer the application to the Department of Community Development and Housing, the Fire Department, the Police Department and to all other interested departments of the City for investigation. The Department of Community Development and Housing, Fire Department and the Police Department shall make reports of their findings, together with recommendations as to whether or not the applicant should be granted a license, to the City Clerk within twenty working days after the application was referred to them. The license shall be issued for a specified location and shall specify the maximum number of participants permitted on the premises. The license shall be valid for the remainder of the calendar year from the date of issuance.
1. Upon receipt of the application, or whenever there is a change of officers of the organization or in the position of game manager, the Chief of Police, or his designee, shall make an investigation regarding the character and moral fitness of applicants, the cost of which investigation shall be borne by the applicants pursuant to Penal Code § 326.5(1)(2) in an amount set by resolution. This investigation shall include the obtaining of criminal history statements, through fingerprints, for all officers/board members and game manager(s) associated with the day to day operation of the game. The purpose of this investigation is to determine those persons who have been convicted of crimes involving lotteries, gambling, larceny, perjury, bribery, extortion, fraud or similar crimes involving moral turpitude. If any person investigated does in fact have a criminal record, or presents any cause for concern related to the community's public health, peace, safety, or welfare, such person shall be notified in writing and the license suspended until such person is removed from the application or does not participate in bingo operations. Such person shall not, at any time in the future, be permitted to participate in any way in any bingo operation licensed under this article. Any person objecting to the Chief of Police's determination pursuant to this subsection may appeal to the City Manager or designee provided he or she files a notice of appeal with the City Clerk within ten days of the Chief of Police's determination.
B. An applicant shall not be entitled to more than one license in the City; provided, however, that a church or nonprofit organization, which is subsidiary to or affiliated with an organization operating throughout the state or nation. and which is separately and independently operated and staffed locally, shall be considered as an individual applicant for purposes of this Chapter.
C. Licenses are not transferable and there are no rebates if the bingo operation licensed under this article is discontinued during the period for which the license was issued.
(Ord. MC-1625, 2-21-24; Ord. MC-1401, 6-02-14; Ord. MC-1027, 9-09-98; Ord. 3724, 5-04-78; Ord. 3606, 10-26-76)