For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
HOTEL. Any commercial establishment or any portion of any commercial establishment which provides for the occupancy of transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes, whether by the day, week or month and includes any hotel, inn, motel or commercial establishment of similar nature; and shall further include any space, lot, area or site in any trailer court, recreational vehicle park, mobile home park, camp, park or lot where a trailer, tent, recreational vehicle, mobile home, motor home, or other similar habitation is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes.
OCCUPANCY. The use or possession or the right to the use or possession of any room or rooms or portion thereof in any hotel for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes, and shall further include any space, lot, area or site in any trailer court, recreational vehicle park, mobile home park, camp, park or lot where a trailer, tent, recreational vehicle, mobile home, motor home or other similar habitation is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes.
OPERATOR. The person who is proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee or any other capacity. Whether the operator performs his functions through a managing agent or of any type or character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purpose of this subchapter and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his principal. Compliance with the provisions of this subchapter by either the principal or the managing agent shall, however, be considered to be compliance by both.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
RENT. The consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy of space in a hotel valued in money, whether to be received in money, goods, labor or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits and property and services of any kind or nature without any deduction therefrom whatsoever.
TAX COLLECTOR. The Tax and License Collector and his deputies and authorized employees of the city.
TRANSIENT. Any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license or other agreement for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. Any such person so occupying space in a hotel shall be deemed to be a transient until the period of 30 days has expired unless there is an agreement in writing between the operator and the occupant providing for a longer period of occupancy. In determining whether a person is a transient, uninterrupted periods of time extending both prior and subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this subchapter may be considered.
('81 Code, § 3.20.020) (Ord. 841, passed - -85)