(A) Preliminary investigation.
(1) On an initial application for an on-sale license and an application for transfer of an existing on-sale license, the applicant shall pay with his or her application an investigation fee as set out in § 33.15 and the city shall conduct a preliminary background and financial investigation of the applicant.
(2) The application in that case shall be made on a form prescribed by the State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and with additional information as the City Council may require.
(3) If the City Council deems it in the public interest to have an investigation made on a particular application for renewal of an on-sale license, it shall so determine. In any case, if the City Council determines that a comprehensive background and financial investigation of the applicant is necessary, it may conduct the investigation itself or contract with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for the investigation.
(4) If an investigation outside the state is required, the applicant shall be charged the actual cost not to exceed the amount set out in § 33.15, which shall be paid by the applicant after deducting any initial investigation fee already paid. The fee shall be payable by the applicant whether or not the license is granted.
(B) Issuance.
(1) The City Council shall investigate all facts set out in the application and not investigated in the preliminary background and financial investigation conducted pursuant to division (A) above.
(2) Opportunity shall be given to any person to be heard for or against the granting of the license. After the investigation is complete, the Council shall, in its discretion, grant or refuse the application.
(3) No license will be issued, transferred or renewed if the results of the investigation show to the satisfaction of the City Council, that issuance, transfer or renewal would not be in the public interest.
(C) Persons and premises licensed; transfers.
(1) Each license shall be issued only to the applicant, and for the premises described in the application. No license may be transferred to another person or place without City Council approval.
(2) Any transfer of stock of a corporate licensee is deemed a transfer of the license, and a transfer of stock without prior Council approval is a ground for revocation of the license.
(Prior Code, § 4.304)