(A) Granting. The Council may approve any application for the period of the remainder of the then current calendar year, or for the entire ensuing license year. All applications, including proposed license periods, must be consistent with this chapter.
(B) Issuing. If an application is approved, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall forthwith issue a license pursuant thereto in the form prescribed by the city or the Commissioner, as the case may be, and upon payment of the license fee in full, except as otherwise specifically permitted to be paid in installments. All licenses shall be on a calendar year basis, unless otherwise specified herein. For on-sale liquor licenses issued, and which are to become effective other than on the first day of the licensed year, the fee to be paid with the application shall be a pro-rata share of the annual license fee. For beer licenses issued, and which are to become effective after eight months of the licensing year have elapsed, the fee shall be reduced to one-half the annual license fee.
(C) Transfer. No license shall be transferable between persons. No license shall be transferable to a different location without prior consent of the Council, and upon payment of the fee for a duplicate license. It is unlawful to make any transfer in violation of this section.
(D) Refusal and termination. The Council may, in its sole discretion and for any reasonable cause, refuse to grant any application. No license shall be granted to a person of questionable moral character or business reputation. Licenses shall terminate only by expiration, or revocation.
(E) Revocation or suspension. For any license granted under the provisions of this chapter, the Council may revoke, suspend for a period not to exceed 60 days, impose a civil fine not to exceed $2,000, or any combination of these sanctions, for each violation on a finding that the licensee has failed to comply with a statute, regulation, or provision of the city code relating to alcoholic beverages. The Council shall revoke the license upon conviction of any licensee, or agent or employee of a licensee, for violating any law relating to the sale, or possession, of beer, wine, or liquor upon premises of the licensee, or if the revocation is mandatory by statute. If it shall be made to appear at the hearing thereon that the violation was not willful, the Council may order suspension; provided, that revocation shall be ordered upon the third the violation or offense. No suspension, or revocation, shall take effect until the licensee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing before the Council, a committee of the Council, or a hearing under the Administrative Procedures Act, being M.S. Chapter 14, as it may be amended by time to time, as may be determined by the Council in action calling the hearing. The hearing shall be called by the Council upon written notice to the licensee served, in person or by certified mail, not less than 15, nor more than 30, days prior to the hearing date, stating the time, place, and purpose thereof. As additional restrictions, or regulations, on licensees under this chapter, and in addition to grounds for revocation, or suspension, stated in the city code or statute, the following shall also be grounds for the action:
(1) The licensee suffered, or permitted, illegal acts upon the licensed premises unrelated to the sale of beer, wine, or liquor;
(2) The licensee had knowledge of the illegal acts upon the licensed premises, but failed to report the same to police;
(3) The licensee failed, or refused, to cooperate fully with police in investigating the alleged illegal acts upon the licensed premises; or
(4) The activities of the licensee created a serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare.
(Prior Code, § 5.02) (Ord. 30, second series, passed 12-21-1981; Ord. 70, second series, passed 3-18-1986; Ord. 156, second series, passed 10-20-1998) Penalty, see § 111.999