All licenses, except as otherwise provided, shall expire on July 31 next after the same are issued. No license shall be issued until full amount prescribed therefor shall be paid to the city treasurer, and no license shall in any case be prorated, returned or transferred from one person to another person; no free license shall be granted, nor rebates allowed, for any cause, nor any sum accepted less than the amount herein prescribed nor for a shorter period than herein required; except that upon application and approval of same by the city council, no license fee shall be charged for any scientific and literary lectures and entertainments, concerts or other entertainments given exclusively by citizens of the city. All licenses shall be signed by the city clerk or her designee and the corporate seal of the city shall be affixed. (Ord. 814 §1, 1997: prior code §5-2)