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Department of City Clerk's Office
Reference: Liquor Licensing Code Amendment
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Natalie Hoel, City Clerk
Date Prepared: May 28, 2015
PURPOSE
At the request of the City Council, the City Clerk's Office met with the City Attorney, Prosecuting Attorney, Police Department and the City Manager's Office to evaluate and streamline the Liquor Licensing process to consider more efficient and customer service driven opportunities.
BACKGROUND
In the past few years it has been difficult to find members to serve on the Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA). With the resignation of the last member there are three (3) remaining members on the Authority. If any of the members are unable to attend the meeting there would not be a quorum and the meeting would have to be continued. This is also a board that requires a certain level of expertise regarding administrative law procedure and it takes a substantial amount of time to train new members. The rules and procedures for the LLA state that if there is not a quorum (less than three members left) that the duties of the LLA will return to City Council.
The use of a Hearing Officer instead of an Authority would help to always have a level of expertise with law procedure, ensure consistency during the hearing process, keep a level of impartiality for new licenses and violations and eliminate the worry of having a quorum.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approving several liquor items administratively with input from the City Attorney including:
* Renewal Applications
* Change in Corporate Structure
* Temporary Permits
* Modification of Premises
* Transfer of Ownership Applications with clean background
* Special Event Permits (not protested)
* Tastings Permits (not protested)
The following would be approved by a Liquor License Hearing Officer:
* New Liquor License Applications
* Transf...
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