A. The city clerk shall send copies of the application to the city departments of police, fire, public works, and to the Southwest Washington Health Department and the Clark County regional planning council staff. The police department shall contact law enforcement agencies of the cities or other places listed on the application as places where the applicant has carried on similar activities. The purpose of such contact shall be to investigate the reputation of the applicant as to business practices and compliance with lawful regulations. Each of the other city departments to which the application has been referred shall inspect the application and proposal site and each such department or agency shall report to the city clerk within seven working days after the filing of the application; the reports shall disclose any discrepancies which appear in the application, or any record of applicant having failed to comply with state or city laws, and such reports shall mention any problems which the proposed activity is expected to pose for the public. The reports shall, further, make any necessary recommendations for protecting the public peace, health, safety, life, property, and welfare in the event a license is issued.

If such reports indicate that the application is of satisfactory character and that the premises and business operation are suitable for the proposed license and that the license should be issued, the clerk shall issue the same upon posting of the required bond and filing of the required insurance policies, posting of the required bond and filing of the required insurance policies. If the reports indicate to the city clerk that the license should not be issued on account of unsatisfactory character of the applicant or unsuitability of the premises or business operation the application shall be denied by letter to the applicant from the clerk and one-half the fee previously paid shall be refunded to the applicant. Such action shall be final unless the applicant within five working days of such action files with the city clerk an appeal to the city council. The notice of denial shall inform the applicant of the appeal procedure. (In lieu of either approval or denial the applicant may be advised that his application is approved subject to certain modifications to be made to his premises or business operation and if such modifications are made within thirty days the license shall then issue upon posting of the required bond and filing of the required insurance.)

If the license is denied, and an appeal is filed, the clerk shall immediately transmit all files and reports to the city manager who shall within ten days forward the same to the city council which shall then schedule a public hearing for a date not more than twenty-one days from the receipt by it of such appeal and the applicant shall be notified by the clerk in writing of the date of hearing of such appeal. Such hearing shall be public but need not be legally advertised. At the hearing the council shall consider staff reports and recommendations and also shall hear from the applicant or its attorney as to any reasons why the license should be issued. At the conclusion of such hearing, upon the basis of all the evidence received, the council shall vote whether or not to sustain the clerk’s action in denying such license and its decision shall be final.

If the application is thus approved, the applicant shall file with the city clerk all bonds and insurance policies or certificates required by this chapter, and shall pay the remainder of the appropriate fees and such license shall thereupon be issued. (Ord. M-1422 §6, 1973)