HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 565-1967 ORDINANCE NO. ~65
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN
~RANCISC0 REGULATING PUBLIC DANCE HALLS
AND DANCES.
The City Council of the City of South
San Francisco does ordain as follows:
SECTION I. PERSON DEFINED.
The term "Person" as used in this ordinance includes any
firm, oopartnership, corporation, association, society, club,
individual or group of individuals.
SECTION II. CITY DEFINED.
The term "City" as used iu this ordinance shall mean
the City of South San Francisco.
SECTION III. DANCE; DANCE HALL DEFINED.
The term "Dance" for the purpose of this ordinance shall
include:
1. Every dance not held in a private home or residence.
2. Any class in which instruction in dancing is
given for hire.
3. The term "dance hall" shall mean any building
or place iu which dances, as above defined, are to be held.
SECTION IV. DANCES CLASSIFIED.
For the purpose of this ordinance, dances, as herein
defined, shall be classified as follows:
1. Class (A) shall include all dances of bona fide
social character, to which admission is limited strictly on
invitation of the person, acting as host, and for which uo
fee, either by way of admission, donation or in any other
manner, is charged.
2. Class (B) shall include all dances given by
any bona fide fraternal, charitable, religious or benevolent
organization having a regular membership associated primarily
for mutual, social, mental and civil welfare, to which
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admission is limited to members and guests, the revenue
accruing therefrom to be used exclusively for the benevolent
purposes of said organization and dancing is, iu fact,
only au incidental reason for the existence of said
organization.
3. Class (C) shall include all dancing academies
and dancing classes solely iu which instruction in dancing
is given for hire.
4. Class (D) shall include all dances for which
admission is or is not charged, and to which the public
is promiscuously invited, and all other dances except those
iu Classes (A), (B), and (C).
SECTION V. LICENSE REQUIREMENT.
A. Every person who rents, lets, leases, gives or
donates the use of a dance hall to another person for the
purpose of dances in classes (.A), (B), (C), or (D) shall,
at least ten (10) days prior to said use, notify the City
Police Department of the names and addresses of the persons
who will so use said dance hall. Said notification shall
also include the following:
1. Date of dance.
2. -Type of function, i.e., wedding reception,
party, dinner-dance, etc.
3. Number of persons attending.
4. Whether alcoholic beverages will be consumed,
dispensed, sold, served or given away.
B. In addition, every person who rents, lets, leases,
gives or donates the use of a dance hall to another person
shall immediately give to said prospective dance hall user
a copy of the Dance Hall Regulations as enumerated in Section X
of this ordinance. Said copy shall also inform the prospective
dance hall user that there are other provisions in the Dance
0rdiuance which must be complied with depending on~ the type
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of dance and that the prospective dance hall.user is deemed
to know the content and requirements ~ said other provisions.
The City Police Department shall maintain a supply of said
copies which shall be available to the public upon request.
C. Every person holding a class (B) dance shall, at
least ten (10) days prior to ~aid dance, notify the City
Police Department of the name of the fraternal, charitable,
religious or benevolent organization and the names and
addresses of the chief executive officer and secretary of
said organization. Said notification shall also include
the following:
1. Date of dance.
2. Number of persons attending.
3. Whether alcoholic beverages will be cousumed~
dispensed, sold, served or given away.
D. Every person holding a Class (C) and/or (D) dance
must possess a Dance License issued by the City Clerk. Before
the City Clerk may issue~au initial Dance License the applicant
must obtain permits from the City Police and Fire Departments,
as described iu Sections VI and VII of this Ordinance, and
pay certain fees, as described in Section VIII or'this
0rdinauce.
SECTION VI. APPLICATION FOR PERMITS.
The person applying to the Police and Fire Departments
for Pe~nits to obtain a Dance License from the City Clerk must
include the following under oath:
A. Police Department
(1) The true'names and addresses of all persons
financially interested in the dance and dance hall. The
term "persons financially interested" shall include all
persons who share:~, in the profits of the business on the
basis of gross or net revenue;
(2) The past criminal record, if any, of the
applicant and of all persons financially interested in the
dance and~dance hall business;
(B) The exact location and address of the dance
hall where the applicantwill~conduct his dance and dance
hall business.
(4) The.application shall also include fingerprints
taken by the Chief of Police and recent photograph of the
applicant and of persons financially interested in the danc~
and dance hall business;
(5) Citizenship of applicants; a permit may be
issued only to citizens of the United States.
(6) The maximum member of persons to be allowed
in the specified dance hall.
B. Fire Department
(1) The~true names and addresses of all persons
financially interested in the dance and dance hall business.
The term "persons financially interested" shall include all
persons who share in the profits of the business on the
basis of gross or net revenue;
(2) The exact location and address of the dance
hall where the applicant will conduct his dance or dance hall
business.
(3) The maximum number of ~persons to be allowed in
the specified dance hall.
SECTION VII. GROUNDS FOR DENYING PERMITS.
The Chief of Police and Fire, Chief shall either grant or
deny the applications for Permits to obtain a Dance License
within thirty (BO) days after said application if filed with
t~iem. They shall deny said permits if:
A' Police Department
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(1) Said applicant has previously been convicted of
any narcotics or morals, violations; or
(2) Said applicant has previously been convicted of
a felony; or
(3) The applicant has a bad moral character; or
(4) The structure or building is by reason of its
physical design unsuited to ready police inspection; or
(5) The proposed location is within two hundred
(200'; feet of a church, school, hospital, children's
playground or residential area; or
(6) The applicant has made any false statement in
his application; or
(7) The granting of a license to the applicant in
the locatiOn applied for would be detrimental to the
public health, welfare, safety or morals; or
(8) The building or location fails to meet the
required or applicable City, County or State building,
zoning or health laws or regulations.
B. Fire Department
(1) The specified premises do not meet with the
minimum standards, rules and regulations that have been
formally adopted by the State Fire Marshal for the prevention
of fire or for the protection of life and property against
fire or panic; or
(2) The premises do not comply with all fire
ordinance and codes of the City, County or State; or
(3) The structure or building is. by reason of its
Physical design unsuited to ready fire-safety inspection.
C. Each appliCant for Police and Fire Department
Permits. to obtain a Dance License shall be accompanied by a total
fee of Ten and no/lOOths ($10.00) Dollars. Said fee shall
be paid to the City Clerk and shall ~ot~'b$~re~r~ed'~n C~e~'~vent
that the permit or permits is/are denied.
D. The actions of the Chief of Police and/or Fire
Chief in denying a permit on the basis of subsections A(3),
A(;~), A(5), A(6), A(7), A(8), B(1), B(~), or B(3) of this
section
shall be subject to an appeal to the City Council. Notice
of such appeal shall be filed with the City Clerk within
ten (10) days after the denial of said permit. Upon failure
to file such notice within the ten (10) day period the action
of the Police Chief and Fire Chief in denying the permit shall
be final and conclusive.
SECTION VIII. LICENSE FEES-ANl~JAL LICENSE
A. In addition to the permits required in Section V
of this Ordinance, the City Clerk shall not issue an initial
DanceLicense until the applicant pays a license fee to the
City Clerk according to the maximum number of dancers to
lawfully be allowed to dance at any one time in or about the
specified dance hall as follows:
(1) 1 to BO dancers ................ $25.
(2) 31 to 100 dancers .............. $50.
(3) 101 or more dancers ............ $100.
B. The license fees prescribed in this section are
due and payable on a calendar year basis from January First
in advance. Fees for licenses issued after the first
day of January of the calendar year shall be pro-rated
with regard to the calendar year on a monthly basis.
A Dance License is valid only on a calendar year basis
from Januar~j~~', First from year to year and requires annual
renewal.
SECTION IX. LICENSE RENEWAL
Once an initial Dance License has been issued, the
Police Chief and Fire Chief may waive the requirement
that the licensee obtain permits as prescribed in Section
V~D. of this Ordinance when applying to the City Clerk for
a renewed annual Dance License.
SECTION X. DANCE HALL REGULATIONS
(1) Hours of Dancin$ - no person shall dance between
the hours of I:B0 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. and the Dance Licensee
shall not permit said dancing. On Sundays no person shall
dance between the hours of 12 midnight and 8:00 A.M. except
Holidays when no person s~all dance between the hours of
I:B0 A.M. and 8:00 A.M.
(2) No Dancing While Intoxicated - no person shall
engage or be permitted by the Dance Licensee to be engaged
in any dance while in an intoxicated condition.
(3) No Immoral Dancing - no person shall engage or
be permitted by the Dance Licensee to be engaged in an2
immoral or obscene dancing.
~(4) Lighting - It is unlawful for an2 person conducting,
maintaining or carrying on a public dance hall, or having
charge or control thereof, or for any person employed in and
about the same, to. hold or conduct, or to cause or permit
to be held or conducted, any dance or dancing in any dance
hall after sunset of any day, unless such public dance hail
be lighted or illuminated .by electric light, or other law-
ful means, in such manner and to such extent as is usual or
customary for lighting or illuminating halls or rooms of
like dimensions in the nightime for public assemblies, before
any person is admitted thereto and before any dance or dancing
is commenced therein.
a. Minimum Intensity of Lisht - The intensity of
such lighting or illumination shall at no time be less than
one candle power at a plane three feet above the floor of
such dance hall at all parts of such hall.
b. Continuity of Lighting - Such lighting or
illumination shall be maintained thereafter throughout
the entire time while such dance or dancing is in progress,
without a diminution add without interruption, until such
dance or dancing is concluded and until such hall is cleared
and closed.
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c. Tampering withLi~hts - No person shall shut
or turn off the lights or lighting, or reduce the intensity
thereof below the minimumin this Article prescribed in any
public dance hall at any time after sunset of any day while
a dance or dancing is in progress or being conducted
therein, or during any recess or other inte~misslon in such
dance or dancing.
(5) Allowing Children in Dance Halls - No person
conducting, maintaining or carrying on a public dance hall,
or having, cha~ge or control thereof, shall permit to be
admitted to such public dance hall, or to dance therein,
any minor under the age of sixteen years, at any time while
a dance or dancing is in progress or being held, conducted
or carried on therein, unless said minor is accompanied
and under the care at all times while in said dance hall, of
~ parent or parents or legal gu~rdian.
(6) Children in Dance Halls - It is unlawful for any
minor under age of sixteen years to enter, or to be or
remain in any public dance hall in this City at any time
when a dance or dancing is in progress or being held, conducted
or carried on therein, or to dance therein, unless said
minor is accompanied and under the care~at all times while
in said dance hall, of his parent or parents or guardian.
(7) Sienin~ of Re~ister - Every person seeking admission
to a public dance hall or bo any public dance shall, upon
the request of the manager, proprietor or doorkeeper, or
managing agent of the proprietor of such public dance, hall
or public dance, register his or her~, true name, age and address
in his or her own handwriting.
(8) Number of Persons Allowed in Dance Hall - The
number of persons allowed in the specified dance hall shall
not exceed those~prescribed in the minimum standards, rules
and regulations that have been formally adopted by the
State Fire Marshall for the protection of life and. property
against fire or panic nor shall the number exceed'those
prescribed in all city fire codes and ordinances.
(9) Police and Fire Inspection - Ail dance halls shall
be open to police and fire inspection during all hours of
operation.
(10) Dance Hall Supervision - The dance hall shall
always be supervised continuously, during open hours,
by the Dance Licensee or his agent which shall act in his
place and for which said licensee shall be responsible, or
by the person~hiring the dance hall regardless of the
fact that said person did or did not give consideration
for the hire of said dance hall.
(ll) Police Officer ReGuired - Ever~ dance havin~ at
anyone time an attendance greater than fifty (50) persons
shall hire a police officer or officers approved by the
City Chief of Police to be present during said dance unless
in the discretion of said Chief of Police the hiring of a
police officer or officers is not necessary to preserve and
protect the safety, welfare and morals of those in attendance
and the community.
(12) Public Nuisance - No person shall permit, cause,
create, conduct, or allow to be maintained a public nuisance
in, upon or about any dance hall. A public nuisance for the
purpose of this ordinance shall include but not be limited
to boisterous conduct and loud, unusual, and discordant
sounds that cause public annoyance or menace the public
comfort, safety or welfare.
(13) Posting License - TheDance Licensee shall post
and keep posted the Dance License issued to him, or each
certificate of renewal thereof, in a conspicuous place on
the premises for which the same is granted.
SECTION XI. SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION
The Police Chief or Fire Chief shall have the right
for cause to revoke or suspend any Dance License and take
possession of said license and order the dance stopped and
terminated. Any of the grounds upon which the Police Chief
or Fire Chief ~hall be required to refuse to issue an initial
permit to obtain a Dance License shall also constitute
grounds for such revocation or suspension. In addition, the
failure of a holder of a Dance License or a person hiring
the dance hall, regardless of consideration, to comply with
the provisions of this Ordinance shall also constitute
grounds for revocation or suspension of such license and
ordering the dances stopped and terminated. The action of
the Police Chief and Fire Chief in this respect shall be
subject to an appeal to the City Council. Notice of such
appeal shall be filed with the City Clerk within ten (10)
days after the
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revocation or suspension. Upon failure to file such notice
within the ten (10) day period, the action of the Police
Chief and Fire Chief iu revoking or suspending the license
shall be final and conclusive. Any person whose license
has been revoked shall not be eligible to again apply for
a license for a period of one (1) year from the date said
revocation became final and conclusive.
SECTION XII. LICENSE NOT ASSIGNABLE
No Dance License issued under the te~-ms of this
ordinance shall be assignable or transferable.
SECTION XIII. PENALTY
Any person who violates any provision of this 0rdiuance
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof~
shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars
($50.00) and not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($BO0.O0),
or by imprisonment for a period of Thirty (BO) days, or by
both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION XIV. EXCLUSIONS
This Ordinance shall not be applicable to school dances
approved and supervised by the South San Francisco Unified
School District nor to dances sponsored or supervised by
the City Park and Recreation Department.
SECTION XV. NON-WAIVER CLAUSE
Nothing in this O~dinauce shall relieve~ a person to
whom a Dance License is issued from complying with all
other City, County, State and Federal, health, safety,
sanitation, licensing and other law requirements.
SECTION XVI. SEVERABILITY
If any section¥,sentence, clause or phrase of this
0rdiuauce is for any reason held to be unconstitutional
or invalid, said decision shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this 0rdtuance. The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this 0rdiuauce, and each section, sentence, clause and
phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or
some other section, sentence, clause or phrase be declared
unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTIONXVII. PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
This 0rdiuauce shall be published once iu the "Enterprise
Journal", a newspaper of general circulation in the City of
South San Francisco, as required by law, and shall become
effective thirty (30) days from and after its adoption.
Introduced this 3rd day of July , 19 67
Passed and adopted as an Ordinance of the City of South
San Francisco at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of South San Francisco this
of July ., 19 67
following vote:
AYES, COUNC~N
17th
· by the
day
Patrick E. Ahern, Frank J. Bertucelli, Emilio Cortesi,
Andrew Rocca and Guido J. Rozzi
NOES· " None
ABSENT, " None
Attest:
As Mayor of the City of South San Francisco, I do hereby
approve the foregoing Ordinance this 17th day of July
19 67 .