HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 49-1995RESOLUTION NO. 49-95
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION CALLING A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS A
BALLOT MEASURE REGARDING WHETHER GENERAL PLAN
POLICY 47, THE EAST OF 101 PLAN, AND TITLE 20
OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO
PERMIT A NEW CARD CLUB AND COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN AN AREA EAST OF HIGHWAY 101 AND
NORTH OF OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD AT OR NEAR THE
SHEARWATER/U.S. STEEL SITE IN SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO; WHETHER CHAPTER 6.36 OF THE SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO CARD
CLUBS SHOULD BE AMENDED AS PROPOSED;
ESTABLISHING HOURS DURINGWHICH POLLING PLACES
SHALL BE OPEN; DIRECTING THAT NOTICE OF SAID
ELECTION BE GIVEN; REQUESTING THE COUNTY CLERK
TO RENDER ELECTION SERVICES; AND AUTHORIZING
THE FILING OF AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco
has called a special election to submit to the electors a ballot
measure regarding whether the General Plan and Zoning code should
be amended to permit a new card club and commercial development in
an area east of Highway 101 and north of Oyster Point Boulevard at
or near the Shearwater/U.S. Steel site in South San Francisco and
whether Chapter 6.36 of the Municipal Code related to card clubs
should be amended as proposed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of South San Francisco as follows:
Section 1. Pursuant to the Elections Code of the State of
California, a Special Municipal Election is hereby called and
ordered to be held in the City of South San Francisco on September
12, 1995 for the purpose of submitting to qualified electors of the
City of South San Francisco a ballot measure regarding whether the
General Plan and Zoning code should be amended to permit a new card
club and commercial development in an area east of Highway 101 and
north of Oyster Point Boulevard at or near the Shearwater/U.S.
Steel site in South San Francisco as described in Exhibit A, and
whether Chapter 6.36 of the Municipal Code related to card clubs
should be amended as proposed.
Section 2. The ballot measure shall read as follows:
"CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO MEASURE
The People of the City of South San Francisco do resolve
and ordain as follows:
RECITALS
1. Whereas, General Plan Policy 47, as adopted by the
city Council in 1986, requires approval by a majority of
the registered voters of South San Francisco prior to
approving any new cardrooms in South San Francisco or any
relocation or expansion of the existing nonconforming
cardrooms located in South San Francisco; and
2. Whereas, the City of South San Francisco is
authorized to prohibit cardrooms within the city pursuant
to Business and Professions Code section 19801; and
3. Whereas, the City of South San Francisco hereby
finds that public health, safety and welfare require that
proper land use site selection and regulatory control are
necessary in the event any new card club/gaming facility
is approved; and
4. Whereas, the City of South San Francisco hereby
finds that to minimize disruption to existing
neighborhoods and established commercial areas, such
proper land use control requires that any new card
club/gaming facility be located (1) outside of any
residential districts, (2) outside of all areas within
the City west of the U.S. Highway 101, and (3) adjacent
to freeway access; and
5. Whereas, based on the factors set forth in Recitals
1 through 4 above, the City of South San Francisco hereby
finds that a new cardroom/gaming club may be allowed at
or near the "Shearwater/U.S. Steel" site which is shown
on Exhibit A hereto and is located north of Oyster Point
Boulevard and east of Highway 101; and
6. Whereas, the City of South San Francisco has
determined that any other new card club/gaming facility
approval should only occur upon approval of a majority
of the voters of the city of South San Francisco; and
7. Whereas, pursuant to state law, the City of South
San Francisco may prohibit and/or regulate all forms of
gambling permissible at the local level, including both
cardrooms and bingo games; and
8. Whereas, implementation of the items set forth in
sections 1 through 6 above require amendments to the
City's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance; and
9. Whereas, approval of this initiative shall authorize the
City Council and/or Redevelopment Agency to approve a card
club in which games permitted by law, such as draw poker, low-
ball poker, and panguingue (pan) are played, may be allowed
wherein such facility will be located in an area east of
Highway 101 and north of Oyster Point Boulevard at or near the
Shearwater/U.S. Steel site in South San Francisco;
I. NOW, THEREFORE, the People of South San Francisco
do hereby amend the City of South San Francisco General
Plan, including the East of 101 component thereof as
follows:
1. General Plan Policy 47 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
"Except as provided herein, cardrooms/gaming
clubs are not permitted in any zone district
in South San Francisco, unless a majority of
electors voting thereon affirmatively approve
a measure permitting legal gambling within
that zone district. Cardrooms which presently
exist in the City should be phased out of
existence. Except as provided herein, without
the approval of the electors set forth above,
no new cardrooms/gaming clubs should be
allowed in the City, nor should the existing
nonconforming cardrooms be allowed to expand
in area or in the number of tables operated or
to relocate to another area of the City. On
the basis of (1) the unique physical location
of the "Shearwater/U.S. Steel" site area,
described in Exhibit A, in that it is
physically separated from residential areas of
the City by U.S. Highway 101 and that it
provides immediate freeway access via the
Oyster Point interchange, and (2) that
portions of the site will require extensive
remedial actions, given the presence of
contaminants, the City or Redevelopment Agency
may approve a cardroom/gaming facility at or
near the 'Shearwater/U.S. Steel' site."
2. Page 70 of the East of 101 Plan, which serves
as the General Plan for the East of 101 land area, is
hereby amended to add Section E titled "Shearwater Area
Site Development" to read as follows:
"In addition to the land use policies contained
herein related to Planned Commercial development in
general, the permissible land uses at the
Shearwater/U.S. Steel site area, as defined in
Exhibit A, may include recreational uses, including
one card club/gaming facility of not more than one
hundred fifty (150) tables. Said facility may only
be approved by the City Council or Redevelopment
Agency as a conditional use or through an owner
participation agreement and then only as part of a
Planned Commercial development of the entire
Shearwater site. Said approvals may only occur
following environmental review in compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act."
II. The People further ordain that subsection (h) of section
20.24.070 of Chapter 20.24 of Title 20 of the South San
Francisco Municipal Code is hereby added to read as follows:
"Notwithstanding any other section of Chapter 20.24, the
City Council or Redevelopment Agency may approve a card
room/gaming facility in an area east of Highway 101 and
north of Oyster Point Boulevard at or near the
Shearwater/U.S. Steel site in South San Francisco
provided that such approval may only occur through
issuance of a conditional use permit or owner
participation agreement. The City Council or
Redevelopment Agency may impose conditions on such
approval."
III. The general plan amendments and zoning code amendment set
forth herein may only be amended by vote of the electorate.
IV. The People further ordain that Chapter 6.36 of the South
San Francisco Municipal Code is hereby amended, in its entirety to
read as set forth in Attachment A hereto. If adopted, the City
Council shall have the authority to amend all portions of Chapter
6.36.
Section 3. Hours during which the polls shall be open shall
be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Section 4. Notice of the time and place of holding said
election is hereby given and the City Clerk of the City of South
San Francisco is hereby directed to publish, post, and give such
further additional notice of said election as prescribed by the
Elections Code and Government Code of the State of California.
Section 5. The Board of Supervisors of the County of San
Mateo is requested to permit the County Clerk to render election
services requested by the City, for which services the City agrees
to pay, and the County Clerk is authorized and delegated to perform
these duties relating to the conduct of said Special Municipal
Election.
Section 6. The City Council instructs the City Clerk to
transmit the ballot measure to the city Attorney along with a
request that an impartial analysis be prepared for the ballot
measure.
Section 7. The City Clerk is hereby directed to file with the
Board of Supervisors a certified copy of this resolution.
Section 8.
The ballot question shall read as follows:
"SHALL THE SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN ANDMUNICIPAL CODE
BE AMENDED AS PROPOSED TO ALLOW A CARD CLUB IN THE AREA OF
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO EAST OF HIGHWAY 101 AND NORTH OF OYSTER
POINT BOULEVARD AT OR NEAR THE SHEARWATER/U.S. STEEL SITE, AT
WHICH GAMES PERMITTED BY LAW SUCH AS DRAW-POKER, LOW-BALL
POKER AND PANGUINGUE (PAN) ARE PLAYED AND TO INCREASE
REGULATION OF CARD CLUBS?"
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly
introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San
Francisco at a requ]ar meeting held on the 14th day of
June , 1995, by the following vote:
AYES:
Councilmembers Jack Dra.qo, Joseph A. Fernekes, Roberta Cerri
Teqlia and Mayor Robert Yee
NOES: None
ABSTAIN:
Councilmember John R. Penna
ABSENT: None
City Clerk
\405\re~o\NBCGPSPC.607
Area effected by proposed
General Plan amendment
EXHIBIT A
RESOLUTION NO. 49-95
ATTACHMENT A
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6.36 OF THE SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO REGULATIONS FOR
CARD CLUBS
The City Council of the City of South San Francisco does
ordain as follows:
Section 1 Chapter 6.36 of the South San Francisco Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read:
Chapter 6.36
CARD CLUBS REGULATED
Sections:
6.36.010
6.36.020
6.36.030
6.36.040
6.36.050
6.36.060
6.36.070
6.36.080
6.36.090
6.36.100
6.36.105
6.36.110
6.36.120
6.36.130
6.36.135
6.36.140
6.36.150
6.36.160
6.36.170
6.36.180
Findings and Purpose
Definitions
Confidential Disclosure Unlawful
Permits and Licenses Required
Limitation on Number of Licenses and
Number of Tables
License and Permit Application Procedure
Card Club License Application
Building Owner, Pointholder and Key
Management Employee Permit
Applications
Card Club Operations Certificate
Application
Application Fees
Special Assignment Fees
Application Review and Approval
Procedures
Card Club License, Pointholder Permit
and Key Management Employee Permit
Approval Process
Card Club Operations Certificate
Approval Process
Amendment of Card Club Operations
Certificate
Issuance of Permits or Licenses
Expiration of Permits and Licenses
Renewal of Card Club Licenses
Transfer and Assignment of Licenses
Transfer of Interest of Pointholder in
Card Club
6.36.190
6.36.200
6.36.210
6.36.220
6.36.230
6.36.240
6.36.250
6.36.260
6.36.270
6.36.280
6.36.290
6.36.300
6.36.310
6.36.320
6.36.330
6.36.340
6.36.345
6.36.350
6.36.360
6.36.370
6.36.380
6.36.390
6.36.400
6.36.410
6.36.420
6.36.430
Investigations - Updating
Suspension and Revocation of Card Club
Permits and Licenses
City Manager/Chief of Police Subpoena
Authority
Procedure for Card Club Permits and
Licenses Revocation or Suspension
No Application Upon Revocation
Registration, Fingerprinting and
Photographing of Employees of Licensed
Card Clubs
Employee Registration/I.D. Denial of
Application
Employee Registration/I.D. Expiration
and Renewal
Employee Registration/I.D. Suspension
and Revocation and Appeals
Employee Registration/I.D. Denial
Appeals
Annual License Taxes
Gross Revenue License Taxes
Audit/Reporting Required
Records, Reports and Supplemental
Information
Access to Records and Facilities
Card Club Operational and Games Rules
and Regulations
Seat Rental and Drop Charge Fees
Card Club Site Security
Violations
Changes in Rules and Regulations
Emergencies
Rights of Licensee and Card Club
Administration of Chapter by City
Manager
Unlawful Acts
Penalties
Preexisting Card Clubs
6.36.010
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
(A) The operation of card clubs within the State of
California in strict compliance with its gaming laws has been
demonstrated to be a successful means of generating revenues for
local governments. It is found and determined that, with the
City's present population, one gaming club, in which only those
games permitted under the laws of California are played, if
authorized by the City Council, shall be allowed in the city of
South San Francisco for the purpose of creating new jobs and new
revenue for the South San Francisco community.
(B) It is found that the public health, safety and welfare
require the establishment of regulations pursuant to, and in
conformity with, the State Gaming Registration Act. The City
finds it necessary to regulate, among other things:
(1) The persons who will own, operate or be employed
in card clubs.
(2) The persons who will own the building in which the
card club will be located and who will operate non-gaming
activities at the site.
(3) The number and size of card clubs in the City.
(4) The operation of card clubs in the City.
(5) The issuance of permits and licenses, including
limitations on transfer and assignment for card clubs.
(C) There are.two card clubs currently in existence in
South San Francisco and these card clubs have previously been and
continue to be identified as preexisting legal nonconforming
uses. These card clubs were previously regulated pursuant to the
former Chapter 6.36. It is the intent of the city Council that
this chapter shall apply to and regulate the two existing card
clubs as well as one additional card club that may be approved
pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. However, while the
preexisting lawful nonconforming clubs shall be subject to the
regulatory provisions hereunder, nothing in this ordinance shall
be interpreted to allow the pre-existing lawful non-conforming
card clubs to expand the scope of their existing use beyond their
current non-conforming status.
(D) The card club licensee(s) and building owner
permittee(s) should give preferential employment consideration to
qualified South San Francisco residents who demonstrate requisite
skills and experience.
6.36.020
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases
used herein are defined as follows:
(1) "Applicant" shall mean every person who applies
for a license to operate a card club and every individual who
requests a permit as provided for by this chapter.
(1.5) "Building Owner" shall mean the person or persons
who own[s] the building in which the Card Club is operated and
who may, among other things, Lease the building to the Card Club
operator and who may also operate or conduct ancillary services
such as food and beverage sales, retail sales, entertainment
activities, and personal services.
(2) "Card Club" shall mean a business, activity or
enterprise conducting card games, as defined by this section, and
licensed under the provisions of this article.
(3) "Card Club Operations Certificate" shall mean
authorization for a person, licensed to operate a card club,
whose pointholders and key management employees have been issued
permits, to commence operation of card games at a designated
location within a specific building, such operation having been
reviewed and approved as being in compliance with parking,
zoning, security, fire and various other local regulations.
(4) "Games" shall mean all forms of gaming authorized
by the State of California including those games not prohibited
by the Penal Code, Sections 319 et seq. and 330 et seq, and which
are permitted by resolution of the City Council and the terms of
the card club operations certificate.
(5) "Card Playing Area" shall mean the physical
location within the card club premises where the playing of card
games is permitted.
(6) "Commence" shall mean and include commence, begin,
initiate, start, open and establish.
(7) "Conduct" shall mean and include conduct,
transact, maintain, prosecute, practice, manage, operate and
carry on.
(8) "Employee" shall mean every individual, employed
either as an agent, employee, or otherwise, of the licensee, as
defined by this section, or under the direction of the licensee
of any card club, with or without compensation.
(9) "Gross Revenue" shall mean and include the total
amounts received or receivable for seat rental fees, admission
fees, administrative portions of tournament entry fees, table
revenues and any and all other revenues derived from gaming
activities conducted on or within the premises.
(10) "Key Management Employee" shall mean every
individual, whether or not such individual is a named officer or
director of the licensee, with the power to direct operations, or
direct supervisory and general employees, of a card club, any
individual with the actual or apparent authority to direct the
counting of revenue generated by the club, including any person
responsible for managing any aspect of the gaming activities
conducted at the licensee, whether or not employed by the
licensee, and every individual, whether or not such individual is
a named officer or director of the Building Owner, with the power
to direct operations, or direct supervisory and general employees
of the Building Owner. The term ~key management employee"
includes without limitation, those individuals who fill such
positions as shall be designated by the City Manager as key
employees.
(11) "Lease" means any formal or informal, written or
oral contract or understanding or arrangement whereby any person
operating a card club obtains the use or possession of any
property, real or personal, to be used, occupied, or possessed in
connection with the conduct of games at any card club. The term
~lease" includes, without limitation, payments to an affiliated
person under'a real property lease, a personal property lease, an
unsecured note, a deed of trust, a mortgage, or a trust
indenture.
(12) "Lessor" means any person who leases any property,
real or personal, to a person operating a card club for use in
connection with the conduct of games or related activities.
(13) "License" shall mean a grant from the City Council
authorizing a ~person" as described by this chapter to operate a
card club within the City.
(14) "Licensee" means the ~person" as described by this
chapter, to whom a card club license has been issued pursuant to
this chapter.
(15) "Owner" or "Pointholder" shall mean any person
having an interest, legal or equitable, in a card club license or
card club operations permit, or in the ownership of a card club,
or in the division of profits or revenue of a card club, whether
directly, or indirectly through a partnership, joint venture,
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closely held corporation or non-publicly traded corporation, or
an owner or some one or entity that controls at least'ten (10)
percent of stock of a publicly held corporation.
(16) "Permit" shall mean a grant of permission from
the City CounCil to a person allowed by this chapter, allowing
such person to become a pointholder in a card club or a key
management employee of a card club licensee within the City. Two
types of permits are provided for under this chapter, pointholder
permits and key management employee permits.
(17) "Person" shall mean and include any individual,
partnership, corporation or combination thereof.
(18) "Point" shall mean any interest whatever, or at
all, in the ownership, division of profits, or revenue of a card
club, whether legal, equitable, or of whatever kind of character.
(19) ."Premises" shall mean land together with all
buildings, improvements and personal property located thereon and
related to card club use.
(20) "Proposition Player" shall mean an employee
engaged or paid by the licensee for the purpose of starting
and/or maintaining a sufficient number'of players' in a card game.
(21) "Purport to commence" and "Purport to conduct"
shall mean and include any showing, representation, indication or
action which:
(a) by means of sign, advertisement, or
advertising matter, whether in, upon or about any premises or
otherwise; or
premises; or
(b)
by the appearance or arrangement of any
(c) by acts or statements of any person, or by
the agents, servants or employees of any person,
indicates, suggests, holds out, or represents that any person is,
would be, or appears to be conducting or in a position to conduct
any business referred to in this chapter with the City.
6.36.030
CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURE UNLAWFUL
Except as required by the California Public Records Act, it
shall be unlawful for any individual to disclose to any
6
individual, news organization or any other entity, any data or
information required under the provisions of this chapter to be
kept and maintained confidential.
6.36.040
PERMITS AND LICENSES REOUIRED
(A) It is the declared policy of the City Council that
pointholders, building owners and key management employees apply
for and be issued permits after an individual personal background
investigation, and that such persons be supervised so as to
better protect the public health, safety, morals, good order and
public welfare. Except as provided herein below with respect to
a card club license, no applicant, person, licensee, or permittee
'shall acquire a vested right in any permit issued, registration,
finding of suitability, or approval granted by the City Council
or any other action of the City Council at any stage of the
proceedings.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity to
commence or purport to commence , within the City any business,
activity, enterprise, undertaking, or place where tables or other
units of furniture are used directly or indirectly for playing
card games for the use of which a fee, commission, or
compensation is directly or indirectly charged, accepted or
received from players or participants in any such playing of card
games until such person or other entity shall have first obtained
a card club license and until such licensee has secured a card
club operations certificate for the operation of such card games
at a specific location, within a specific building under and in
compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(C) Any applicant hereunder is seeking the granting of a
privilege. Therefore, the burden of proving qualifications to
receive such a permit or license is at all times on the
applicant. An applicant must accept all risks of adverse public
notice, publicity, embarrassment, criticism, financial loss, or
all other actions and consequences which may result from
activities with respect to reviewing, processing, approving or
disapproving any application. A waiver of any claims for damages
against the City or its agent resulting therefrom shall be
presumed upon the filing of an application.
(D) Any applicant hereunder may claim any privilege
afforded by the Constitution of the United States in refusing to
answer questions by the City Council. However, a claim of
privilege with respect to any testimony, evidence, or requested
information pertaining to an application may constitute
sufficient grounds for denial or revocation of any such license
or permit.
6.36.050 LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF LICENSES AND NUMBER OF
TABLES
(A) With the exception of licenses that will be issued to
the two preexisting legal nonconforming Card Clubs, at no time
shall there be more than one additional card club license in the
City at any one time. The location of additional card club shall
be established through the land use approval process. This
section shall not be interpreted to authorize any form of
physical or use expansion of the two preexisting legal
nonconforming Card Clubs. There shall be no more than 150 card
playing tables in the City at any one time. The number of tables
for a particular applicant shall be determined during the
planning and licensing approval process. Licensees shall obtain
approval from the City Council prior to expanding the number of
tables allowed by their initial and/or current license.
(B) Multiple Applications. In the event that there are
less card club permits available than there are applications, the
permit shall be granted to the qualified applicant whom the City
Council, in its sole discretion, determines best meets the
following criteria:
(1) Least disruptive location
(2) Best program for policing the operation
(3) Greatest revenue potential for the City
(4)
applicant
Greatest experience and financial ability of
(5) Best potential for a quality operation
(6) Any other considerations that will protect the
public interest
In reaching its determination the City Council may consider any
staff recommendations, and the determination of the City Council
shall be final.
6.36.060
LICENSE AND PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Any person desiring or proposing to commence or conduct any
business, activity, enterprise or undertaking pertaining to or
involving a card club, shall file an application with the City
Clerk using such forms as are provided by the City. Each
application shall contain a statement as follows: ~The
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undersigned applicant(s) declares under penalty of perjury that
the foregoing is true and correct under the laws of the State of
California and of the United States.
6.36.070
CARD CLUB LICENSE APPLICATION
(A) City officials and employees and members of their
immediate families shall not be eligible to apply for card club
licenses or permits hereunder or otherwise apply for registration
as a card club employee.
(B) In addition to other information as may be required by
the application forms for a card club license, the applicant for
a license shall provide the following information:
(1) The date of the application.
(2) The true name of the applicant.
(3) The status of the applicant as being'an individual
a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation.
(4) If the applicant is an individual, the residence
and business address and personal history record of such
applicant, specifically including any criminal arrest and
conviction record, business and employment history for a period
of' ten years before the date of the application.
(5) If the applicant is other than an individual, the
name, residence and business address of each of the copartners or
stockholders who qualify as pointholders and the name, residence
and business address of each of the officers and directors of the
entity.
(6) An application, as described in Section 6.36.080
for a pointholder's permit, including a personal history record,
for every pointholder who has, or is proposed to have, a
financial interest, direct or remote, in the Proposed card club.
(7) An application, as described in Section 6.36.080
for a key management employee's permit, including a personal
history record, for each individual who is or is proposed to be a
key management employee of the proposed card club.
(8) An application should include copies of the Gaming
Registration application previously submitted to the State on all
qualifying persons, unless waived by the Chief of Police.
(9) A development concept including floor plans, site
plan, schematics and renderings or as detailed information as is
available.
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(10) A statement of the type and nature of the games
proposed to be played, and the rules and fee schedules for such
games.
(11) The number of tables or other units to be placed,
employed or used.
(12) A description of any other business conducted or
proposed to be conducted on the premises.
(13) A financial plan and source of funding for the
development including projected development cost.
(14) A statement of the applicant's experience in the
operation and management of card clubs or other lawful gambling
or other relevant activities.
(15) A one year cash flow projection, which shall be a
confidential document and not open to public inspection.
(16) A statement that such building will conform to all
the laws of the State and the City for occupancies of the nature
proposed.
(17) A complete description and layout of all security
measures proposed in as great a detail as available which shall
be a confidential document to be reviewed and approved by the
Police Department and not open to public inspection.
(18) Each application for a license shall include the
following:
(a) A statement that the applicant understands
that the application shall be considered only after a full
background investigation and report has been made by such members
of the City staff as are designated by the City Manager.
(b) A statement that the applicant understands
and agrees that any business or activity conducted or operated
under any license or permit issued under such application shall
be operated in full conformity with all the laws of the State and
the laws and regulations of the City applicable thereto, and that
any violation of any such laws or regulations in such place of
business, or in regulations in such place of business, or in
connection therewith, may render any license or permit therefor
subject to immediate suspension or revocation.
(c) A statement that the applicant has read the
provisions of this chapter and particularly the provisions of
this section and understands the same and agrees to abide by all
rules and regulations contained in this chapter.
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(d) A balance sheet and income statement prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
financial statements required by this subsection shall.be
confidential documents and shall not be open to public
inspection. Documents shall be available only to the city
Council and those officials having direct jurisdiction involving
the provisions of this chapter and to any court of competent
jurisdiction where any matter relating thereto may be actually
pending.
The city Manager shall have sole discretion to determine
whether the information submitted fulfills the requirements set
forth on the application form and in items 1 through 18 herein.
6.36.080 BUILDING OWNER, POINTHOLDER AND KEY MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
(A) Applications Filed with License Applications
(1) The initial applications for the building
owners, the pointholders and key management employees shall be
submitted as part of the application for a card club license.
(2) Each permit applicant shall be responsible for
providing complete and accurate information and for signing the
permit application. However, it shall be the responsibility of
the card club license applicant (or licensee for subsequent
applications) to submit the completed application and pay any
application fees.
(3) In addition to such other information as may be
required by the application forms for a permit, the permit
applicant shall complete and provide the information specified in
section 6.36.070 along with a balance sheet and income statement
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. The City Manager shall have sole discretion to
determine whether the information submitted fulfills the
requirements set forth on the application form and in this
section.
(4) Concurrently with the filing of their
applications, the building owner, the pointholder and key
management employee permit applicants shall be finger printed and
photographed by the South San Francisco Police Department.
Permit applicants shall authorize the City to obtain any
available criminal arrest and conviction offender record
information relating to applicant and shall further authorize the
updating of that information on an annual basis if a license or
permit is granted.
(B) New and Additional Permit Applications
11
(1) Applications for building owner and pointholder
permits which do not accompany the application for a card club
license as provided by Section 6.36.070 shall conform in all
respects with the requirements set forth in Section 6.36.180.
(2) Applications for key management employee permits
which do not accompany the application for a card club license as
provided by Section 6.36.070 shall be completed not less than ten
(10) days before the key management employee is scheduled to
begin work for the licensee. In addition to other information as
may be required by the application forms, the applicant for a
permit shall provide the information required by section
6.36.080(A) (3). The City Manager shall have sole discretion to
determine whether the information submitted fulfills the
requirements set forth on the application form and in this
section.
(C) Investigations Required
(1) Whenever an application pursuant to the provisions
of this section has been filed with the City Clerk for a permit
pursuant to the provisions of this section, and the fees required
by Section 6.36.100 have been paid, the City Clerk shall
immediately refer such application, or a true copy thereof, to
the City Manager, who shall promptly and diligently cause a full
and complete investigation of the applicant to be made, including
the following:
(a) Concurrently with the filing of an
application, each applicant shall be finger printed and
photographed by the South San Francisco Police Department and
shall authorize the City to obtain any available criminal arrest
and conviction offender record information relating to applicant
and shall further authorize the updating of that information on
an annual basis if the application is approved.
(b) A background check including an analysis of
the financial information supplied by the applicant pursuant to
Section 6.36.080(B).
(2) It shall be the responsibility and duty of the
City Manager to supervise and direct the Chief of Police to
establish the necessary procedures to administer the provisions
of this subsection. The information received by the Chief of
Police pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be
treated as confidential.
(D) Conditional Permits
In recognition of the delays which may be encountered
in obtaining all information on each applicant under this
section, the City Manager is authorized to issue provisional
12
permits which shall be valid for a period not to exceed six
months. Such conditional permits shall include such terms and
conditions as may be determined by the City Manager.
6.36.090 CARD CLUB OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
(A) The card club operations certificate shall be issued
only to the licensee.
(B) The card club operations certificate application shall
be submitted to the City Clerk. In addition to other required
information as may be set forth on application forms provided by
the City, the application shall include the following:
(1) Detailed floor plans of the interior of the
proposed card club facility specifying at a minimum:
(a) the location of all card playing areas
(b) the manner in which the card playing area(s)
shall be separated from other areas
(c) the location of any and all other proposed
businesses and facilities within the premises.
(2) Detailed plans of the parking facilities including
a lighting and security, plan.
(3) A detailed statement of all proposed security
measures (both physical and operational) for review and approval
by the Police Department.
(4) A detailed statement of all plans, both physical
and operational, for the handling of money, including but not
limited to provisions, if applicable, for:
(a) players banks (limited to cash only)
(b)
counterfeit chips
purchase of chips and protection against
(c) check-cashing procedures
(d) procedures for bringing money to or removing
money from the premises
(e) procedures for determining and depositing
daily gross receipts.
(5) An independent evaluation of the internal
accounting and administrative control system proposed to be used
by applicant.
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(C) Ail information provided regarding security measures,
internal controls, or provisions relating to the handling of
cash, chips and cards shall be deemed confidential and shall not
be available for public inspection.
6.36.~00
APPLICATION FEES
(A) Each application for any license or permit shall be
subject to fees and deposits payable to the City as follows:
(1) An initial license application fee shall be paid
to the City for the payment of the costs of the initial
background investigation. The fee shall be established by
resolution of the City Council.
(2) The license application fee provided for in
Section 6.35.100(A) (1) above shall cover the investigation costs
of the license application and a combined total of up to twenty
(20) pointholder and key management employee permit applications.
If a license applicant has pointholders and key management
employees exceeding twenty (20) in number, an additional fee per
pointholder or key management employee exceeding the twenty (20)
shall be paid to the City as payment of the costs of
investigation. This additional fee per pointholder or key
management employee ~hall be established by resolution of the
City Council.
(3) A building owner application fee shall be paid to
the City for the payment of the costs of the initial background
investigation. The fee shall be established by resolution of the
City Council.
(4) No additional fee shall be required for the card
club operations certificate.
(5) Additional fees are hereby imposed to reimburse
the City the costs of employee background investigations,
background checks for pointholder transfers, and renewal license
fees. These fees shall be established by resolution of the City
Council.
6.36.105
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FEES
In addition to the fees specified in Sections 6.36.100, the
licensee shall reimburse the City for any reasonable and
necessary expenses over and above such fees for special
assignment services related to operation of the card club.
Special assignment fees shall be based on actual costs to the
City to provide city services for atypical events and occurrences
such as special event traffic and crowd control, placement of
barricades and detours, etc.
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6.36.110 APPLICATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES
Whenever an application for a permit or license has been
filed and all application and permit fees set forth in Section
6.36.100 are deposited with the Finance Director, the City Clerk
shall immediately refer such application to the City Manager and
the Chief of Police.
6.36.120
CARD CLUB LICENSE, BUILDING OWNER, POINTHOLDER, AND KEY
MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE PERMIT APPROVAL PROCESS
(A) Investigation and Report
(1) Upon receipt of an application for a license, the
City Manager shall cause an investigation to be made covering all
matters relevant to the proposed activity of the applicant. Such
matters may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)
Identity, character and background of the
applicant;
(b) Interior floor plan of buildings and site
plan as to parking, traffic movement and aesthetics;
(c) Compliance with the City's General Plan,
zoning, security and environmental requirements;
(d) Type of tables to be used and their proposed
locations, area where food and beverages are proposed to be
served and means for excluding persons under 21 years of age from
card playing areas;
(e) Type and degree of security personnel and
facilities to be provided;
(f) The financial stability of the pointholders
involved in the application and the financial ability of the
applicant to comply with the conditions and requirements of the
City in the event the application is approved;
(2) Upon receipt of an application for a permit, the
City Manager shall cause an investigation to be made covering all
matters relevant to the proposed activity of the applicant. Such
matters may include, but are not limited to, the identity,
character and background of the applicant.
(3) The investigation of the application shall be
completed as soon as practicable after a complete application is
received. Following the investigation, the completed report of
the investigation together with the City Manager's findings and
recommendations shall be forwarded to the City Council. The City
Council shall not aonsider any application for a license or
15
permits until the City Manager's findings and recommendations are
forwarded for review.
(B) City Council Actions
Upon receiving the complete card club application and
the City Manager's findings and recommendations and evidence that
all other necessary permits or approvals that can be obtained
have been obtained, the City Council shall make a determination
on the permit application within forty-five (45) days.
(C) City Council Determination
(1) The City Council, by resolution, shall either
grant, conditionally grant, or deny the application. If the City
Council denies the application, the resolution shall include
findings in support of the denial. All such resolutions shall be
public records. The City Council may tentatively approve the
application of a license applicant, but, disapprove the
application for a permit of One or more of the pointholders or
key management employees. In such cases the City Council may
grant the license applied for subject to the condition that any
pointholder or key management employee disapproved of be removed
as an individual having any involvement with, or interest or
control in the card club. Compliance with the removal condition
shall be monitored, reviewed and approved of by the City Manager
prior to final issuance of the license.
(2) The action of the City Council in accordance
with this Ordinance shall be final.
(D) Requirements for Issuance of a License
(1) In the event a completed application for a license
is presented to the City Council, and the fees required herein
have been paid, and the investigations and reports required under
the provisions of this chapter have been duly completed, the city
Council shall have jurisdiction to consider such application.
The City Council shall, at minimum, consider the following
factors during its consideration of the application for a
license:
(a) The effect that granting the license may have
on business, employment and economics in the City;
(b) The financial stability of the building owner
and the applicants, including all pointholders;
(c) The business and financial history of the key
management employees of the enterprise or other manager or active
operating heads, including his or her personal history, moral
background, reputation and character.
16
(d) Whether issuance of the license and
subsequent operation will be detrimental to the public health,
safety and welfare of the citizens of South San Francisco.
(e)
considerations.
Any other relevant data, facts or
(E) Grounds for Denial
(1) The City Council may, in its discretion, deny or
condition a license or permit application for any of the
following reasons, without being limited thereto, or for any
other reason consistent with the general policy of this chapter:
(a) Conviction of any crime punishable as a
felony or of any crime of violence, any crime involving fraud,
gambling, loan sharking, bookmaking, thievery, bunco, moral
turpitude, or any crime involving evasion of taxes, or any other
crime of moral turpitude indicating a lack of business integrity
or business honesty, whether committed in the State ~of California
or elsewhere, whether denominated as a felony or as a misdemeanor
and notwithstanding the passage of time since the conviction.
(b) Failure of the proposed business or activity
to be operated in compliance with Federal, State of City law or
regulation.
(c) Identification by any law enforcement agency,
legislative body or crime commission as a member of, or an
associate of, organized criminal elements.
(d) Making any false statement in the application
or as to any other information presented as part of the
application process.
(e) Failure to satisfy the City Council as to the
source of funds to be invested in the proposed venture.
(f) Prior unlawful or nuisance creating operation
as a card club or gaming licensee in another jurisdiction without
regard to whether disciplinary action was taken at that time or
whether the acts were sufficient to justify revocation of a
license.
(g) Applicant does not have the financial
capability or business experience to operate, a card club in a
manner which would adequately protect the patrons of the card
club and the citizens of the community.
(h) Applicant is presently under indictment or
the subject of a criminal complaint for any of the crimes
described in paragraph (a) above.
17
(i) Making or causing to be made any statement in
an application or document provided to the City Council or its
agents or orally to a City Council member or agent in connection
with an application, which statement was at the time and in the
light of the circumstances under which it was made, knowingly
false or misleading.
(j) Lack of evidence that there is adequate
financing available to pay potential current obligations and, in
addition, to provide adequate working capital to finance opening
of the card club proposed.
(k) Failure of any person named in the
application when summoned by the City Council to appear and
testify before it or its agents at such time and place as it may
designate.
(1) Inadequate security plan.
(m) Proposed location of a new card 'club in an
area not authorized by this chapter or the General Plan or Title
20 of the Municipal Code.
6.36.130 CARD CLUB OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE APPROVAL PROCESS
(A) City Council to Grant
(1) The application for a card club operations
certificate and all related materials, including detailed site
and floor plans, and detailed statements of security and
operations procedures shall be reviewed by the City Manager and
his or her designee. The plans and specifications required by
this section shall be in sufficient detail to obtain building
permits.
(2) The City Council may grant, conditionally grant or
deny issuance of a card club operations certificate in accordance
with the criteria set forth in Section 6.36.130(B).
(3) The City Council shall approve or disapprove any
plans, specifications or proposed procedures within 45 days of
receipt thereof. Any disapproval shall be in writing and shall
include reasons for the disapproval. Any item neither approved
nor disapproved within 45 days shall be deemed denied. The
apPlicant, upon receipt of a disapproval, shall revise those
plans, specifications or procedures which are disapproved and
resubmit to the City Council within 45 days.
(B) Criteria for Issuance of a Card Club Operations
Certificate
'(1) A Card Club Operations Certificate is required
18
before a card club licensee may commence operations. Prior to
City Council consideration of a card club operations certificate,
the applicant shall provide evidence that the following
conditions have been completed:
(a) The applicant has a valid card club license.
(b) The card club site has been fully developed
in accordance with all plans and specifications submitted to and
approved by City and the site has been inspected to verify
compliance with all such plans and specifications.
(c) The applicant has taken all steps necessary
to ensure that the club will be operated in the manner set forth
in this chapter and as approved by the City and has documented
such to the satisfaction of the City Manager.
(d) Ail zoning, environmental, building and
personnel security and any other local or state requirements for
the design, construction or operation of the card club have been
complied with.
(e) The applicant has obtained a valid
registration from the Attorney General of the State of California
issued pursuant to the Gaming Registration Act, or any successor
thereto.
(C) Required Contents of Card Club Operations Certificate
Any Card Club Operations Certificate issued pursuant to
the terms of this section shall include: (a) the name of the card
club; (b) the address of the card club; (c) a description of the
gaming facilities; (d) the maximum number of tables which the
card club is authorized to operate; (e) the card games which may
be' offered at the card club; and (f) such other terms and
conditions as may be imposed by the City Council.
6.36.135
AMENDMENT OF CARD CLUB OPERATIONS CERTIFICATE
(A) The terms and conditions or other requirements imposed
by the Card Club Operations Certificate may be changed by filing
an application with the City Clerk stating the specific terms and
conditions that the licensee desires to change.and the reasons
therefor. Any application under this section shall be
accompanied by an application fee as established by resolution of
the City Council. City Manager shall investigate the
application and recommend to the City Council denial, approval
or approval subject to additional terms and conditions.
(B) The City Council may approve the application (whether
or not subject to conditions) only if it determines that:
19
(1) The proposed amendment will not result in the
substantial aggravation of crime or make law enforcement unduly
difficult.
(2) The proposed amendment is not detrimental to the
public health, safety or welfare.
(3) The proposed amendment would not result in the
violation of any applicable zoning, fire, building, security or
other ordinance.
(4) The proposed amendment would be consistent with
the purposes and provisions of this chapter and is not contrary
to the public interest.
6.36.140
ISSUANCE OF LICENSES OR PERMITS
(A) The license, if granted, will be issued only in the
name of an individual, a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a
corporation. City officials and employees and members of their
immediate families shall not be eligible to apply for card club
licenses or permits hereunder or otherwise apply for registration
as a card club employee.
(B)' If the action of the City Council, or the City Manager
as appropriate, on any application is to grant the same, the
Finance Director may thereupon issue the necessary licenses,
permits and renewals thereof upon payment of fees as required by
this chapter, until such time as such license or permit is either
surrendered, suspended, revoked or expires.
6.36. 150
EXPIRATION OF PERMITS AND LICENSES
(A) Permits and licenses issued pursuant to this Chapter
shall be and remain valid until the earlier of expiration of the
permit or license term, suspension or revocation by the City
Council or City Manager as provided in this chapter or Voluntary
surrender in writing by the permittee or licensee.
(B) Except as herein provided, licenses shall, unless
renewed, expire annually on the anniversary date of their
issuance. The initial card club license shall be dated as of the
day upon which the same is issued and, unless sooner revoked,
shall expire at midnight of the fifth anniversary of the date the
card club which is the subject of such initial card club license
shall commence operations. If the initial card club license
shall be surrendered or revoked prior to the end of such fifth
anniversary, then the license granted relative to the operation
of the card club in lieu of the initial card club license shall
expire at the same time that the initial card club license wold
have expired (i.e., the fifth anniversary of the date on which
the card club commenced operations).
20
(C) The Card Club Operations Certificate shall be and
remain valid as long as the card club license is valid and no
physical or procedural changes are made with respect to the items
identified in section 6.36.090 or on the card club operations
certificate.
(D) Ail other permits or licenses issued under the
provisions of this chapter shall, unless renewed, expire at
midnight on the second anniversary of the date upon which the
license or permit was issued or last renewed.
(E) In the event of surrender, suspension, revocation or
expiration, no permit fee or license fee, or any portion thereof
shall be refunded.
(F) In the event that a public agency takes possession of
the property subject to a card club permit under threat or actual
exercise of the power of eminent domain, the permit for the card
club shall be deemed to be valid and remain in effect for a
period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of closing of the
card club, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this
chapter.
6.36.160
RENEWAL OF CARD CLUB LICENSES
(A) The holder of a valid card club license issued pursuant
to the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to have the
license renewed annually in accordance with the following
procedures:
(1) An application for renewal of any such license
shall be filed with the Finance Director no later than sixty (60)
days before the expiration date of the license for which renewal
is sought.
(2) If such application for renewal is not filed
within the time specified by Section 6.36.160(A) (1), such
licensee may thereafter file a written application for renewal of
any such expired license, but in such event, such licensee shall
pay a penalty fee, as established by resolution of the City
Council, for each table or unit affected by such renewal, for
each day of delinquency.
(3) The application for renewal shall be accompanied
by the full amount of the required renewal .license fee as set
forth in Section 6.36.100.
(4) The card club licensee shall file with the City
Clerk an affidavit made subject to the penalties of perjury on a
form approved by the City Attorney containing a full and complete
statement including the following, information:
21
(a) Any change in individuals with whom the
licensee has any operating agreements pertaining to the licensed
operation.
(b) Any change in pointholders, the full, true
and correct names and addresses of such new pointholders, or
trustors for pointholders.
(c) The full, true and correct names and
addresses of each and every new key management employee.
(d) If no changes have occurred from the previous
renewal, licensee shall so certify and attest.
(B) Failure to make full payment of annual fees or failUre
to file or filing any false statement in any affidavit and/or
certification and attestation as is required by this subsection
may be deemed grounds for the revocation of such license pursuant
to the procedures set forth in this chapter.
(C) If the licensee is in compliance with the requirements
of this subsection, and if there have been no material changes in
the operation of the card club or in the pointholders, building
owners or key management that have not been previously approved
by the City, the card club license shall be deemed renewed for
another one year period and the Finance Director shall issue such
renewal.
6.36.170
TRANSFER AND ASSIGNMENT OF LICENSES
(A) ' Except as otherwise indicated herein, any transfer or
assignment of any license shall be considered for all purposes in
the same manner as a new application for card club license in the
City, and all the provisions of this chapter applicable to new
and original applications shall apply; provided, however, that
neither mailed notice to adjacent property owners, nor published
notice, need be made. Such a transfer shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.36.180.
(B) The provisions of this Section and of Section 6.36.180
shall not apply to any application for or notification of a
transfer or assignment by any pointholder who is a member of a
bona fide owner operating under a duly issued license to conduct
a card club in the City of South San Francisco to a then
presently existing pointholder; provided, however, that any
transfer of ten (10) points or more, even to an existing
pointholder, shall require City approval pursuant to Section
6.36.180.
(C) The provisions of this Section and of Section 6.36.180
shall not apply to a transfer of interest between or among family
members wherein such transfer is made by devise or testamentary
22
trust, proVided that the recipient of said interest has not been:
(1) Convicted of any crime punishable as a felony or
of any crime of violence, any crime involving fraud, gambling,
loan sharking, bookmaking, thievery, bunco, moral turpitude, or
any crime involving evasion of taxes, or any other crime of moral
turpitude indicating a lack of business integrity or business
honesty, whether committed in the State of California or
elsewhere, whether denominated as a felony or as a misdemeanor
and notwithstanding the passage of time since the conviction.
(2) Identified by any law enforcement agency,
legislative body or crime commission as a member of, or an
associate of, organized criminal elements.
(3) Found by another City or County or Court to have
operated a card club in a manner that was either unlawful or that
created a nuisance.
(4) Indicted for any of the crimes described in
paragraph (a) above.
(5) Found to have made or caused to be made any
statement in any document provided to the City Council or its
agents or orally to a City Council member or agent in connection
with an application, which statement was at the time and in the
light of the circumstances under which it was made, knowingly
false or misleading.
In the event that any family member who is devisee or
testamentary trust beneficiary is unqualified, pursuant to this
section, to be identified as the licensee, that person may
transfer said license to another family member provided that such
family member is not disqualified pursuant to items 1-5 herein.
6.36.180 TRANSFER OF INTEREST OF POINTHOLDER IN CARD CLUB
(A) Permission Required
It shall be unlawful for any pointholder, having any
interest whatsoever, or at all, in the ownership of a card club
whether legal or equitable, or as trustor or trustee, or of
whatever kind or character, to transfer, convey or sell any
points and/or interest in a card club to any person who is or by
reason of such transaction would become a pointholder without the
prior written consent of the City Council.
(B) No licensee or pointholder shall knowingly permit any
individual, partnership or other entity to make any investment
whatsoever in, or in any manner whatsoever participate in the
profits of any licensed card club, or any portion thereof, except
in accordance with this chapter.
23
(C) No licensee or pointholder shall knowingly permit any
investment in any licensed card club or any portion thereof or
participation in the profits thereof by any person acting as
agent, trustee, or in any other representative capacity
whatsoever for or on behalf of another person without first
having fully disclosed all facts pertaining to such
representation to the City Council. No person acting in any such
representative capacity shall hold or acquire any such interest
or participate without first having fully disclosed all facts
pertaining to such representation to the City Council and
obtained written permission of the City Council to so act.
(D) Transfer of Interest and Escrow Required
No transfer, sale or hypothecation of a point, or new
investment in a card club shall be permitted until the City
Council has approved an application for transfer of interest,
and until each new pointholder has been granted a pointholder's
permit authorizing the holding of such interest in a point. No
money or other thing of value constituting any part of the
consideration for the transfer or acquisition of any interest in
a licensed card club shall be paid over, received or used prior
to compliance with all prerequisites set forth in the law and
these regulations for the consummation of such transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such funds may be placed in escrow
pending completion of the transaction. Any loan, pledge or other
transaction in an attempt to evade the requirements of this
regulation may be deemed a violation and, as such, woUld
constitute grounds for disapproval of the point transfer.
(E) Assignment
Any party desiring to buy, sell, accept transfer,
assign or otherwise hypothecate any interest of a pointholder in
a licensed card club shall file with the City Clerk, on forms
approved by the City Attorney, and furnished by the City Clerk, a
written application for permission to allow transfer of such
interest. Each such application shall contain and clearly and
truthfully set forth, under oath and/or affirmation, in addition
to such other information as the City Clerk and/or the City
Council may require, the following:
(1) The date of the application
(2) The true name of the applicant
(3) The status of the applicant as being an
individual, partnership, corporation or other entity.
(4)
applicant
The residence and current business address of the
(5) If the applicant is other than an individual, the
name, residence and current business address of each co-partner,
24
co-partnership, shareholder (of more than ten (10) percent of the
shares if the corporation is publicly traded corporation) or
other interest holders.
(6) The name of the licensed card club and the names
of the existing pointholders from which a transfer of interest or
points is sought.
(7) The number of points and/or nature of interest
sought to be sold, transferred assigned or otherwise
hypothecated.
(8) The source of funds to be used by the applicant in
acquiring such points or interest.
(9) A statement that the applicant(s) understands that
the application will be considered by the City Council only after
a full investigation and report have been made and the report of
investigation forwarded to the City Council.
(10) A balance sheet and income statement prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
submitted under penalty of perjury (but which need not be
audited) whether he is an individual, partnership or other
entity.
(11) The statements required by this subsection shall
be confidential, and the documents containing such information
shall be deemed to be confidential documents, and shall not be
open to public inspection, but shall be available only to those
City officials having direct jurisdiction where any matter
relating thereto may be actually pending, except that the names
and cities and states of residence only of such pointholders
shall be open to public inspection, but all other statements
and/or documents shall remain confidential.
(F). Investigations Required
(1) Whenever an application pursuant to the provisions
of this section has been filed with the City Clerk for a permit
pursuant to the provisions of this section, and the fees required
by Section 6.36.100 have been paid, the City Clerk shall
immediately refer such application, or a true copy thereof, to
the City Manager, who shall promptly and diligently cause a full
and complete investigation of the applicant to be made, including
the following:
(a) Concurrently with the filing of an
application, each applicant shall be finger printed and
photographed by the South San Francisco Police Department and
shall authorize the City to obtain any available criminal
offender record information relating to applicant and shall
25
further authorize the updating of that information on an annual
basis if the application is approved.
(b) A background check including an analysis of
the financial information supplied by the applicant pursuant to
this Section.
(2) It shall be the responsibility and duty of the
City Manager to supervise and direct the Chief of Police to
establish the necessary procedures to administer the provisions
of this subsection. The information received by the Chief of
Police pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be
treated as confidential.
(G) Application Fees
For the purpose of clarification, the application fees
set forth in this section are for regulation and reimbursement to
the City for the costs of investigating and processing the
applications. Each such application for transfer of interest of
a pointholder to an applicant permittee shall be acCompanied by
an application fee in an amount established by resolution of the
City Council for each pointholder permit applicant, which fee
shall be retained by the City for the payment of the costs of the
investigation of the applicant. The fees set forth in this
subsection shall be the property of, and be retained by, the
city, whether the permit and permission to transfer interest in
the license is granted or denied.
(H) Granting or Denial of Applications
(1) Whenever an application for a permit as required
under the provisions of this section is presented to the City
CoUncil, and the fees required by this section in connection
therewith have been paid to the Finance Director, the City
Council may consider such application on the basis of the
following, without being limited thereto:
(a) The financial stability of the applicant
(b)
Section 636. 120(E)
Conviction of criminal offenses as denoted in
(c) Whether the applicant has engaged in any
conduct the object of which was to evade cash transaction
requirements imposed by law, has been convicted of any such
offense or has been subject to the forfeiture of assets on
account of any alleged violation of cash reporting requirements.
(d) Any other information deemed by the City
Council to be matters of necessary inquiry.
(2) The City Council may, in its discretion, either
26
The
grant, conditionally grant or deny the permit transfer.
action of the City Council shall be final.
6.36.190
INVESTIGATIONS - UPDATING
Ail building owners, pointholders and key management
employees of card clubs or other employees promoted into such
positions subsequent to their initial employment shall have their
background and criminal history investigations updated annually.
The card club license annual renewal fee shall be used to cover
the cost of such investigations.
6.36.200
SUSPENSION.AND REVOCATION OF CARD CLUB PERMITS AND
LICENSES
(A) Ail permits and licenses authorized and issued under
the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to:
(1) Immediate suspension by the City Manager if the
City Manager finds that:
(a) The Attorney General has denied, suspended or
revoked an applicant's registration under the California Gaming
Registration Act (Bus. and Prof. Code section 19800 et seq.) or
any successor thereto; or
(b) a permittee/licensee, or any agent or
employee thereof with the knowledge, of such permittee/licensee,
has violated, or permitted, allowed or caused the violation of
any provision of this chapter, any regulation issued pursuant to
this chapter, any condition of approval imposed upon the issuance
of the permit or card club license, or any state law or
regulation relating to the operation of a card club where the
continued operation of the club in the light of such violation
jeopardizes, or threatens to jeopardize, the public health,
safety or welfare.
(c) Based on ascertainable facts, the operation
of the card club substantially aggravates the crime problems in
the City, makes law enforcement unduly difficult, or is
detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare in the City.
(2) Suspension or revocation by the City Manager or
his or her designee after not less than thirty (30) days written
notice to the permittee/licensee and after testimony has been
taken from the permittee/licensee and/or any other interested
person, if the hearing officer finds that:
(a) The Attorney General has denied, suspended or
revoked an applicant's registration under the California Gaming
Registration Act or any successor thereto; or
27
(b) A permittee or licensee or any agent or
employee thereof, with the knowledge of the permittee or
licensee, has violated or permitted, allowed or caused the
violation of any provisions of this chapter, any regulation
issued pursuant thereto, any condition of approval imposed upon
the issuance of the card club license, or any state or federal
law or regulation relating to the operation of a card club; or
(c) A permittee/licensee has failed to pay, when
due and payable, any of the fees or taxes provided for in this
chapter within ten (10) days after written notice of any such
failure; or
(d) A permittee/licensee has made any fraudulent
statements as to a material fact on an application form or as to
any other information presented as part of the application
process; or
(e) A permittee/licensee knowingly commits any
act which would have constituted grounds for denial'of an
application for a permit or license; or
(f) The permittee or licensee has knowingly
continued to employ in any card club any individual whom any
court has found guilty of cheating or using any improper device
in connection with any game, whether as a licensee or player at a
licensed game, or any person whose conduct of a licensed game as
an employee of a licensee resulted in revocation, or suspension
of the permit of such permittee; or
(g) The permittee or licensee has been convicted
of a crime provided in Section 6.36.120(E). A conviction is
suitable grounds for revocation or suspension of the permit or
license, prior to the exhaustion of the licensee's appellate
rights; or
(h) the permittee or licensee has failed to
comply with the cash transaction reporting and recording
requirements of Section 6.36.320(B) (1).
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the
imposition of a limit, condition, suspension or revocation of a
permit of an individual pointholder, key employee or permittee
will not affect the license of the card club.
(4) The City Manager may order the sale or transfer of
points or interest held by an individual pointholder permittee
whose permit has been revoked.
(5) The City Manager may order a licensed card club to
keep an individual pointholder or key employee whose permit has
been revoked from coming onto the premises of the card club, or
28
not to pay such pointholder or key employee any remuneration for
services as an employee and/or any profits, income or accruals on
his or her investment as a pointholder in the card club.
(6) In the event of a violation described in
subsections 6.36.200(A)(2)(b) through (h) immediately above, a
fine, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) per day for
each violation, may be imposed on the licensee in lieu of
suspension or revocation. In the event the violation is for non-
payment of fees, the fine shall amount to five percent of the
unpaid fees plus one and one-half percent per month accrued daily
after the first 30 days.
(7) When appropriate, in addition to or in lieu of
suspension, reVocation or imposition of a fine, the city Manager
may impose other appropriate penalties, including but not limited
to restitution to victims and modifications and limitations on
the terms and conditions of the license, permit or Card Club
Operations Certificate.
6.36.210 CITY MANAGER / CHIEF OF POLICE SUBPOENA AUTHORITY
(A) The building owner and licensee shall each designate
one or more persons who are regularly present on the premises
during regular business hours as agent(s) for the service of
subpoenas ("agent") issued by the City Manager or Chief of Police
under this chapter. These designated individuals shall also
serve as contact persons available to respond to general business
problems.
(B) By accepting, and as a continuing condition to the
validity of, a license under this chapter, the building owner,
the licensee, each manager and each designated responsible
employee of either, and each person who has a financial interest
in the licensee shall consent to having any such agent accept the
service of subpoenas directed to them hereunder by the City
Manager or Chief of Police.
(C) A building owner or licensee may change the designation
of its agent at any time by filing a change in writing with the
City Manager or Chief of Police. The City Manager or Chief of
Police shall serve a subpoena upon a person either (1) by
personal service on such person or (2) by personal service on an
agent.
(D) Each subpoena directed to a person by the City Manager
or Chief of Police shall set forth the subject matters of
inquiry and any request for specific information required. If
all of the specific information sought from the person upon whom
the subpoena is served may otherwise be supplied by the licensee,
the licensee shall file a declaration under penalty of perjury
with the City Manager or Chief of Police that contains such
29
specific information at the time directed, the effect of which
declaration shall be to quash the subpoena; provided, however,
that topics of inquiry or requests for specific information
pertaining to the background or actions of the person to whom the
subpoena has been directed may only be answered or otherwise
responded to by such person.
(E) No subpoena shall compel the attendance of any person
before the City Manager or Chief of Police or at any hearing
conducted under this chapter in less than seventy-two (72) hours
after receipt of such service by the.person(s) upon whom such
service is to be made; reasonable requests for extension of time
to appear shall be granted for up to an additional forty-eight
(48) hours by the City Manager or Chief of Police upon a
declaration that sets forth a reasonable ground for such
extension, which declaration is executed under penalty of perjury
(based on information and belief) by any person who would be
subject to the service of a subpoena under this paragraph.
6.36.220 PROCEDURE FOR CARD CLUB PERMITS AND LICENSES
REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION
(A) Notice of Decision to Revoke or Suspend
In the event the City Manager determines that a license or
permit issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall be
suspended or revoked, the City Manager shall issue a Notice of
Decision which shall state the grounds upon which the suspension
or revocation or other penalty is based. The Notice shall be in
writing and addressed to the licensee or permittee and the
building owner at the addresses of record.
(1) Unless the licensee or permittee files a written
Notice of Appeal with the City Clerk within ten (10) calendar
days from the date of mailing of the Notice of Decision, the
Decision shall become effective on the close of business after
twenty-one (21) days. The Notice of Appeal shall state all of
the grounds of appeal and shall admit or deny the determination
in the Notice of Decision.
(2) The City Manager shall select a hearing officer
who shall schedule and conduct the hearing in accordance with
procedures specified in regulations to be promulgated by the City
Manager pursuant to this chapter. The decision of the hearing
officer shall be final.
(3) The cost of the appeal, including but not limited
to the costs of the services of the hearing officer and for the
preparation of the transcript, shall be borne by the licensee or
permittee. The City Attorney shall provide an estimate of costs
which must be deposited with the City Clerk before the scheduled
start of the hearing. Failure to deposit the estimated costs
30
before the hearing is scheduled to begin shall be deemed a waiver
of the appeal.
6.36.230
NO APPLICATION UPON REVOCATION
In the event of revocation, no new permit or license
shall be issued to such permittee or licensee except upon
application made thereafter as in the case of a new applicant.
6.36.240 REGISTRATION, FINGERPRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING
OF EMPLOYEES OF LICENSED CARD CLUBS
(A) Permit Required of Employees
(1) It shall be unlawful for any card club building
owner or licensed card club to employ any person in connection
with their operations or to allow any person to do business on
their premises who is not the holder of a valid registration/I.D.
card issued by the Chief of Police. No registration/I.D, card
will be issued without such person having first been finger
printed and photographed by the South San Francisco Police
Department or such other person(s) as shall be approved by the
South San Francisco Police Department.
(2) Every card club building owner or licensee shall,
before employing any person in connection with the licensed card
club activity, ascertain that such person holds a valid
registration/I.D, card issued in accordance with this regulation,
and shall cause his employment records to reflect such fact.
(B) Application Procedure
(1) Applications for registration/I.D, cards shall be
reviewed subject to the procedures to be adopted and implemented
by the Police Department. An application may be granted or
denied by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may deny an
application for registration for any relevant cause denoted in
Section 6.36.250. Applicants for employee registration/I.D.
cards shall authorize the City to obtain any available criminal
arrest and conviction offender record information relating to the
applicant and shall further authorize the updating of that
information on an annual basis if a registration/I.D, card is
issued.
(2) In recognition of the delays which may be
encountered in obtaining all information on each applicant, the
Chief of Police is hereby authorized to issue provisional
registration/I.D, cards which shall be valid for a period not to
exceed six months and shall be issued under the terms and
conditions to be determined by the Chief of Police.
(3) A nonrefundable processing fee as set forth in the
31
Master Fee Schedule shall be paid together with the registration
and renewal application.
(C) Display of Registration/I.D. Card
Every employee shall be issued a registration/I.D, card
whether permanent or provisional or conditional, which must be
prominently displayed on the employee's outermost garment at
approximately chest height. Such identification card shall be in
good and readable condition and a replacement card shall be
issued by the Chief of Police upon payment of a Twenty-Five
Dollar ($25.00) fee. Undercover security personnel, with prior
approval of the Police Department, need not wear such
registration/I.D, badge in a prominently visible place.
(D) Responsibilities of Chief of Police
(1) It shall be the responsibility and duty of the
Chief of Police to establish the necessary procedures to
implement and administer the provisions of the section.
(2) The information received by the Chief of Police
pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be treated as
confidential.
(E) Permit Application Fee
For the purpose of clarification, the application fees
set forth in this section are for regulation and reimbursement to
the City for the costs of investigating and processing the
applications, as provided for in this section. Each application
for a permit.under this section shall be accompanied by an
application fee, payable to the City, in the amount as set forth
in the Master Fee Schedule, which fee shall be retained by the
City for the payment of the costs of the investigation of the
applicant. The fees set forth in this subsection shall be the
property of, and be retained by, the City, whether the employee
registration/I.D, card is granted or denied.
(F) Obligation of Card Club Licensee
It shall be a condition of any Card Club Operations
Certificate to inform the Chief of Police of any change in the
employment status of a registered employee within ten (10) days
of the effective date of the change in employment status. A
change in employment status includes.termination, leave of
absence, promotion or any other change in position or title.
6.36.250 EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION/I.D. -- DENIAL OF APPLICATION
(A) The Chief of Police may deny the application for an
employee registration/I.D, card if he or she makes any of the
following determinations:
(1) That the applicant has within five (5) years
32
immediately preceding the filing of the application been arrested
or convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of an offense,
or has engaged in conduct constituting any such offense, listed
as follows:
(a) Any offense involving gambling specified in
Sections 319-337.9, including any amendments thereto, of the
California Penal Code.
(b) Any felony offense involving the sale of a
controlled substance specified in Sections 11054, 11055 and 11056
or 11058 'of thee California Health and Safety Code, including any
amendments thereto.
(c) Any offense specified in Sections (266(I),
315, 316, 318 ~or subdivision (b) of Section 647 of the California
Penal Code, including any amendments thereto.
(d) Any offense which requires registration as a
sex offender under Section 290 of the California Penal Code,
including any ~amendments thereto.
(e) Any offense in another State, which, if
committed in this state, would have been punishable as one or
more of the foregoing offenses.
(f) Any offense involving the use of force or
violence upon the person of another.
(g)
moral turpitude.
Any offense involving theft, embezzlement or
(h) Any offense which relates directly to the
operation of a gaming club.
(2) That the applicant has made one or more false
statements in the application.
(3) That the applicant has done any act involving
dishonesty, moral turpitude, fraud or deceit with the intent to
substantially benefit himself or another, or substantially injure
another.
(4) That the applicant has failed to comply with one
or more provisions of this chapter, or of this code, or other
laws of regulations applicable to the premises, equipment,
ownership or operation of the proposed card club of the
applicant.
(5) That the issuance of the proposed permit would
violate an applicable provision of this chapter.
33
(6) That the applicant is engaged in organized crime,
or has substantial, regular or continuous personal, professional
or financial associations with one or more persons engaged in
organized crime.
(7) That the applicant, if he or she (1) works in the
card playing area, (2) supervises anyone who works in the card
playing area, or (3) is involved in anyway in cash transactions,
is under the age of twenty-one (21) years old.
6.36.260
EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION/I.D. CARD -- EXPIRATION AND
RENEWAL
An Employee Registration/I.D. Card shall be valid for two
years. It shall be renewable at the end of each second year upon
filing a new application and a renewal fee, in an amount set
forth in the Master Fee Schedule and established by resolution of
the citY Council. If an expired Employee Registration/I.D. Card
is not renewed within thirty (30) days after the expiration date,
it shall be considered void and the filing fee and process for an
original application shall be applicable.
6.36.270
EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION/I.D. CARD --
REVOCATION, SUSPENSION AND APPEALS
(A) Emplioyee Registration/I.D. Cards are subject to
revocation or ,suspension upon a determination by the Chief of
Police that grounds exist which would justify the denial of an
application for such Employee Registration/I.D. Card if such
application were then pending, or that the person has:
(1) Violated one or more provisions of this chapter.
(2) Violated any statute or ordinance relating
directly to the operation of the card club.
(3) Been convicted of or has engaged in conduct
constituting an offense enumerated in subsection 6.36.250(A) (1).
(4) Done any of the following:
(a) Violated any federal, state or local statute,
rule or ordinance regulating gaming.
(b) Failed to take reasonable steps to prevent
any dishonest acts or illegal activities occurring on a card club
premises committed by any patron or any other person.
(c) Obtained an Employee Registration/I.D. Card
by fraud, misrepresentation, concealment or through inadvertence
or mistake.
34
(d) Made a misrepresentation, or failed to
disclose, 'a material fact to the Chief of Police either on the
application or as part of any subsequent investigation.
(B) The term of suspension of any Employee
Registration/I.D. Card shall be for the specific time determined
by the Chief of Police but not more than sixty (60) days.
(C) In conducting an investigation, which the Chief of
Police may initiate on his or her initiative or in response to a
complaint, or making a determination hereunder, the Chief of
Police shall gather all evidence relevant to the investigation
and may issue-subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses and the
production of documents and other evidence. The determination of
the Chief of Police shall be supported by a preponderance of the
evidence.
(D) Upon determination that grounds for revocation or
suspension exist,, the Chief of Police shall notify the person
holding the Employee~Registration/I.D. Card in question,
(hereafter referred to as the "Cardholder"), in writing either by
personal delivery or by'first class mail addressed to the
Employee Registration/I.D. Cardholder at the address listed in
the permit application, or any more recent address furnished to
him by the Employee Registration/I.D. Cardholder. The notice
shall state that the permit is revoked or suspended the duration
of any suspension and the grounds for the action. The notice
shall further state that the action shall not become effective
until the eleventh City business day after the date of the
notice, and that during such period the licensee or Cardholder
may file a Notice of Appeal to the City Manager. The Notice
shall state that if the action is appealed to the City Manager,
the action shall not become effective until the City Manager
shall have heard and decided the appeal.
(E) If the Cardholder fails to file a Notice of Appeal
with the City Manager within a period of ten (10) City business
days from the date of notice of suspension or revocation, the
action of the Chief of Police shall become final and conclusive.
(F) At the hearing before the City Manager the appellant
and the Chief of Police shall have the following rights:
(1) To call and examine witnesses
(2) To introduce exhibits
(3) To cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter
relevant to the issues, even though that matter was not covered
in the direct examination.
(4) To impeach any witness, regardless of which party
35
first called him or her to testify, and to rebut the evidence
against him.
(G) The hearing need not be conducted according to rules
of evidence. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is
the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed
to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the
existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make
improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil
actions. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of
supplementing or explaining other evidence, but shall not be
sufficient to support a finding unless it would be admissible
over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be
effective to the extent that they are otherwise required by
statute to be recognized at the hearing. Irrelevant and unduly
repetitious evidence shall be excluded.
(H) In revoking or suspending a Employee Registration/I.D.
Card pursuant to this Section, the Chief of Police shall have the
power to suspend the effectiveness of such action upon reasonable
conditions, and to direct that if the Employee Registration/I.D.
Cardholder does not comply with such conditions, the original
revocation or suspension will become effective.
(I) In addition to the power to suspend a Employee
Registration/I.D. Card pursuant to this Section, if the Chief of
Police determines that a Employee Registration/I.D. Cardholder
has engaged in such conduct as to provide reasonable cause to
believe that his or her continued work in a card club would
constitute an immediate threat of continued violations of
operations requirements, fraudulent or dishonest conduct, or sale
or use of narcotics on the premises, he or she may immediately
suspend the Employee Registration/I.D. Card by providing written
notice to the Employee Registration/I.D. Cardholder and the
licensee of the action taken and the reason therefor. The Chief
of Police shall conduct a hearing on the matter upon notice to
the Employee Registration/I.D. Cardholder not later than five (5)
City business days from the date of the suspension. The hearing
shall be in accordance with the proviSions of this Section. If
at the conclusion of the hearing the Chief of Police determines
that grounds exist for the suspension or revocation of the
Employee Registration/I.D. Card, he or she may revoke or continue
the suspension of the Employee Registration/I.D. Card. The
Cardholder may appeal such decision to the City Manager by filing
a Notice of Appeal pursuant to this Section 6.36.280(B);
provided, however, that pending the action of the City Manager on
appeal the revocation or suspension shall remain in full force
and effect.
6.36.280 EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION/I.D. CARD -- DENIAL APPEALS
(A) Whenever the Chief of Police shall deny an application
36
for an Employee Registration/I.D. Card, he or she shall notify
the applicant/cardholder in writing by either personal delivery
or by first class mail addressed to the applicant/cardholder at
the address listed in the respective application, or at any more
recent address furnished to him by the applicant/cardholder. The
notice shall state that the application has been denied or that
the Employee Registration/I.D. Card has been suspended or revoked
and the grounds for the action. The notice shall further state
that the applicant or cardholder shall have the right to appeal
the action to the City Manager by filing a Notice of Appeal with
the City Manager no later than ten (10) City working days from
the date of the notice of denial.
(B) A notice of any appeal must be filed with the City
Manager not later than ten (10) City business days from the date
of notice of denial, suspension or revocation of the application,
license or EmploYee Registration/I.D. Card. If a Notice of
Appeal is timely filed, accompanied by payment of an appeal fee
in the amount established by resolution of the City Council, the
City Manager shall schedule the matter for hearing.
6.36.290
ANNUAL LICENSE TAX
The City Council hereby determines that an annual card club
operations license tax shall be payable with respect to all card
club licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
for card clubs with more than ten (10) tables.
(1) An annual license tax in the amount of six hundred
thousand dollars ($600,000) shall be due and payable to the City
no later than the seventh day following City Council approval of
the initial card club license. Thereafter, the annual license tax
shall be due and payable on July 1 of each year. In the event
that the initial license is issued on any day other than July 1
of any year, the annual license tax due on the following July 1
shall be reduced proportionately by calculating the number of
days between the date of initial issuance and the following June
30 and then dividing that amount by 365. That percentage will be
multiplied by annual license tax amount to derive the amount due.
(2) Ail annual license taxes shall become the absolute
property of the City and shall not be refunded due to the
cessation of, or failure to begin such businesses, whether
voluntary or involuntary.
6.36.300
GROSS REVENUE LICENSE TAXES
(A) In addition to the annual tax prescribed by Section
6.36.290, there is hereby imposed a gross revenue license tax.
The gross revenue license tax shall be payable monthly, based on
the total monthly gross revenue of the card club so licensed,
according to the following schedule:
37
TOTAL MONTHLY GROSS REVENUE
(1) Less than $500,000
(2) $500,001 to $2,500,000
(3)
(4)
$2,500,001 to $5,000,000
$5,000,001 to $7,500,000
(5) More than $7,500,001
MONTHLY LICENSE TAX
$0
10 percent of amount between
$500,001 and $2,500,000
$200,000 plus 11 percent of
amount between $2,500,001 and
$5,000,000
$475,000 plus 12 percent of
amount between $5,000,001
and $7,500,000
$775,000 plus 13 percent of
all amounts in excess of
$7,500,001
(B) Alternative Gross Revenue License Tax
(1) As an alternative to paying the gross revenue
license tax set forth herein, City may require or licensee may
elect to pay a lump sum license tax of up to three million
($3,000,000) dollars. In such event an Alternative Gross Revenue
License Tax schedule shall apply for a maximum sixty consecutive
month period commencing with the month in which the lump sum
amount is paid. During said maximum sixty month period, City
shall credit fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per month against
the gross revenue amount due monthly. This monthly credit shall
terminate when the sum of the monthly credits equals the advance
lump sum license tax paid, but in no event shall such credit
extend beyond sixty months from the date of lump sum tax payment.
City or licensee may elect any month after the card club opens as
the starting month for use of this alternative license tax
schedule.
(3) The alternative license fee schedule provided for
in subsection (B) (1) shall be as follows:
TOTAL MONTHLY GROSS REVENUE
(1) Less than $500,000
(2) $500,001 to $2,500,000
(3) $2,500,001 to $5,000,000
(4) $5,000,001 to $7,500,000
MONTHLY LICENSE FEE
$0
9.5 percent of amount between
$500,001 and $2,500,000
$190,000 plus 10.5 percent of
amount between $2,500,001 and
$5,000,000
$452,500 plus 11.5 percent of
38
(5) More than $7,500,001
amount between $5,000,001
and $7,500,000
$740,000 plus 12.5 percent of
all amounts in excess of
$7,500,001
(C) The City Council may, by resolution, authorize a credit
against the annual license tax amount based upon an agreement
between the City Council or South'San Francisco Redevelopment
Agency and the licensee and/or building owner provided that the
City and/or Redevelopment Agency receive consideration at least
equal to the amount of the credit.
6.36.310 AUDIT/REPORTING REOUIRED
(A) Statement of Revenue
(1) Each licensee, shall file with the City on or
before the 15th day of each calendar month a statement, under
oath, showing the true and correct amount of gross revenue
derived from the card club business, operated pursuant to
licenses issued pursuant to this chapter, for the operations of
the preceding month. At the option of the City, the City may
require payment of gross revenue tax revenues through electronic
transfer on amore frequent basis. Such statement shall be
accompanied by the payment of the correct amount of gross revenue
license fee due and owing in accordance with the provisions of
this section. A certification shall be attached to the statement
or included therein, which certification or declaration shall be
substantially in the following form:
"I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the
foregoing is true and correct."
Licensee, Managing Partner, or Owner
(Strike out the titles which are not applicable)
(2) At the end of each fiscal year, the Licensor shall
employ at Licensee's expense a nationally recognized firm of
Certified Public Accountants to conduct an audit of licensee's
financial records in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. The Licensor shall select said Certified Public
Accountant through a public bid process, the procedures of which
shall be determined solely by the Licensor. Based on the
procedures established by Licensor, the Licensor shall select the
bid of the lowest responsible bidder.
The audit shall conclude with the expression of the
auditor's opinion on the financial statements of the licensee's
card club operations in accordance with generally accepted
39
auditing principles. The auditor shall express a separate
opinion on the licensee's gross revenues and related permit fees
paid to the City for the period then ended. Also, the licensee
shall provide the City with an annual update of the evaluation of
its internal accounting and administrative controls. Such audit
report shall be filed with the City Clerk no later than one-
hundred twenty (120) days after the fiscal year end. In the
event that such evaluation discloses material weaknesses or
reportable conditions in the licensee's system of internal
accounting and administrative controls, the licensee shall submit
a program to the City Manager within thirty (30) days of such
evaluation outlining licensee's program to correct such
weaknesses or conditions. All reports or evaluations submitted
hereunder shall be confidential and shall not be available for
public inspection.
(3) Any failure or refusal of any such licensee to
make any statement as required within the time required, or to
pay such sums due as gross revenue license fees when the same are
due and payable in accordance ~ith the provisions of this
chapter, shall be and constitute full and sufficient grounds for
the revocation or suspension of the permits and licenses issued
pursuant to this chapter in the sole discretion of the City
Council.
(4) Subsection (A) herein shall not apply to the
preexisting lawful nonconforming card clubs licensed pursuant to
Section 6.36.430.
(B) Not later than July 1 of each calendar year, the
licensee shall execute under penalty of perjury and file with the
Chief of Police a declaration providing the following
information:
(1) A list of the minimum buy-in, time charged or
other fees charged players for the use of the tables.
(2) A set of the then current posted detailed house
rules applicable to the games played.
(3) That all taxes have been paid.
(4) The declaration shall be accompanied by a complete
copy of all registration and re-registration applications (and
exhibits) filed by the licensee and all persons having a
financial interest in the licensee under the Gaming Registration
Act.
6.36.320 RECORDS, REPORTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(A) Each licensed establishment shall make and maintain
complete, accurate and legible records of all transactions
40
pertaining to revenue subject to taxes imposed by this chapter.
Such records shall include but not be limited to a general ledger
maintained in accordance with generallY accepted accounting
principles, together with appropriate supporting records such as
cash receipts and disbursement logs and journals, payroll
journals, canceled checks and original paid invoices. Such
general ledger shall be maintained in a fashion suitable for
producing financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. Such records shall be maintained
for at least three (3) 12-month fiscal years and shall be
maintained on the premises of the licensed card club and made
available for examination and copying by the City or its
designee.
(B) (1) The permittee or licensee shall comply with the
Internal Revenue Service Form 8300, Currency Transaction
Reporting Requirements (IRS Regulation 6050.1) for cash received
from and paid to customers in excess of $10,000. The permittee
or licensee shall also comply with Title 31, sections 5313 and
5314 of Title 31 of the United States Code and sections 103.22
and 103.23 of Title 31 of the United States Code of Federal
Regulations, including any amendments thereto. In addition,
transaction logs shall be maintained to record multiple cash
transactions totalling $3,000 or more on cash received from and
paid to customers within'a 24-hour period.
(2) The permittee or licensee shall submit a policy
statement to address Section (B) (1) for review and approval by
the Chief of Police.
(C) The permittee or licensee shall institute audit and
accounting processes and procedures for employee tip pools and
jackpot poker pools if jackpot,poker is allowed.
(D) In the event information requested of a licensee can be
furnished only by someone other than the licensee (such as a
landlord, supplier or an accountant), the licensee shall make
every bona fide effort to obtain such information as requested
and furnish the same or have it furnished directly by the person
who has the information available.
(E) In addition to such other information and data required
by this section or by regulation issued by the City Manager
pursuant to this chapter, each licensed establishment shall
maintain on the card club site the following:
(1) If a partnership or corporation -
(a) A schedule showing the dates of capital
contributions, loans or advances, the names and addresses of the
contributors and percentage of ownership interest held of record
by each.
41
(b) A record of the withdrawals or distributions
of funds or assets to partners or stockholders.
(c) A record of salaries'paid to each pointholder
and key management employee.
(d) A copy of the partnership or corporate
agreement, certificate of limited partnership and accurate
corporate stock transfer book, if applicable.
(e) Copies of any and all public filings required
by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) If a sole proprietorship-
(a) A schedule showing the name and address of
the proprietor and the amount and date of his original
investment.
(b) A record of subsequent additions thereto and
withdrawals therefrom.
The records required to be kept by this regulation
shall be in ink or any other permanent form of recordation.
6.36.330
ACCESS TO RECORDS AND FACILITIES
(A) Notwithstanding the audit requirements specified in
Section 6.36.300 of this chapter, the licensee shall allow the
City Manager or his designee unrestricted access to all books,
records, facilities, and all audio and video tapes pertaining to
the card club, including but not limited to, cash counting rooms
and vault. Any information obtained pursuant to this section or
any statement filed by the licensee or permittees shall be deemed
confidential in character and shall not be subject to public
inspection except in connection with the enforcement of the
provisions of this chapter. It shall be the duty of the City
Manager to preserve and keep such statements so that the contents
thereof shall not become known except to the persons charged by
law with the administration of the provisions of this chapter or
pursuant to the order of any court of competent jurisdiction.
(B) Any failure or refusal of any permittee or licensee to
make and file any statement within the time required, or to
permit inspection of such books, records, accounts and reports of
such permittee or licensee in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter shall be full and sufficient grounds for the
revocation or suspension of the permit and licenses of any such
permittee or licensee in the sole discretion of the city
Council.
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..... 6.36.340 CARD CLUB OPERATIONAL AND GAMES RULES AND
REGULATIONS
(A) The City Manager may from time to time enact rules and
regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter,
specifically including rules governing the operation of card
clubs and the activity conducted in card clubs by patrons. All
such rules and regulations shall be given to all licensees
concurrently with or prior to the effective date.
(B) Unless modified, supplemented, or abrogated by later
action of the City Council, the following rules and regulations
shall govern all card club licenses to be issued:
(1) Acceptance of a permit or license issued under the
provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be acceptance of
and agreement to be bound by and observe each and all of their
terms, conditions and provisions by this chapter and of the rules
and regulations established thereby relating to such permits and
licenses.
(2) No permittee, license, or other individual in
charge or control thereof shall use, operate, or permit the use
or operation of more tables or units than those for which
licensee holds then current and valid authorization to operate or
use in the city and for which the prescribed license fee has been
paid to the city.
(3) No permittee, licensee or other individual in
charge or control of any card club operating under any license
held or issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall
operate or use any table or unit or manage, conduct, or carry on
any business or activity authorized by this chapter during
anytime that such license or permit issued by the city has been
or is suspended or revoked.
(4) Each and all of the games conducted or operated in
the city pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be
conducted and operated in full conformity with, and subject to,
all the provisions of the laws of the state and of the city.
(5) Employment of Persons to Stimulate Play Prohibited
(a) It shall be unlawful for any card club
permittee, owner or employee to engage or persuade any person to
play cards for purposes of stimulating play where such person is
to receive any reward, whether financial or otherwise, present or
promised, or where such reward or revenue is to be diverted to
the card club permittee or owner except as allowed under
subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The permittee may utilize proposition
43
players. A proposition player must wear a badge at all times
identifying the player as an employee of the permittee. Other
than compensation for the time spent in acting in such activities
as an employee of the permittee, no gifts, rewards or any other
thing of value shall be given to the proposition player by the
permittee or any owner or employee.
(6) (a)
one gaming table.
A maximum of nine hands may be dealt at any
(b) Up to three (3) participants may be allowed
to wager on the same hand on designated games. Where more than
one participant is involved in the play of the hand, each
participant shall participate in decisions as to how the cards or
tiles~shall be played. In the event of disagreement over play,
the participant who has the largest wager at stake shall make the
final decision. A primary seated participant shall be allowed to
refuse to allow other participants to bet his hand.
(c) At no time shall cards or tileS be removed
past the edge of the top of the gaming table.
(7) No permittee or licensee holding a permit or
license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and no agent,
representative or employee of the licensee and no other person in
charge or control of any such licensed premises, game or
authority shall:
(a) Permit or allow any person under the age of
twenty-one (21) years to play any of the games authorized by the
license.
(b) Permit or allow any person under the age of
twenty-one (21) years at any time to be in the card playing area;
provided, however, that minors may be allowed in the restaurant
section of a card club operation if the restaurant is accessible
from the outside without requiring passage through the card
playing area, .and the restaurant and such access are visually
separate from the card playing area.
(c) Permit or allow the playing of any card games
other than those specifically_authorized by the license or permit
any form of unlawful gambling to occur anywhere on the card club
premises.
(d) Permit or allow the farming out, assigning,
lending, renting, or subletting of any games or card tables on
premises lawfully permitted pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter. Nothing herein shall preclude any profit-sharing with
employees or preclude use of a management company.
(e) Permit or allow any person other than players
44
and card club employees holding valid registration/I.D. ~cards to
loiter in the card playing area. Spectators and those waiting to
play shall be excluded from the card playing area in a manner
acceptable to the Chief of Police. For the purposes of this
section, participants as described in section 6.36.340(B) (6) (b)
are considered players.
(8) It shall be unlawful for any individual player or
other unauthorized person to enter any secure areas within the
premises or for any player or unauthorized person to enter any
secure areas within the card club premises.
(9) The card club, including the entire premises,
shall be open for inspection during all hours to the Chief of
Police, City Manager or their duly authorized representatives,
without a search warrant.
(10) The playing of all games provided for in this
chapter shall be confined to designated card playing areas. No
card playing or other gambling shall be permitted in any
restaurant or lounge. All card club records, including but not
limited to papers, books of account, ledgers, audits, reports,
personnel records, information stored in computers and on
computer tape disks, video tape, microfilm or microfiche, shall
be available for inspection and copying during normal business
hours to the Chief of Police, the City Manager or their duly
authorized representatives without search warrant.
(11) The City Council shall by resolution establish a
minimum table rental fee schedule for all permitted games.
(12) (a) Ail card playing areas shall be accessible at
all times to law enforcement officers and officials designated by
the city.
(b) Subject to the foregoing, licensee may
designate certlain areas or rooms as open only to players and
their guests for tournaments or charity events.
(c) Card games shall be located and conducted on
what is commonly known as the street floor of the card club
premises.
(d) Card games shall be located in one or more
rooms and so arranged that the gaming tables in a room and the
players at the tables shall be plainly visible from the main
doorway into such gaming, and no wall, partition, screen or
similar structure between any main doorway into a gaming room and
any gaming table shall be permitted if it interferes with such
visibility, except for such other physical arrangement of a card
club which has been approved by the Chief of Police.
45
(e) During all hours of operation the outside
doors to the card club and the main doors to, the gaming rooms
must be unlocked and accessible to the general public.
(13) Ail players financed either in whole or in part by
the house shall be required to wear an employee registration/I.D.
card as prescribed in Section 6.36.240(C).
(14) Ail employees on the gaming floor during the
course of their employment shall speak English primarily when
dealing with customers and other employees.
(15) Cheating
(a) No cheating shall be permitted or tolerated
by any licensee, permittee or employee. All provable cases of
cheating shall be reported to the appropriate law enforcement
authorities and the licensee shall cooperate fully in the
prosecution of all individuals who are criminally charged with
cheating in the licensed establishment. Cheating deVices shall
be confiscated and shall not be returned to the individual or
persons using or bringing such devices on to the premises whether
or not the offender is arrested or prosecuted. Permitting or
tolerating cheating shall be grounds for immediate suspension or
revocation of card club license or imposition of additional
conditions
(b) For the purpose of this Ordinance and Rule,
the words and phrases hereinafter set forth are examples of
cheating techniques and shall have the following meanings
ascribed to them unless the context clearly requires to the
contrary:
(1) "Blind cut" or "false cut" shall mean a
maneuver which appears to cut the deck, but does not in fact do
so.
(2) "Blind shuffle" shall mean to false
shuffle or to give the deceptive impression of intermixing
playing cards, while actually retaining the same sequence of all
or a group of cards.
(3) "Burn" is a discard in accordance with
the rules of the game, made before the draw when playing draw
poker.
(4) "Capping the deck" shall mean to place
cards on to the top of the deck.
(5) "Capping a bet" shall mean to place or
increase a bet after acquiring knowledge of the outcome of the
game or other event which is the subject of the bet.
46
(6) "Cheating" shall mean any and all acts
of fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, false pretense, use of
device or manipulation of card, done with the purpose of
defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage over another player
whether or not an actual advantage is gained, whether or not
specifically defined herein, which alters the selection of
criteria which determines the result of a game or the amount or
frequency of payment in a game.
(7) "Cooler" shall mean a deck of cards
secretly prearranged in a known sequence or marked to be
substituted for the deck in play.
(8) "Daubing" shall mean to mark cards by
applying a faintly visible substance to the back of the cards.
(9) "Dragging" or ~'pinching a bet" shall
mean to reduce the amount wagered or cancel the bet after
acquiring knowledge of the outcome of the game or other event
which is the subject of the bet.
(10) "Second dealing" or ~seconds" shall mean
to deal a card which is second from the~top of the deck.
(11) "Hand mucking" shall mean the
surreptitious switching of cards from those that are dealt to a
player.
(12) "Hold-out" shall mean a mechanical
device used for the purpose of surreptitiously switching or
retaining cards.
(13) "Hopping the cut" shall mean to
surreptitiously nullify the cutting of the deck.
(14) "Middle dealing" shall mean to deal a
card from the center of the deck.
(15) "Playing partners" shall mean any scheme
or action in which two or more players act in concert to
communicate information or to otherwise act for the purpose of
defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage over another player,
whether or not an actual advantage is gained.
(16) "Punching" shall mean to mark the back
of the cards by creating a dimple or indentation thereon.
(17) "Roughing fluid" shall mean a liquid
chemical applied to the back of the cards for the purpose of
marking them by roughening the surface.
(18) "Run-up" or "stacking" or "stocking"
47
shall mean to shuffle the cards in such a fashion as to
surreptitiously arrange the sequence to known cards.
(19) "Sanding" shall mean to mark cards by
applying an abrasive substance to the cards.
(20) "Shiner" shall mean a mirror or other
reflecting device used for the purpose of enabling a player to
see cards which the player is not entitled to see under the rules
of the game being played.
(21) "Slick sleeve" or ~'mohair sleeve" shall
mean a long sleeve on a clothing garment to assist in holding out
a playing card.
(22) "Slug" shall mean a group of cards
(23) "Transmitter" shall mean an electronic
or radio device used for the purpose of transmitting signals or
information to another player who receives such signals or
information by use of a "receiver".
(24) "White flash" shall mean a form of
daubing whereby a chemical is used to create a ~white on white"
marking on the back of the cards.
(C) Fraudulent Acts
(1) It is unlawful for any person:
(a) To alter or misrepresent the outcome of a
game or other event on which wagers have been made after the
outcome is made such but before it is revealed to the players.
(b) To place, increase or decrease a bet or to
determine the course of play after acquiring knowledge, not
available to all players, of the outcome of the game or any event
that affects the outcome of the game or which is the subject of
the bet or to aid anyone in acquiring such knowledge for the
purpose of placing, increasing or decreasing a bet or determining
the course of play contingent upon that event or outcome.
(c) To claim, collect or take, or attempt to
claim, collect or take, money or anything of value in or from a
gambling game, with intent to defraud, without having made a
wager contingent thereon, or to claim, collect or take an amount
greater than the amount won.
(d) Knowingly to entice or induce another to go
to any place where a gambling game is being conducted or operated
in violation of the provisions of this chapter, with the intent
that the other person play or participate in that gambling game.
48
(e) To place or increase a bet after acquiring
knowledge of the outcome of the game or other event which is the
subject of the bet, including past-posting and pressing bets.
(f) To reduce the amount wagered or cancel the
bet after acquiring knowledge of the outcome of the game or other
event which is the subject of the bet, including pinching bets.
(g) To manipulate, with the intent to cheat, any
component of a gaming device in a manner contrary to the designed
and normal operational purpose for the component.
(h) For any individual as a player or dealer to
deal, draw, distribute or burn any playing cards other than the
top card of the deck. The ~top card" is defined as the uppermost
face down card of a face down deck. It shall, therefore, be
unlawful to deal or cause to be dealt what is known as a second,
bottom or to engage in Greek dealing or middle dealing.
(i) For any individual as a player~ ~dealer,
employee or agent to shuffle or cause to be shuffled any playing
cards that are to be used or are being used in a licensed card
game, other than in a random manner. It shall be unlawful to
predetermine, or to prearrange the sequence of playing cards by
value or suit, or to retain or hold back a card or cards either
individually, or as a group or slug as an effort to circumvent a
random mixing of the playing cards. Any blind shuffle, run-up,
stacking or stocking of the deck to gain an unfair advantage in
play, whether or not an advantage is gained, is unlawful.
(j) For any patron or any other person not a
permittee or licensee to bring cards into a card club. It shall
be unlawful for any person other than a permittee, licensee,
authorized employee or a patron then playing cards to have
playing cards in his or her possession while in a card club. It
shall be unlaWful for any person in a card club other than on-
duty employees with valid registration/I.D, cards to have playing
cards in his or her possession outside of a designated card
playing area. Nothing herein shall apply to punched or otherwise
destroyed or mutilated cards or any souvenir or designer decks
that could not be misconstrued as playing cards used in the card
playing area.
(k) For any player or dealer to palm, hold-out or
conceal any card or cards during a card game, whether by sleight
of hand, mechanical apparatus, or by clothing such as a slick
sleeve. It shall also be unlawful for any individual, player or
dealer to switch, exchange or cause to be exchanged any playing
card, or cards, as a means of deception. The deceptive practices
known as hand mucking, capping the deck, introducing additional
cards into a game, or switching the deck with a ~cooler" are
prohibited.
49
(1) For any individual to use any technique in a
card game, designed to accomplish a ~blind" or false cut, or to
use a fraudulent technique to nullify a cut once performed by a
player, or to influence or indicate to another individual to cut
the deck at a specific location.
(m) For any individual, player or dealer to
deliberately mark or alter any card or cards when there is a
likelihood that such cards will be used in a licensed game, or
when such cards are in play. It shall be unlawful to knowingly
use any altered or marked cards in a card game. ~Marking and
altering" as used herein include sanding, daubing, white flash,
white on white, punching, adding to, removing from or blocking
out, the existing design whether on the face, backside or edge of
any card or cards. Any deliberate crimping, warping, bending,
cutting, trimming, shaving or alteration by any means that would
or may cause an advantage for any player over other players,
whether or not such advantage is gained, is unlawful.
(n) For any individual to use any mechanical or
electrical apparatus or other device so as to gain any advantage
or to gain information that would enable a player or dealer to
deceive others. Such devices include, but are not limited to,
hold-outs, table bugs, shiners, transmitters, receivers, punches,
chemical solutions, shading, roughing, fluids, inks or dyes.
(o) For any person at a licensed card club to use
or possess with intent to use any device to assist (a) in
projecting the outcome of the game; (b) in keeping track of the
cards played; (c) in analyzing the probability of the occurrence
of an event relating to the game; or (d) in analyzing the
strategy for playing or betting to be used in the game.
(p) For any individual to play partners or to
knowingly aid or abet another in any cheating action prohibited
by this Ordinance.
(q) For any person to knowingly aid or abet
another in any cheating action prohibited by this chapter.
(r) For any person to communicate in any way,
whether verbally or non-verbally, to any other person whether
playing a card game or not, any information concerning the cards
held by any other person in the card room.
(s) FOr any individual or group to use any of the
cheating techniques prohibited by this Ordinance, or to cheat in
any manner whatever, whether or not such techniques~ are
specifically defined or are successful. The licensee or
management shall immediately notify the Police Department upon
the detection of any individuals suspected of cheating or
committing fraudulent acts.
50
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the licensee,
management and their employees to fully cooperate with card game
apprehension and identification of those individuals, patrons or
other employees involved in cheating or fraudulent practices.
Management shall retain and deliver to the Police Department as
evidence in arrests or detention all playing cards and implements
suspected of involvement in cheating or fraudulent practices.
Management shall cooperate with card club surveillance personnel
whether provided by a governmental policing agency, a city
contracted service, city administered or licensee assigned.
(3) The Police Department, upon being notified by card
club personnel or game surveillance personnel that an individual
or individuals are being detained for cheating or fraudulent acts
at play, shall respond to the card club. The Police Department
shall ascertain the identity of those involved in the cheating,
the circumstances involved and decide what police action, if any,
is deemed appropriate. The Police Department shall assist as
legally required in any citizen's arrest.
(D) Permissible Games and Game Rules
(1) Permissible Games.
(a) A list of "Permissible Games" shall be
adopted by resolution of the City Council.
(b) No game shall be played at any card club
unless it is listed as a Permissible Game.
(c) Ail Permissible Games shall be played in
strict conformity to California Penal Code Section 330, and all
other state and local gambling laws.
(d) The permittee shall file with the South San
Francisco Police Department the rules on how each game and
variation thereof is to be played. The permittee shall allow the
playing of Permissible Games only in strict conformity with the
rules provided to the South San Francisco Police Department.
(e) Ail other games are hereby prohibited.
(2) Game Rules.
(a) The licensee shall cause these rules to be
reproduced and available in the licensed premises.
(b) The rules describing how each game conducted on
the premises is to be played shall be posted on the premises of
the card club in a conspicuous place. Printed copies of the
rules shall also be easily available to the public.
(c) The rules which are posted and made available to
51
the public shall be identical to the rules provided to the South
San Francisco Police Department pursuant to section of this
subchapter.
(d) The rules, in handout form, shall be made
available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean and
Mandarin and/or Cantonese-Chinese.
(e) If jackpot poker is allowed, rules for qualifiers
shall be clearly posted.
(E) Gamblers Anonymous Literature
Ail .card club permittees shall make literature
published by Gamblers Anonymous easily available in a visible
location in the card club. If literature published by Gamblers
Anonymous is not available in English, Spanish, Tagalog,
Vietnamese, Mandarin and/or Cantonese-Chinese, then the permittee
shall be required to make such literature easily available.
(F) Tournaments
(1) The conduct of tournaments shall be permitted for
those games otherwise permitted by this chapter and for no
others.
(2) The licensee shall submit to the City Manager at
least fourteen (14) days prior to the commencement of any
tournament a full set of rules, regulations, terms and conditions
to be used in regulating or otherwise governing and operation and
activities of any such tournament. The City Manager or his
designee shall have the power to approve in advance a schedule of
tournaments, and the rules, regulations, terms and conditions to
be used in regulating or otherwise governing the operation and
activities of such series of tournaments.
(3) Nothing contained in the permission granted to a
licensee to engage in tournament activities shall permit or be
construed to permit a violation of any other section or
provisions of this chapter or the California Penal Code.
(4) Tournament entry fee revenues shall be paid to the
City as prescribed in Section 6.36.300(F).
(G) Operation o'f House Deposit or Credit System
(1) It shall be unlawful for any card club, licensee,
permittee, owner or employee to operate, maintain or purport to
maintain any house player, or employer deposit or credit system
players bank or any system similar thereto, whereby a person may
deposit, draw or maintain any account or credit of money, checks
or any other item or representation of value, except as
authorized pursuant to subsections (a) through (d) of this
52
section.
(a) The permittee shall be allowed to provide
chips or other representations of value paid for in advance by
the patron in cash or by personal check.
(b) It is unlawful for the card club permittee,
owner or employee to cash any personal check which does not state
the amount on the face of the check.
(c) The permittee shall be allowed to accept a
patron's chips or other winnings and provide the patron with a
check drawn on the permittee's account for the amount of the
patron's chips or other winnings.
(d) The dollar equivalent of any such chips or
other representations should be posted in the same ~anner as the
game rules pursuant to Section 6.36.340(D).
(2) Holding Valuables for Safekeeping
Licensees holding valuables for safekeeping may do so
only under the following conditions:
(a) Only cash may be held; no other valuables or
collectibles, including coins, jewelry, stamps, or paper money
worth more than face value, may be held.
(b) Monies deposited shall be secured by cash or
other liquid assets or a security bond. Such security shall be
sufficient to cover all monies deposited.
(c) No person may deposit money for safekeeping
without the approval of the licensee, or his designee. Monies
can be deposited and withdrawn only by the person named on the
account. Accurate records of all deposits and withdrawals shall
be kept for a period of not less than two (2) years. No person
shall hold more than one (1) account at any card club.
(d) The actual deposits held and the records of
all transactions shall be available for inspection by the Chief
of Police or other law enforcement officials upon demand.
(e) Accounts established pursuant to this section
shall be limited to one person per account.
(H) Lending MoneY or Tokens of Value Prohibited
(1) It is unlawful for any card club licensee,
permittee, owner or employee to engage in the lending of money,
chips, tokens or anything of value, either real or promised, to
any person including other employees for any purpose while on
53
card club property and expressly for the purpose of allowing that
person to eat, drink or play cards.
(2) It is unlawful for any card club licensee,
permittee, owner or employee to engage in the lending of money,
chips, tokens or anything of value to any city employee or
elected city official.
(I) Alcohol and Intoxication
(1) No complimentary or reduced price alcoholic
beverages shall be offered by the card club in the card club or
in violation of state law.
(2) No licensee or other person in charge or control
of any card game at a card club shall permit any person to play
in any game licensed by the provisions of this chapter at any
time while such person appears to be, or is, under the influence
of any alcoholic beverage or controlled substance.
(3) No licensee or other person in charge or control
of any card game at a card club shall permit any person to enter
the premises while such person appears to be, or is, in the
opinion of the licensee or duly authorized agents or employees,
under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or controlled
substance.
(J) Favorable Job or Table Assignments
It is unlawful for any card club licensee, permittee, owner
or employee to offer or accept employment or favorable job or
table assignments within a card club in exchange for anything of
value, either real or promised.
(K) Hours of Operation
The permissible hours of operation shall be established in
the license or in the appropriate land use approval.
(L) Wagering Limits
The wagering limits for each club shall be established by
the City Council in the license.
6.36.345 Seat Rental and Drop Charge Fees
(A) No licensee or any other person in charge or control of
any card game at a card club shall derive revenues from games
being played in the gaming club other than from collection of a
time rental fee for occupancy at a card table, a predetermined
fixed fee assessed of all players at the table and collected
prior to the playing of the hand, and/or a management or service
54
fee, if not prohibited by state law.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6.36.345(A), the
licensee may request of the City permission to charge players on
a basis other than time rental or fixed fee basis. The City
Council may grant permission by resolution for such alternate
charge methodologies, provided that the City Council makes all of
the following findings:
(1) That without an increase in player volume, the
gross receipts will not decrease.
(2) That the proposed alternate method is subject to
strict controls.
(3) That the licensee agrees to provide such physical
and accounting controls as the City shall require.
(4) That the proposed alternate method does not
violate prohibitions against "banking" or "percentage" games.
(C) The alternative method shall apply only to games where
the licensee supplies a dealer at the table.
6.36.350
CARD CLUB SITE SECURITY
(A) The building owner, licensee and\or permittee shall
submit a physical security plan and a security personnel
deployment plan for review and approval by the Police Department.
The applicant's permits shall be subject to suspension and/or
revocation for non-compliance with approved plans.
(B) The building owner, licensee or permittee shall have
security personnel regularly patrol the parking areas and patrons
shall not be allowed to sleep in vehicles parked in the lots
controlled by the licensee.
6.36.360
VIOLATIONS
It shall be unlawful for any building owner, permittee,
licensee or other person to violate any of the rules or
regulations set forth in this Chapter.
6.36.370
CHANGES IN RULES AND REGULATIONS
The City CounCil reserves the right to add to, amend or
repeal any of the rules and regulations set forth in Section
6.36.340 and for the City Manager to adopt additional rules and
regulations. Upon adoption of such rules or regulations, the
same shall apply to new or existing card clubs.
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6.36.380 EMERGENCIES
The City Council further reserves the right to adopt by
resolution additional emergency rules and regulations which shall
become effective immediately upon adoption, and the violation of
any such emergency rules and regulations may constitute grounds
for the suspension and revocation of the permits and licenses
issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
6.36.390
RIGHTS OF LICENSEE AND CARD CLUB
(A) A licensee or card club shall exclude or eject from the
premises of the card club any person who is reasonably suspected
of or who is engaged in or has been convicted of bookmaking, loan
sharking, sales of controlled substances, illegal gambling
activities, cheating, prostitution or whose presence in or about
such card club would be inimical to the interest of legitimate
gaming.
(1) Pursuant to any investigation of a Violation of
this ordinance, the licensee or card club may detain any person
on its premises and request that person present themselves at the
security office of the card club.
(2) To be reasonably suspected of violating this
ordinance, the licensee or card club must show by direct or
circumstantial evidence, knowledge of such a violation or
reasonable belief that such violation is about to occur.
(3) The licensee or card club may temporarily exclude
or eject any person during the pendency of an investigation by
the licensee or card club regarding a violation of this
ordinance; provided, however, that the investigation and
temporary exclusion shall run no longer than 90 days from the
date of exclusion.
(B) As used in this ordinance the following items shall be
deemed to be inimical to the interests of legitimate gaming. The
items include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) violation of any card club rule;
(2) violation of any law or ordinance;
(3)
behavior that would indicate that the person is
under the influence of a drug, narcotic or
alcohol;
(4) loud, boisterous or other disruptive behavior;
(5) swearing or using profane language;
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(6)
failure to abide by instructions or orders of
licensees' or permittee's employees, agents or
management personnel;
(7) loitering; or
(8) aggressive panhandling.
(C) No person shall be excluded or ejected on the grounds
of race, color, national origin, disability or sex.
(D) Detention and questioning of persons suspected of
violating Sections of this chapter; limitations on liability;
posting of notice
(1) A licensee, or its officers, employees or agents
may question any person in his establishment reasonably suspected
of violating any of the provisions of this chapter. The licensee
and its employees and agents shall not be liable for civil
damages based on such questioning or for reporting'to the law
enforcement authorities the person suspected of the violation,
provided such actions are non-tortious.
(2) A licensee or its employees or agents who has
probable cause for believing that there has been a violation of
this chapter by any person may detain that person in the
establishment in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length
of time. Such detention does not render the licensee or its
officers, employees or agents liable for civil damages, provided
such detention is non-tortious.
(3) No licensee or his officers, employees or agents
are entitled to the immunity from liability provided for in
subsection 2 unless there is displayed in a conspicuous place in
his establishment a notice in boldface type clearly legible and
in substantially this form:
Any card club licensee, or any of his officers,
employees or agents who has probable cause for
believing that any person has violated any
provision of Chapter 6.36 of the South San
Francisco Municipal Code prohibiting cheating in
gaming may detain that person in the
establishment.
6.36.400 ADMINISTRATION OF CHAPTER BY CITY MANAGER
(A) The City Manager shall formulate in writing all
necessary rules and regulations to implement and administer the
provisions of this chapter, and shall do all things necessary and
proper to carry out the spirit and intent of this chapter,
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-- including, but not limited to:
(1) Preserving and keeping all documents identified in
this chapter as confidential documents so that the contents
thereof shall not become known except to persons required by law
to effect the administration or enforcement of this chapter.
(2) To promulgate and/or to require prior approval of
accounting procedures to be utilized by licensees to ensure
accurate reporting of card club revenues.
(3) Delegating the duties and powers vested in the
City Manager by this chapter to appropriate City employees or
officers.
(4) Issuing regulations which are consistent with this
Chapter and which provide for more effective enforcement of the
provisions of this chapter and the elimination of that conduct
which is inimical to the interests of legitimate gaming.
(5) The appointment of a hearing officer to hear and
determine those matters which are to be decided by a hearing
officer.
6.36.410
UNLAWFUL ACTS
(A) Unlawful Locations. It shall be unlawful for any
individual to play, or permit the playing of, any game regulated
or referred to by the provisions of this chapter at any place
within the City, except a place operated under a license held or
issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and operated,
owned, controlled and directed by pointholder and key management
employees issued permits pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter.
(B) Unlawful games. It shall be unlawful for any person to
play in, or permit the playing of, any game at any place licensed
pursuant to this chapter which game is not permitted by the
provisions of this chapter or regulations issued pursuant
thereto, or in any game played in violation of this chapter.
(C) Unlawful activities. It shall be a violation of this
chapter for any licensee to knowingly permit any unlawful
activity to take place upon the premises of the card club or to
fail to take reasonable steps to prevent such activities from
taking place.
(D) Visiting a gambling place. It is unlawful for any
persons to knowingly visit any location wherein gambling as
prohibited by this chapter is being conducted or maintained.
(E) Unlawful Interests. It shall be unlawful and a
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conflict of interest for any City employee or city official to
directly or indirectly own, operate or have any interest, legal
or equitable, in any card club or card club license for a
facility within the City. It shall be unlawful for any City
employee or City official to directly or indirectly conduct
business with or be employed in any manner whatever by a card
club or card club licensee for a facility within the City.
(1) For purposes of this section indirect performance
of any prohibited act shall include but not be limited to the
performance of such prohibited act by the spouse or other person
related by blood or marriage to any party prohibited from
directly performing such act.
(2) For purposes of this section the term ~conduct
business" shall include but not be limited to the provision of
loans or any other forms of financing, sale or lease of any real
or personal property, and the provision of any services,
supplies, goods or other materials, but shall not include the
conduct of business as a patron or customer in a manner available
to the general public.
(F) Campaign contributions. The City Council finds that
the gaming industry is a highly regulated and controlled industry
due to the nature of its operations, the amount of money amassed
and the fears and perceptions that some elements in the industry
may use such funds to incur political debts from legislators who
are aided by their contributions. In order to eliminate the
appearance of impropriety and corruption associated with such
contributions, the City Council hereby determines that it shall
be unlawful for any corporation, partnership or other legal
entity licensed or permitted under this chapter, or their
employees, to make any monetary contributions to city council
members, candidates for City Council, or to their respective
campaign organizations.
(G) Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to bingo
conducted in accordance with the California Penal Code 326.5 et.
al.
6.36.420
PENALTIES
Any individual violating any of the provisions of this
chapter or any of the rules and regulations set forth,
established or promulgated in this chapter shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.
6.36.430 PREEXISTING CARD CLUB
Preexisting lawful non-conforming card clubs and
pointholders licensed under Chapter 6.36 of the Municipal Code in
effect before the effective date of these amendments to this
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chapter shall be deemed licensed and in possession of a card club
operations certificate and a building owner permit under the
provisions of this chapter and those licenses shall continue in
effect for twelve (12) months from the date this amendment is
adopted, at which time they shall apply for renewal in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter as applicable. All employees
holding Employee Registration/I.D. Cards pursuant to Chapter 6.36
of the Municipal Code in effect before the amendment of this
chapter shall be deemed permitted under the provisions of this
chapter. Those employees who hold such permits and are not ~key
management employees" as that term is defined herein~ shall apply
for renewal of their permit not more than twenty-four (24) months
from the date this amendment is adopted. Those employees who are
key management employees shall apply for a key management
employee license as required by this chapter not more than twelve
(12) months from the date hereof. Such key management employees'
Employee Registration/I.D. Cards issued before the effective date
of this amendment shall be deemed effective until the later of
(1) issuance or denial of a key employee license under this
chapter; or (2) eighteen (18) months from the date'hereof.
Preexisting lawful non-conforming card clubs (1) shall be allowed
to have no more than ten (10) card playing tables; (2) shall
continue to pay a business license tax of twenty-five dollars
($25.00) per card table per year; (3) shall be allowed to play
only Panguingue (Pan), Five Card Draw Poker (including lowball),
Texas Hold'em, Double Poker, or any other game specifically
included on the approved card game list on file in the Police
Department; and (4) shall not be allowed to expand in area or in
the number of tables operated.
SECTION 2: SEVERABILITY
In the event any section or portion of this ordinance shall
be determined invalid or unconstitutional, such section or
portion shall be deemed severable and all other sections or
portions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3: EFFECTIVE DATE
In the event this initiative is approved by the electorate,
this ordinance shall be considered as adopted on upon the date
that the vote is declared by the legislative body, and shall go
into effect ten (10) days after that date.
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