Calexico Municipal Code Ch. 5.40 Cardrooms

It is unlawful for any person, firm, copartnership, association, club or corporation to engage in the business of maintaining, conducting or operating lawful games played with cards, whether by maintaining, conducting or operating such business alone or in connection with another business or businesses, unless such person, firm, copartnership, association, club or corporation has first obtained from the city a license to do so as provided for in this chapter.

(Prior code § 2401)

Any person, firm, copartnership, association, club or corporation desiring to engage in the business of maintaining or conducting any game or games played with cards not prohibited by law or by ordinance of the city shall file an application with the city clerk.

(Prior code § 2411)

The application required by Section 5.40.020 shall contain the following statements:

A. The name and address of the applicant;

B. In the event the applicant is a copartnership or association, the names and addresses of the members thereof;

C. In the event the applicant is a corporation, the principal place of business of said corporation, the stockholders, directors, and the names and addresses of the principal officers and the managing officer or agent thereof;

D. The description of the premises where it is proposed to conduct such business sufficient to identify the same, and the capacity in which the applicant occupies the same, namely, whether as owner or lessee or otherwise;

E. Whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States and a resident of the city;

F. The business last engaged in by the applicant and the place where such business was conducted;

G. If the applicant is an incorporated club, then whether such club has paid its license fee to and is in good standing with the state of California.

(Ord. 605 § 1, 1966: prior code § 2412)

The application required by Section 5.40.020 shall be verified by the applicant, provided that where the applicant is an association or corporation, then by the duly authorized officers thereof.

(Prior code § 2413)

The application shall be accompanied by a deposit of money equivalent to the license fee for the first month.

(Prior code § 2414)

A. Upon filing the application as required in Section 5.40.020, the city clerk shall refer said application to the chief of police for investigation and report thereon to the city council.

B. The chief of police shall make a full investigation as to the matters set forth in the application and shall report in writing to the city council the results of his investigation and give his recommendation as to whether the application should be approved or rejected.

(Prior code §§ 2421, 2422)

A. Upon the report and recommendation of the chief of police as designated in Section 5.40.060, the council shall act upon the application and either grant or deny the same in its sole discretion, and its action taken thereon shall be final.

B. If granted, the chief of police shall sign and issue a license to the applicant named therein for the period set forth in said license, subject to the conditions, provisions and requirements of this chapter.

(Prior code §§ 2423, 2424)

A. Designated. For the license provided for in this chapter, the following fees shall be charged:

1. Basic Fee. The sum of one hundred dollars, payable in advance shall be charged for each and every month during which said license is in effect.

2. Extra Tables. In the event more than three tables are used in the conducting or operating of the business for which a license is required by this chapter, then an additional fee of fifty dollars per month for each table in excess of three shall be paid, all of said sums to be paid in advance for the month.

3. New Licenses. For a new license issued under this chapter, the fee for the first month of such license shall be the sum of four hundred dollars where not more than three tables are used in the conducting or operating of said business, and the further sum of fifty dollars for each table in excess of three.

B. Computation of Monthly Periods. The monthly periods under this section shall be computed on a calendar month basis; and, in the event the initial license under this chapter is taken out by an applicant on a date other than the first day of a calendar month, then the license fee for the second month during which said license is in effect shall be prorated by the number of days remaining in the calendar month in which said second month begins, and thereafter, monthly license fees shall be paid upon a calendar month basis.

(Prior code §§ 2431—2435)

The license issued under this chapter shall be used only by the person or persons therein named and the location therein specified and approved therefor by the council. In the event that the applicant or licensee is a corporation, said applicant or licensee shall advise the city clerk of any change, at any time, in the stockholders, directors, principal officers or managing officer or agent of the applicant or licensee. Said license may be reviewed by the city council upon notification by the city clerk of the change, and the license may be terminated or continued by the city council, as the same may be done under an original application, exempting therefrom, however, the requirement of a new application fee. Failure by any corporate licensee to comply with the requirements of this section constitutes grounds for revocation of said license.

(Ord. 605 § 2, 1966: prior code § 2451)

The license issued under this chapter shall not be negotiable.

(Prior code § 2452)

A. Consent and Fee Required. A license issued under this chapter shall not be transferred from the location for which the same has been issued to any other location, except with the consent of the city council previously obtained and upon the payment to the city of a transfer fee in the sum of two hundred fifty dollars.

B. Application. Prior to the removal of any such license from the location for which it has been issued to another, the licensee shall make written application therefor and remit to the city with the application, the transfer fee of two hundred fifty dollars.

C. Granting of Application. Such transfer of location shall not be made unless and until the council has granted the application.

D. Rejection of Application. In the event such application for transfer is rejected, the licensee shall be entitled to a return of the transfer fee therefore remitted to the city.

(Prior code §§ 2453—2456)

The license provided in this chapter may be revoked by the council for misrepresentation made in the application, for violation of laws or ordinances governing gambling, for loud or disorderly conduct or breach of the peace, and for failure to observe or comply with any lawful requirement respecting public sanitation, housing, zoning or other requirements lawfully imposed by general law or by city ordinances, or for permitting minors to engage in the games conducted in the maintenance of such business.

(Prior code § 2461)