Chapter 5.44 — CARD CLUBS

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Block. Both sides of a highway between one intersecting highway and the next intersecting highway. A private street used as, and appearing to be a public highway shall be considered a highway for the purpose of this section.

Card club. Every business conducted or engaged in as a card club, card room, card school, bridge club, social card club, public eating place, pool or billiard hall where card playing or instruction in card playing, or both, is conducted as a whole or as a part of the activities therein. (Prior code § 12-1)

• A. Required—Application—Hearing Generally. It is unlawful to conduct a card club without having a permit to conduct the same issued pursuant to the hearing before the City Council. Each application for a permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be placed on the agenda of the City Council by the City Clerk as soon as possible after an application meeting all requirements of Section 5.04.060 is filed with the City Clerk. The City Council shall thereafter hold a special hearing on the issuance of the permit, giving the applicant at least five days' written notice of the time and place of the hearing, unless the applicant appears before the City Council and waives the notice.

• B. Application Fee. With the application for a permit under this chapter, the applicant shall pay to the City Clerk an application fee of $10.00.

• C. Investigations of Applicant. At the time of the hearing before the City Council, the City Council shall have before it the report of the law enforcement agency. The City Council, in addition, may make all investigation necessary in order to determine whether in its opinion the applicant is of sufficient moral character or is a sufficiently fit person to manage or conduct such establishment and whether by reason of the place where such establishment is to be located, the conducting of or carrying on thereof would be detrimental to the public health, peace, safety or morals. The City Council, may in its discretion, also refer the application to the City Planning Commission for study and recommendation by the City Planning Commission to the City Council.

• (Prior code §§ 12-2—12-4)

No person shall be issued a business license to conduct, engage in or carry on the business of a card club until action has been taken upon his or her application for such business license as set forth in this section.

• A. Hearing Generally. Upon receipt of a copy of an application for a card club license, the City Council shall set the application for hearing before itself, not sooner than 15 days nor more than 30 days after such receipt.

• B. Notice of Hearing. Not less than five days before a hearing on an application for a card club license the City Council shall serve notice of the time and place of such hearing on:

  1. The applicant.

  2. All persons whose names and addresses appear upon the latest available assessment roll as owners of the whole or any portion of the property on the block where the proposed card club is to be operated.

• C. Posting of Notice. Not less than five days before a hearing on an application for a card club license the City Council shall post a notice of the time and place of such hearing on the public street or highway in at least five places on the block where it is proposed to conduct, maintain, or operate such card club. The notice shall be entitled "Notice of Hearing on Application for License to Conduct, Maintain, and Operate a Card Club," which shall be printed in letters of not less than one inch in height. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

"Notice is hereby given that on the _____ day of _____, 20_____at the hour of _____ m. in the City Council Chambers, 16400 Colorado Avenue, Paramount, California, the Council will conduct a hearing upon the application of (Name of Applicant) to conduct at (Location Names in Application), a club, briefly described as follows:

__________, full details of method of play of same being set out in application heretofore filed with City Council and now open for public inspection at the City Hall, 16400 Colorado Avenue, Paramount, California. Any person having objections to granting of the license may at any time prior to the date above named, file with the City Council his or her objection in writing giving his or her reason therefor, and he or she may appear at the time and place of hearing and be heard relative thereto."

A copy of such notice so posted shall be published three times within the 30-day period in a newspaper of general circulation circulated within the City. In addition to the filing fee, the applicant shall pay for such publications and printing.

• D. Protests. Any person interested, at any time after the filing of an application to conduct a card club and before the public hearing, may file written protests against the granting of any such license and the City Council shall in considering the application, give consideration to all such protests so filed.

(Prior code § 12-5)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a business license shall not be issued to a card club except upon the order of the City Council. The City Clerk shall give the County Tax Collector written notice of such order.

(Prior code § 12-6)

All card clubs shall be closed between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. of the same day except on Sundays. All card clubs shall be closed between 12:01 a.m. on Sunday and 9:00 a.m. of the following Monday. No person may remain on the premises of any card club during the hours when such card club is closed or required by this chapter to be closed, except the owner and regular employees. (Prior code § 12-7)

The operator of a card club shall prevent the presence of any intoxicated, quarrelsome or disorderly person on the premises.

(Prior code § 12-8)

A person under 21 years of age shall not enter, visit or remain on the premises of any card club; provided, that a person between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age shall not enter, visit or remain on the premises of any card club unless accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian. Every person conducting a card club shall prevent every such person from entering, visiting or remaining on such premises.

(Prior code § 12-9)

A person, whether owner, proprietor, customer or otherwise, shall not play any music, engage in any dancing or make any unnecessary noise in any card club. (Prior code § 12-10)

A license shall not be granted for the maintenance of a card club on any premises for which any on-sale license for the sale of alcoholic beverages is in effect. (Prior code § 12-11)