Solano County Municipal Code Art. II Bingo Games for Charity

It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to conduct a bingo game in the county without a valid license issues pursuant to this article.

(Ord. No. 963, §1; Ord. No. 1393, §1; Ord. No. 1707, §3)

Only a qualified organization shall be permitted to obtain a license, so long as the receipts of its bingo games are used only for charitable purposes.

(Ord. No. 963, §1; Ord. No. 1000, §9; Ord. No. 1393, §1; Ord. No. 1707, §3)

An application for a license to conduct bingo games shall be filed with the License Official. The application shall be in a form prescribed by the License Official and shall be accompanied by the license fee provided for in this article.

(Ord. No. 963, §1; Ord. No. 1393, §1; Ord. No. 1707, §3)

(a) All applications for licenses shall be accompanied by a fee set by the county board of supervisors by resolution from time to time, one-half of which shall be refunded if the application for the license is denied. The fee shall initially be set at fifty dollars

(b) In addition to the application fee, the county may impose a monthly fee for law enforcement and public safety costs incurred by the county that are directly related to bingo activities; however, the fee shall not exceed the actual costs incurred in providing the service. Such fee may be set by the county board of supervisors by resolution from time to time.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

The license shall not be issued until the License Official has verified the facts stated in the application and determined that the applicant will adhere to the license conditions. The License Official may send copies of the application to any other individual, office or department in order to carry out a proper investigation of the application.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

Any license issues pursuant to this article shall be subject to the following:

(a) The conditions contained in Section 326.5 of the Penal Code; and

(b) Any applicable state or local law, including laws governing nuisances; and

(c) Any regulations established by the License Official necessary for carrying out the intent of this article, including those pertaining to the inspection of records and establishments.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

A license issues pursuant to this article shall be valid until the end of the calendar year, at which time the license shall expire. A new license shall only be obtained upon filing a supplemental application and payment of the license fee. The fact that a license has been issued to an applicant creates no vested right on the part of the licensee to continue to offer bingo for play.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

Any license issued pursuant to this article is not transferable.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

(a) If the License Official denies an organization’s application, the License Official shall provide notice to the applicant of the reasons for the denial and of the applicant’s right to appear. The applicant may appeal this decision by filing an appeal with the License Official within ten (10) days of delivery of the License Official’s notice of denial.

(b) Licenses to conduct bingo games may be suspended or revoked by the License Official if the licensee has violated any of the provisions of this article. No less than thirty (30) days prior to the suspension or revocation, the License Official shall notify the applicant or license holder in writing of the intent to suspend or revoke the license. The notice shall inform the licensee of the reasons for such suspension or revocation and of the right to appeal. The licensee may appeal this decision by filing an appeal with the License Official within ten (10) days of delivery of the License Official’s notice of intent to suspend or revoke the license. The licensee’s appeal must be in writing, must assert the specific grounds for relief, and must be signed under penalty of perjury. Failure to file an appeal shall result in the immediate suspension or revocation of the license.

(c) No later than thirty (30) days after the receipt of a valid appeal under either subdivision (a) or (b), the License Official shall designate a hearing officer and the hearing officer shall hear the appeal. Written notice of the time, date, and place of the hearing shall be served upon all parties no later than fourteen (14) days before the hearing. The License Official shall develop hearing procedures to ensure that the hearing is fair and impartial. The hearing officer shall issue his or her decision no later than twenty-one (21) days after the hearing. Any person may appeal the ruling of the hearing officer by filing an action in the Superior Court of Solano County within thirty (30) days after the ruling was rendered and delivered.

(d) No organization or person listed on a license application may reapply for a license within one year of revocation.

(e) Pending final adjudication of the appeal, the licensee and any person acting on its behalf may not conduct any bingo games.

(Ord. No. 1707, §3)

(a) Notwithstanding Section 14.5-28 or any other provision of this article, the county shall retain any and all enforcement powers with respect to licensees.

(b) Violation of any provision of this article is a public nuisance which may be abated by the county.

(c) Each day a violation exists shall be considered a new and separate offense.

(Ord. No. 963, §1; Ord. No. 1000; Ord. No. 1393, §1Ord. No. 1707, §3)