Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 14 Alcohol Sales Education and Regulatory Fee

An annual alcohol sales education and regulatory fee is hereby established to recover all or a portion of the cost of the annual inspections and education subject to the following provisions of this article.

(§ 1, Ord. 1386-19 (CM), eff. July 11, 2019)

(a) Each licensee shall pay an annual fee in accordance with this chapter to fund a portion of a police officer and accountant to provide annual alcohol sales education and administer the program.

(b) The amount of the fee shall be determined annually based on cost recovery for staff time in implementing the program. The fees required to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be those fees established by resolution of the Council. The annual increase on the regulatory fee shall be raised annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the cost of service.

(c) The Finance Director or their designee shall administer the fee.

(d) The Finance Director or their designee shall be responsible for administering funds derived from the fee, for purposes of enforcement activities that are authorized by this chapter.

(e) Total of Fees to Be Collected. “Total of fees to be collected” shall mean the aggregate of all alcohol sales education and regulatory fees to be collected in the next billing cycle by the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1386-19 (CM), eff. July 11, 2019)

The fee will be paid annually for a calendar year from July 1st to June 30th. Licensees will be billed annually with a statement setting forth the amount of the fee.

(a) The statement will be sent on or before July 1st. Payment will be due on or before July 31st.

(b) The fee shall be nonrefundable for partial years of operation.

(c) The Finance Director may arrange payment plans upon demonstrated financial hardship. When appropriate, a payment plan may include a waiver, in whole or part, of a delinquency penalty and/or the interest obligation imposed by Section 3-6.1403.

(§ 1, Ord. 1386-19 (CM), eff. July 11, 2019)

(a) Any person or business who fails or refuses to pay the alcohol fee required to be paid pursuant to this chapter on or before the due date shall pay penalties and interest as follows:

(1) A penalty equal to twenty-five (25%) percent of the amount of the fee; and

(2) An additional penalty equal to twenty-five (25%) percent of the amount of the fee if the fee remains unpaid for a period exceeding one (1) calendar month beyond the due date.

(3) Only payments for the full amount due shall be accepted. Partial payments shall not be accepted.

(4) The fee imposed under this chapter shall constitute a debt to the City, and any person owing such fee shall be liable in an action brought in the name of the City for its recovery. Should any person fail to pay the fees assessed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the City may institute legal action in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect any fees and charges. Such fees and charges may be due, payable and collected in the same manner as any other debt owed to the City. Where the City is a prevailing party in such legal action, it reserves the right, on a case-by-case basis, to seek to recover costs, including reasonable attorney fees as set forth in Government Code Section 25845(c).

(§ 1, Ord. 1386-19 (CM), eff. July 11, 2019)

The alcohol sales education and regulatory fee shall be payable to the Finance Director or his/her authorized agent at the Finance Department.

(§ 1, Ord. 1386-19 (CM), eff. July 11, 2019)