This chapter shall be known as the "Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance."
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The cannabis business tax is enacted solely to raise revenue and not to regulate cannabis activity; regulation of that activity remains the province of the City Council. The cannabis business tax is an excise tax on the privilege of engaging in cannabis business activity in the City; it is not a sales or use tax. All of the proceeds from the tax imposed by this chapter shall be placed in the City's general fund and used for general governmental purposes.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The ordinance codified in this chapter is adopted to achieve the following purposes, among others, and shall be interpreted to accomplish those purposes:
A.
To impose an excise tax on certain businesses engaged in the cannabis industry operating within the City of Union City pursuant to MAUCRSA and the "California Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Initiative" approved by the state's voters on November 8, 2016, and/or any other enabling legislation, or in violation of such legislation, and notwithstanding whether such State laws use the term "marijuana" or "cannabis";
B.
To specify the type of tax and maximum rate of tax that may be levied and the method of collection;
C.
To comply with all requirements to impose a general excise tax.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below when used in this chapter:
means professions, trades, occupations and all and every kind of calling, whether or not carried on for profit.
means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "cannabis" also means "cannabis" as defined by Section 26001 of the California Business and Professions Code and Section 11018 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time, and all other applicable State law.
means any business activity in the City relating to cannabis, including, but not limited to, cultivation (including nurseries), transportation, distribution, manufacturing, compounding, conversion, processing, preparation, testing, storage, packaging, delivery and sales (wholesale and/or retail sales) of cannabis or cannabis products, whether or not carried on for gain or profit. A cannabis business does not include any business whose only relationship to cannabis or cannabis products is the production or sale of cannabis accessories.
means the tax due pursuant to this chapter for engaging in cannabis business in the City.
means any product containing cannabis, including, but not limited to, flowers, buds, oils, tinctures, concentrates, extractions, edibles and those products described in Section 11018.1 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time.
means all areas occupied by any portion of a cannabis plant, inclusive of all vertical planes, whether the areas are contiguous or noncontiguous. When cannabis plants occupy multiple horizontal planes (as when plants are placed on shelving above other plants) each plane shall be counted as a separate canopy area. The plant canopy need not be contained to a single parcel of land in determining the total square footage that will be subject to tax under this chapter.
means the City of Union City, either the entity or its territorial limits, as the context requires.
means the City Council of the City of Union City.
means cultivation conducted by, for, or as part of a cannabis business. Commercial cannabis cultivation does not include personal medical cannabis cultivation, or cultivation for personal recreational use as authorized under the "California Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Initiative" approved by the state's voters on November 8, 2016, and as amended by MAUCRSA, for which the individual receives no compensation whatsoever.
means a permit issued by the City to a person to authorize that person to operate or engage in a cannabis business.
means any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis. "Cultivation" also includes nurseries. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "cultivation" includes "cultivation" as defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 26001, as may be amended from time to time.
means a person engaged in procuring cannabis from a cultivator, and/or procuring cannabis products from a manufacturer, for sale to a retailer. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "distributor" includes "distributor" as defined in Section 26070 of the Business and Professions Code, as may be amended from time to time. "Distribution" means the procurement, sale, and transport of cannabis and cannabis products between persons with a State license.
means each and every person engaged in the operation or conduct of any cannabis business, whether as owner, member of the owner's family, partner, associate, agent, manager or solicitor, and each and every other person employed or working in such cannabis business for a wage, salary, commission, barter or any other form of compensation.
means the commencing, conducting, operating, managing or carrying on of a cannabis business, whether done as owner, or by means of an officer, agent, manager, employee, or otherwise, whether operating from a fixed location in the City or coming into the City from an outside location to engage in such activities. A person shall be deemed engaged in business as a cannabis business within the City if:
Such person or person's employee maintains a fixed place of business within the City for the benefit or partial benefit of such person;
Such person or person's employee owns or leases real property within the City for business purposes;
Such person or person's employee regularly maintains a stock of tangible personal property in the City for sale in the ordinary course of business;
Such person or person's employee regularly conducts solicitation of business within the City; or
Such person or person's employee performs work or renders services in the City.
The foregoing specified activities shall not be a limitation on the meaning of "engaged in business as a cannabis business." |
except as otherwise specifically provided, means, whether designated a sales price, royalty, rent, commission, dividend, or other designation, the total amount (including all receipts, cash, credits and property of any kind or nature) received or payable for sales of goods, wares or merchandise or for the performance of any act or service of any nature for which a charge is made or credit allowed (whether such service, act or employment is done as part of or in connection with the sale of goods, wares, merchandise or not), without any deduction therefrom on account of the cost of the property sold, the cost of materials used, labor or service costs, interest paid or payable, losses or any other expense whatsoever. "Gross receipts" shall also include the estimated value of cannabis products which are transferred between cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, or retail operations, using a valuation methodology which may be developed in the sole discretion of the Tax Administrator, for the purposes of estimating gross receipts when there is no recorded sale for purposes of the cannabis business tax. However, the following shall be excluded from gross receipts:
Cash discounts where allowed and taken on sales;
Any tax required by law to be included in or added to the purchase price and collected from the consumer or purchaser;
Such part of the sale price of any property returned by purchasers to the seller as refunded by the seller by way of cash or credit allowances or return of refundable deposits previously included in gross receipts;
Receipts derived from the occasional sale of used, obsolete or surplus trade fixtures, machinery or other equipment used by the taxpayer in the regular course of the taxpayer's business;
Whenever there are included within the gross receipts amounts which reflect sales for which credit is extended and such amount proved uncollectible in a subsequent year, those amounts may be excluded from the gross receipts in the year they prove to be uncollectible; provided, however, if the whole or portion of such amounts excluded as uncollectible are subsequently collected they shall be included in the amount of gross receipts for the period when they are recovered;
Receipts of refundable deposits, except that such deposits when forfeited and taken into income of the business shall not be excluded when in excess of one dollar;
Amounts collected for others where the business is acting as an agent or trustee and to the extent that such amounts are paid to those for whom collected. These agents or trustees must provide the Finance Department with the names and the addresses of the others and the amounts paid to them. This exclusion shall not apply to any fees, percentages, or other payments retained by the agent or trustees;
Retail sales of t-shirts, sweaters, hats, stickers, key chains, bags, books, posters or other personal tangible property which the Tax Administrator has excluded in writing by issuing an administrative ruling shall not be subject to the cannabis business tax under this chapter. However, any retail sales not subject to this chapter as a result of the administrative ruling shall be subject to the appropriate business tax under any other chapter or title as determined by the Tax Administrator.
means a source of light that is primarily used for promoting the biological process of plant growth. Lighting does not include sources of light that primarily exist for the safety or convenience of staff or visitors to the facility, such as emergency lighting, walkway lighting, or light admitted via small skylights, windows or ventilation openings.
means a person who conducts the production, preparation, propagation, or compounding of cannabis or cannabis products either directly or indirectly or by extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, or who packages or repackages cannabis or cannabis products or labels or re-labels its container. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "manufacturer" includes "manufacturer" as defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 26001, as may be amended from time to time.
means a facility or part of a facility that is used only for producing clones, immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the planting, propagation, and cultivation of cannabis. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "nursery" includes "nursery" as defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 26001, as may be amended from time to time.
means an individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, limited liability company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, whether organized as a nonprofit or for-profit entity, and includes the plural as well as the singular number.
means a facility where cannabis or cannabis products are offered, either individually or in combination, for retail sale, including an establishment that engages in delivery of cannabis or cannabis products as part of a retail sale. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "retailer" includes "retailer" as defined in Section 26070 of the Business and Professions Code including, as may be amended from time to time.
means the transfer, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, of title to real or personal property for a consideration; the serving, supplying, or furnishing for a consideration of any property; and a transaction whereby the possession of property is transferred and the seller retains the title as security for the payment of the price shall likewise be deemed a sale. The definitions in this subsection shall be deemed to include any transaction which is or which, in effect, results in a sale within the contemplation of law.
means the State of California.
means a State license issued pursuant to California Business and Professions Code Section 26000 et seq., or other applicable State law.
means the Finance Director of the City of Union City or other designee of the City Manager.
means a cannabis business that: (1) offers or performs tests of cannabis or cannabis products; (2) offers no service other than such tests; (3) sells no products, excepting only testing supplies and materials; (4) is accredited by an accrediting body that is independent from all other persons involved in the cannabis industry in the State; and (5) is registered with the State Department of Public Health. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, "testing laboratory" also includes "testing laboratory" as defined under Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code, as may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
A cannabis business tax is hereby imposed on every person who is engaged in cannabis business in the City as prescribed herein, from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. It is unlawful for any person to transact or carry on any cannabis business in the City without paying, in accordance with this chapter, the cannabis business tax imposed by this section.
B.
The initial rate of the cannabis business tax shall be as follows:
1.
For every person who is engaged in commercial cannabis cultivation in the City:
a.
Eight dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses exclusively artificial lighting.
b.
Six dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses a combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting.
c.
Four dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses no artificial lighting.
d.
Two dollars annually per square foot of canopy space for any nursery.
2.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a testing laboratory: one percent of gross receipts.
3.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a retailer: four percent of gross receipts.
4.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a distributor: two percent of gross receipts.
5.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a manufacturer or any other type of cannabis business not described in subsection (B)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of this section: four percent of gross receipts.
C.
The City Council may, by resolution, in its discretion, increase or decrease the rate of the cannabis business tax for all persons engaged in a cannabis business in the City in commercial cannabis cultivation or as a manufacturer, distributor, retailer or other type of cannabis business or establish differing tax rates for different categories of cannabis businesses. For example, and without limitation, the City Council may set different rates for cannabis businesses serving medical or adult recreational use, or for different types of manufacturers, distributors or retailers. However, in no event may the City Council set any adjusted rate that exceeds the maximum rate for any type of cannabis business established in subsection D of this section for the date on which the adjusted rate will commence. No further voter approval shall be required for any adjustment of a tax rate under the authority granted by this section, it being the intent of the people of the City to authorize such a tax up to and including the maximum rates pursuant to subsection D of this section whenever implemented by the City Council hereafter.
D.
The maximum rate shall be calculated as follows:
1.
For every person who is engaged in commercial cannabis cultivation in the City:
a.
Through June 30, 2021, the maximum rate shall be:
i.
Twelve dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses exclusively artificial lighting.
ii.
Ten dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses a combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting.
iii.
Eight dollars annually per square foot of canopy space that uses no artificial lighting.
iv.
Four dollars annually per square foot of canopy space for any nursery.
b.
On July 1, 2021 and annually thereafter, the maximum annual tax rate per square foot of each type of canopy space shall increase by the percentage change between January of the calendar year prior to such increase and January of the calendar year of the increase in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") for all urban consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area as published by the United States Government Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, no CPI adjustment resulting in a decrease of any tax imposed by this subsection shall be made.
2.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a testing laboratory, the maximum tax rate shall not exceed two and one-half percent of gross receipts.
3.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a retailer, the maximum tax rate shall not exceed six percent of gross receipts.
4.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a distributor, the maximum tax rate shall not exceed three percent of gross receipts.
5.
For every person who engages in cannabis business as a cannabis manufacturer or any other type of cannabis business not described in subsection (D)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of this section, the maximum tax rate shall not exceed five percent of gross receipts.
E.
A person engaged in multiple cannabis business activities shall pay the tax applicable to each cannabis business activity regardless of whether or not the cannabis business activity involves a transaction with another person. For example, and without limitation, a person engaged in a cannabis business as both a manufacturer and retailer shall first pay the tax applicable for persons engaged in cannabis business as a manufacturer, and then second pay the tax applicable for persons engaged in cannabis business as a retailer.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
The cannabis business tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid, in arrears, on a quarterly basis. For commercial cannabis cultivation, the tax due for each calendar quarter shall be based on the square footage of the business's canopy space during the quarter and the rate shall be twenty-five percent of the applicable annual rate. For all other cannabis businesses activities, the tax due for each calendar quarter shall be based on the gross receipts for the quarter.
B.
Each person owing cannabis business tax for a calendar quarter shall, no later than the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter, file with the Tax Administrator a statement of the tax owed for that calendar quarter and the basis for calculating that tax. The Tax Administrator may require that the statement be submitted on a form prescribed by the Tax Administrator. The tax for each calendar quarter shall be due and payable on that same date as the statement for the calendar quarter is due.
C.
Upon cessation of a cannabis business, tax statements and payments shall be immediately due for all calendar quarters up to the calendar quarter during which cessation occurred.
D.
The Tax Administrator may, at his or her discretion, establish shorter report and payment periods for any taxpayer as the Tax Administrator deems necessary to ensure collection of the tax. The Tax Administrator may also require that a deposit, to be applied against the taxes for a calendar quarter, be made by a taxpayer at the beginning of that calendar quarter. In no event shall the deposit required by the Tax Administrator exceed the tax amount he or she projects will be owed by the taxpayer for the calendar quarter. The Tax Administrator may require that a taxpayer make payments via a cashier's check, money order, wire transfer, or similar instrument.
E.
For purposes of this section, the square feet of canopy space for a cannabis business engaged in commercial cannabis cultivation shall be presumed to be no less than the maximum square footage of canopy allowed by the business's City permit for commercial cannabis cultivation, or, in the absence of a City permit, the square footage shall be the maximum square footage of canopy for commercial cannabis cultivation allowed by the State license type. The tax shall be calculated in accordance with rules established by the Tax Administrator pursuant to this chapter. Any decision to prorate or adjust the tax will be made at the sole discretion of the Tax Administrator. In no case shall canopy square footage which is authorized by the permit or license but not utilized for cultivation be excluded from taxation unless the Tax Administrator is informed in writing, prior to the period for which the space will not be used, that such space will not be used.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Whenever any payment, statement, report, request or other communication is due, it must be received by the Tax Administrator on or before the final due date. A postmark will not be accepted as timely remittance. If the due date would fall on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, the due date shall be the next regular business day on which the City is open to the public.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The City is not required to send a delinquency or other notice or bill to any person subject to this chapter. Failure to send such notice or bill shall not affect the validity of any tax or penalty or interest due under this chapter.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
Any person who fails or refuses to pay any cannabis business tax 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 ten percent of the amount of the tax, in addition to the amount of the tax, plus interest on the unpaid tax calculated from the due date of the tax at the rate of one percent per month.
2.
If the tax remains unpaid for a period exceeding one calendar month beyond the due date, an additional penalty equal to twenty-five percent of the amount of the tax, plus interest at the rate of one percent per month on the unpaid tax and on the unpaid penalties.
3.
Interest shall be applied at the rate of one percent per month on the first day of the month for the full month and will continue to accrue monthly on the tax and penalty until the balance is paid in full.
B.
Whenever a check or electronic payment is submitted in payment of a cannabis business tax and the payment is subsequently returned unpaid by the bank for any reason, the taxpayer will be liable for the tax amount due plus any fees, penalties and interest as provided for in this section, and any other amount allowed under State law.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
Whenever the amount of any cannabis business tax, penalty or interest has been overpaid, paid more than once, or has been erroneously collected or received by the City under this chapter, it may be refunded to the claimant who paid the tax provided that a written claim for refund is filed with the Tax Administrator within one year of the date the tax was originally due and payable.
B.
The Tax Administrator or designee shall have the right to examine and audit all the books and business records of the claimant in order to determine the eligibility of the claimant to the claimed refund. No claim for refund shall be allowed if the claimant refuses to allow such examination of claimant's books and business records after request by the Tax Administrator to do so.
C.
In the event that the cannabis business tax was erroneously paid, and the error is attributable to the City, the City shall refund the amount of tax erroneously paid up to one year from when the error was identified.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
For purposes of administration and enforcement of this chapter, the Tax Administrator may from time to time promulgate such administrative interpretations, rules, and procedures consistent with the purpose, intent, and express terms of this chapter as he or she deems necessary to implement or clarify such provisions.
B.
The Tax Administrator may take such administrative actions as needed to administer the tax, including, but not limited to:
1.
Provide to all cannabis business taxpayers forms for the reporting of the tax;
2.
Provide information to any taxpayer concerning the provisions of this chapter;
3.
Receive and record all taxes remitted to the City as provided in this chapter;
4.
Maintain records of taxpayer reports and taxes collected pursuant to this chapter;
5.
Assess penalties and interest to taxpayers pursuant to this chapter;
6.
Determine amounts owed and enforce collection pursuant to this chapter.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
If a business subject to the cannabis business tax is operating both within and outside the City, it is the intent of the City to apply the cannabis business tax so that the measure of the tax fairly reflects the proportion of the taxed activity actually carried on in the City. To the extent Federal or State law requires that any tax due from any taxpayer be apportioned, the taxpayer may indicate said apportionment on his or her tax return. The Tax Administrator may promulgate administrative procedures for apportionment.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
This tax is intended to be applied in a manner consistent with the United States and California Constitutions, State and local law. None of the tax provided for by this chapter shall be applied in a manner that causes an undue burden upon interstate commerce, a violation of the equal protection or due process clauses of the Constitutions of the United States or the State of California or a violation of any other provision of the California Constitution, State or local law.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
The Tax Administrator shall have the power to audit and examine all books and records of any person engaged in cannabis business in the City, including both State and Federal income tax returns, California sales tax returns, or other evidence documenting the gross receipts of persons engaged in cannabis business, and, where necessary, all equipment of any person engaged in cannabis business in the City, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of cannabis business tax, if any, required to be paid under this chapter, and for the purpose of verifying any statements or any item thereof when filed by any person pursuant to this chapter. If such person, after written demand by the Tax Administrator, refuses to make available for audit, examination or verification such books, records or equipment as the Tax Administrator requests, the Tax Administrator may, after full consideration of all information within his or her knowledge concerning the cannabis business and activities of the person so refusing, make an assessment against the cannabis business of the taxes estimated to be due under this chapter, following the procedures set forth in Sections 3.24.210 and 3.24.220, except that calculation of any penalties and interest for unreported or misreported gross receipts shall be in accordance with Section 3.24.100 and appeals shall be in accordance with Section 3.24.230.
B.
The cannabis business being audited shall be liable for the cost of the audit and all reasonable City administrative expenses related to the audit.
C.
It shall be the duty of every person liable for the collection and payment to the City of any tax imposed by this chapter to keep and preserve, for a period of at least three years, all records as may be necessary to determine the amount of such tax as he or she may have been liable for the collection of and payment to the City, which records the Tax Administrator shall have the right to inspect at all reasonable times.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Except as expressly provided in this chapter, nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to repeal, amend, be in lieu of, replace or in any way affect any requirements for any permit or license required by, under or by virtue of any provision of any other title or chapter of this Code or any other ordinance or resolution of the City, nor be deemed to repeal, amend, be in lieu of, replace or in any way affect any tax, fee or other charge imposed, assessed or required by, under or by virtue of any other title or chapter of this Code or any other ordinance or resolution of the City. Any references made or contained in any other title or chapter of this Code to any permits, licenses, taxes, fees, or charges, or to any schedule of license fees, shall be deemed to refer to the permits, licenses, taxes, fees or charges, or schedule of license fees, provided for in other titles or chapters of this Code unless otherwise expressly provided.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
The payment of a cannabis business tax required by this chapter, and its acceptance by the City, shall not entitle any person to carry on any cannabis business unless the person has complied with all of the requirements of this Code and all other applicable State or local laws.
B.
No tax paid under the provisions of this chapter shall be construed as authorizing the conduct or continuance of any illegal or unlawful business, or any business in violation of any State or local laws.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
If the Tax Administrator is not satisfied that any statement filed as required under the provisions of this chapter is correct, or that the amount of tax is correctly computed, he or she may compute and determine the amount to be paid and make a deficiency determination upon the basis of the facts contained in the statement or upon the basis of any information in his or her possession or that may come into his or her possession within three years of the date the tax was originally due and payable, or such later date as allowable by law. One or more deficiency determinations of the amount of tax due for a period or periods may be made. When a person discontinues engaging in a business, a deficiency determination may be made at any time within three years thereafter, or such later date as allowable by law, as to any liability arising from engaging in such business whether or not a deficiency determination is issued prior to the date the tax would otherwise be due. Whenever a deficiency determination is made, a notice of deficiency shall be given to the person concerned in the same manner as notices of assessment are given under Section 3.24.210.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
A.
Under any of the following circumstances, the Tax Administrator may make and give notice of an assessment of the amount of tax owed by a person under this chapter at any time:
1.
If the person has not filed a complete statement or return required under this chapter;
2.
If the person has not timely paid any tax, fee, interest and/or penalties due under this chapter;
3.
If the person has not, after demand by the Tax Administrator, filed a corrected return or statement, or furnished to the Tax Administrator adequate substantiation of the information contained in a statement already filed, or paid any additional amount of tax due under this chapter.
B.
The notice of assessment shall separately set forth the amount of any tax, fee, interest and/or penalties known by the Tax Administrator to be due or estimated by the Tax Administrator, after consideration of all information within the Tax Administrator's knowledge concerning the business and activities of the person assessed, to be due under each applicable section of this chapter.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The notice of assessment shall be served upon the person liable for the tax under this chapter either by personal delivery, or by a deposit of the notice in the United States mail, postage prepaid thereon, addressed to the person at the address of the location of the business or to such other address as he or she shall register with the Tax Administrator for the purpose of receiving notices provided under this chapter; or, should the person have no address registered with the Tax Administrator for such purpose, then to such person's last known address. For the purposes of this section, a service by mail is complete at the time of deposit in the United States mail.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Within thirty days after the date of service of the notice of assessment, the person may apply in writing to the Tax Administrator for a hearing on the assessment. If application for a hearing before the City is not made within the time herein prescribed, the tax assessed by the Tax Administrator shall become final and conclusive. Within thirty days of the receipt of any such application for hearing, the Tax Administrator shall cause the matter to be set for hearing before him or her no later than thirty days after the receipt of the application, unless a later date is agreed to by the Tax Administrator and the person requesting the hearing. Notice of such hearing shall be given by the Tax Administrator to the person requesting such hearing not later than five days prior to such hearing. At such hearing said applicant may appear and offer evidence why the assessment as made by the Tax Administrator should not be confirmed and fixed as the tax due. After such hearing the Tax Administrator shall determine and, if applicable, reassess the proper tax to be charged and shall give written notice to the person in the manner prescribed in Section 3.24.210 for giving notice of assessment.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Any taxpayer aggrieved by any decision of the Tax Administrator with respect to the amount of tax, fee, interest and penalties, if any, due under this chapter may appeal to the City Manager by filing a written appeal with the City within fifteen calendar days of the mailing of the decision or determination. The City shall schedule the appeal and give fifteen days' written notice to the appellant of the time and place of hearing by serving the notice personally or by depositing in the United States Post Office in the City, postage prepaid, addressed as shown on the appeal papers or, if none, such other address as is known to the City or, absent any address, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. The City Manager shall have authority to determine all questions raised on such appeal. No such determination shall conflict with any substantive provision of this chapter.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The conviction and punishment of any person for failure to pay a required tax, fee, penalty and/or interest under this chapter shall not excuse or exempt such person from any civil action for the amounts due under this chapter. No civil action shall prevent a criminal prosecution for any violation of the provisions of this chapter or of any State law requiring the payment of all taxes.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or who, other than by a sworn statement, knowingly or intentionally misrepresents to any officer or employee of the City any material fact herein required to be provided is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 1.16.010. A person who on a sworn statement states as true a material fact that he or she knows to be false is guilty of perjury.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
The amount of any tax, fee, penalty and/or interest imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed a debt owed to the City. An action may be commenced in the name of the City in any court of competent jurisdiction, for the amount of any delinquent tax, fees, penalties and interest thereon.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
All remedies prescribed under this chapter shall be cumulative and the use of one or more remedies by the City shall not bar the use of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions hereof.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
Each year, as part of audit of the City's financial statements, the City's independent auditors shall complete a report reviewing the collection, management, and expenditure of revenue from the tax levied by this chapter.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)
As required by Article XIIIC of the California Constitution, any amendment that increases the maximum rates of tax beyond the levels authorized in Section 3.24.050 shall not take effect unless approved by a vote of the people. The City Council may, by resolution, implement a tax under this chapter in any amount or at any rate that does not exceed the maximum rates set forth in Section 3.24.050.
(Ord. 854-18 § 2, 2018)