§ 14-9. Game centers.

(a)

Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Game center means any place or premises on which there is provided coin-operated or fee-paid mechanical, electronic or other similar devices primarily manufactured for amusement and entertainment purposes.

Mechanical devices includes but is not limited to pool tables, billiard tables, pinball machines, electronic pingpong, electronic tennis or other similar devices.

(b)

Permit required. Any person desiring to operate a game center shall make written application for a permit to the department of police. The license review board shall conduct a hearing at a regular meeting of the license review board on the application and report its conclusions and recommendations to the mayor. The mayor, upon receiving the recommendation of the license review board, may, within 60 calendar days of receipt of said recommendation, deny or grant an application for a new permit. In addition, within said 60-day period, if the mayor determines there is a need to correct a clear error or prevent a manifest injustice, the mayor may remand the application back to the license review board for further hearing. If the mayor fails to take action within the 60-day period, the recommendation of the license review board shall become the final decision of the mayor. At such time that the permit is granted by the mayor, the game center shall be allowed to open for business.

(c)

The bureau of planning shall notify the councilmembers (district and at-large) for the council district and council post and the NPU chair for the NPU in which any such game center is to be located, that an application for a permit to operate a game center is to be considered by the license review board. Such notification shall include the name of the applicant, address of the proposed game center and the date and time of the hearing before the license review board.

(d)

Distance from schools. No permit for a game center shall be issued where the place of business of the applicant is within 300 yards of any public school or public schoolgrounds located in residentially zoned districts nor shall any permit be issued where the place of business is located within 300 feet of public schoolgrounds and where the place of business is located within a commercially zoned business district.

(e)

School-age children on premises during school hours. No child of school age shall be allowed on the premises of a game center during school hours while school is in session. Any game center found not in compliance with this subsection is subject to having its permit revoked.

(Code 1977, § 14-3013; Ord. No. 1999-55, §§ 1, 2, 7-15-99; Ord. No. 2008-79(08-O-1677), § 2, 11-6-08)