16.34.270 - Cost of regulatory action and cease and desist hearings.
A. If the grounds for the regulatory action is sustained or the cease and desist order is upheld, the hearing officer may order the person who is the subject to the regulatory action to pay the city's reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case, including the attorneys' fees incurred by the city up to the date of the hearing.
B. The city will file a bill itemizing the costs, including the attorneys' fees, within thirty calendar days after the hearing officer issues the statement of decision.
C. Within fourteen days after the service of the city's costs bill, the person who is the subject of the hearing, may apply to the hearing officer for a reduction of the costs. In determining the costs, the hearing officer may take into consideration the person who is the subject of the hearing's good faith belief in his or her position; their ability to pay; and whether the city's investigation is proportionate to the misconduct charged. If there is no request for a reduction, the costs will be due and payable within fourteen calendar days after the service of the bill.
D. The costs shall be a civil debt of the cardroom permittee and the person who is the subject of the hearing where the cardroom permittee and/or its related licensees are the subject of the hearing. The costs shall be a civil debt of the funding source and the person who is the subject of the hearing in the case of a hearing where the funding source licensee and/or its related licensees are the subject of the hearing.
E. There shall be joint and several liability for payment of the debt:
1. Between the cardroom permittee and the related licensee who is the subject of the hearing, or
2. The funding source licensee and the related licensee who is the subject of the hearing.
(Ord. 28517.)