10-17-2007 City administration files hotel ordinance with Council

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birth of guest. • Submit to the police the names, addresses, dates of birth and social security numbers of all employees, agents and managers—along with a criminal history for the previous 10 years before the license is issued. • Submit a copy of training materials given to employees as well as management practices and procedures for check-in, security and emergencies. • Maintain a strict 21 years or older policy for both guests and visitors, unless the guest is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. • Retain names and registration information of all people who have been arrested on the property, caused a disturbance, acted in a manner that necessitated a call to the police or did not follow hotel rules. The hotel is required to prohibit these parties from entering any portion of the hotel property for at least six months. • Refuse to rent to known prostitutes, gang members, drug dealers or any person either visibly intoxicated or under the influence of illicit substances. • Prohibit visitor access to any room between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. • Prominently post a copy of rules in the hotel registration area and all guest rooms. The City administration "believes that this ordinance, when joined with the City's existent regulation of unreasonable noise, curfew, fireworks,pan handling, solicitation and loitering, will add greatly to public safety and to the quality of life in South Bend," Leone wrote in a cover letter to Council President Timothy A. Rouse. "We hope the Common Council will review this ordinance favorably." Hotels that have not previously operated in South Bend are presumed to be Tier 1 hotels for the purposes of licensing and fees during the first year of operation. The city may change the status of any Tier 1 or Tier 2 hotel during a calendar year in writing to the owner if a hotel's call-for-service ratio has increased. Annual licenses will be issued upon payment of fee and—for Tier 2 and Tier 3 hotels only—a police inspection ensuring the facility is "in substantial compliance with the operation requirements" of its classification. The ordinance lays out provisions for license denial, appeal and revocation. Owners who choose to operate without a valid license or fail to comply with any requirements could face fines of$2,500 for each day of violation. "No civic-minded hotel owner need be concerned,"Luecke said. "But as owners of properties like the Bull's Eye learned in the past,when we set our sights on a nuisance property we have the will to act to transform that location." After neighborhood concerns about continuing problems with criminal activity, Bull's Eye Discount Liquors, along Lincolnway West,was acquired by the city and demolished in September 2000 to make room for a new Teachers Credit Union bank branch. - 30 -