§ 22-96. Hearing; denial, revocation, and suspension; appeal.

(a)

When the county director issues a written notice of intent to deny, suspend, or revoke a license, the county director shall immediately send such notice, which shall include the specific grounds under this article for such action, to the applicant or licensee (respondent) by personal delivery or certified mail. The notice shall be directed to the most current business address or other mailing address on file with the county director for the respondent. The notice shall specify a date, not less than ten days nor more than 20 days after the date the notice is issued, on which the hearing officer shall conduct a hearing on the county director's written notice of intent to deny, suspend, or revoke the license.

At the hearing, the respondent shall have the opportunity to present all of respondent's arguments and to be represented by counsel, present evidence and witnesses on his or her behalf, and cross-examine any of the county director's witnesses. The county director shall also be represented by counsel, and shall bear the burden of proving the grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking the license. The hearing shall take no longer than two days, unless extended at the request of the respondent to meet the requirements of due process and proper administration of justice. The hearing officer shall issue a written decision, including specific reasons for the decision pursuant to this article, to the respondent within five days after the hearing.

If the decision is to deny, suspend, or revoke the license, the decision shall not become effective until the 30th day after it is rendered, and the decision shall include a statement advising the respondent of the right to appeal such decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the hearing officer's decision finds that no adequate grounds exist under this article for denial, suspension, or revocation of the license, the hearing officer shall, contemporaneously with the issuance of the decision, order the county director to immediately withdraw the intent to deny, suspend, or revoke the license and to notify the respondent in writing by certified mail of such action. If the respondent is not yet licensed, the county director shall contemporaneously therewith issue the license to the applicant.

(b)

If any court action challenging the county's decision is initiated, the county director shall prepare and transmit to the court a transcript of the hearing within ten days after receiving written notice of the filing of the court action. The county shall consent to expedited briefing and/or disposition of the action, shall comply with any expedited schedule set by the court, and shall facilitate prompt judicial review of the proceedings.

(c)

The following shall apply to any sexually oriented business that is lawfully operating as a sexually oriented business, or any sexually oriented business employee that is lawfully employed as a sexually oriented business employee, on the date on which the completed business or employee application, as applicable, is filed with the county director: Upon the filing of any court action to appeal, challenge, restrain, or otherwise enjoin the county's enforcement of the denial, suspension, or revocation, the county director shall immediately issue the respondent a provisional license. The provisional license shall allow the respondent to continue operation of the sexually oriented business or to continue employment as a sexually oriented business employee and will expire upon the court's entry of a judgment on the respondent's appeal or other action to challenge, restrain, or otherwise enjoin the county's enforcement.

(Ord. No. 2007-08, § 11, 12-18-2007)