Ordinance No. 623d9r
ORDINANCE NO. 623
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CYPRESS AMENDING ARTICLE I, CHAPTER 15 OF THE
CYPRESS CITY CODE PERTAINING TO TAXING THE TRANSACTION
AND CARRYING ON OF BUSINESSES, TRADES, PROFESSIONS,
CALLINGS AND OCCUPATIONS IN THE CITY OF CYPRESS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF RAISING MUNICIPAL REVENUE.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS HEREBY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
Article I of Chapter 15 of the Cypress City Code hereby is amended to
read as follows:
Article I Business Tax
Division 1, General Provisions
Section 15 -1 - Definitions
For the purpose of this Article, the following words and phrases shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
(a) Business - shall include professions, trades, occupations, and all
and every kind of calling whether or not carried on for profit.
(b) City - shall mean the City of Cypress, a municipal corporation of the
State of California, in its present incorporated form or in any later
reorganized, consolidated, enlarged or reincorporated form.
(c) Collector - shall mean the Finance Officer or other City official
charged with the administration of this Article.
(d) Gross Receipts - shall include the total of amounts actually received
or receivable for the performance of any act or service, of whatever
nature it may be, for which a charge is made or credit allowed, whether
or not such act or service is done as part of or in connection with
the sale of materials, goods, wares or merchandise.
The following shall be included in Gross Receipts: all receipts, cash,
credits, and property of any kind or nature, 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,
or losses or other expenses whatsoever.
The following shall be excluded from Gross Receipts:
1. Cash discounts allowed and taken on sales;
2. Credit allowed on property accepted as part of the purchase
price and which property may later be sold;
3. Any tax required by law to be included in or added to the
purchase price and collected from the consumer or purchaser;
4. Such part of the sale price of property returned by purchasers
upon recision of the contract of sale as is refunded either in
cash or by credit;
5. Amounts collected for others where the business is acting as an
agent or trustee to the extent that such amounts are paid to
those for whom collected, provided the agent or trustee has
furnished the Collector with the names and addresses of the
others and the amounts paid to them; and
6. Receipts of refundable deposits, except that refundable deposits
forfeited and taken into income of the business shall not be
excluded.
As to real estate brokers, travel agents, insurance brokers, bail bond brokers
and other similar businesses, gross receipts shall include the total gross
commissions or other receipts attributable to the local office or offices,
agents, brokers and /or employees.
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As to Savings and Loan Associations, gross receipts shall include:
1. Interest on real estate loans;
2. Loan fees of various kinds such as: fee for escrow, appraisal,
drawing papers, and other similar charges;
3. Bonuses received for prepayment of loans;
4. Penalty charges on delinquent loans;
5. Tax service fees;
6. Interest on personal loans to depositors; and
7. Receipts over and above the recovery of principal from the
sale of mortgages or other evidence of money due from loans.
As to Savings and Loan Associations, the following shall be Excluded from
Gross Receipts:
1. Interest and dividends earned from the placing of surplus funds
in bonds, securities, or Federal Home Loan Banks;
2. Payments received on the principal amount of outstanding loans;
3. Sale of capital assets, such as office furniture or other property
which has been used in the conduct of the business;
4. Payments made to other Savings and Loan Associations which represent
their share of interest under loan participation agreements; and
5. Gains or losses on the sale of real estate acquired by foreclosure.
As to a business established outside the City but maintaining an office or
other facility within the City, or doing business within the City through an
agent, broker, or employee, gross receipts shall include the total sales or
receipts attributable to the local office or facility, agent, broker or
employee.
In the event separate sales or receipt records are not maintained for said
local office, facility, local agent, broker, or employee, the business tax
shall be based upon an amount which bears the same proportion to the total
gross receipts of the business which the cost of maintaining said local office,
facility, local agent, broker or employee bears to the total cost of maintaining
said business.
In the event that the business of said local office, facility, agent, broker
or employee is that of performing administrative or storage functions in con-
nection with sales or services performed or rendered elsewhere,, the business
tax shall be based on an amount equivalent to the volume of business which
shall be computed by determining the total cost of maintaining said local office,
facility, agent, broker or employee. Said total cost of maintaining said local
office, facility, agent, broker or employee shall include, but not be limited
to, wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, rent, telephone, postage, utilities,
janitorial and other expenses allocated for maintenance of said office,
facility, agent, broker or employee.
(e) Person - shall include all domestic and foreign corporations, associa-
tions, syndicates, joint stock corporations, partnerships of every
kind, clubs, Massachusetts, business or common law trusts, societies,
and individuals transacting and carrying on any business in the City,
other than as an employee.
(f) Sale - shall include the transfer, in any manner or by any means what-
soever, of title to 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 foregoing definitions shall not be deemed to exclude
any transaction which is or which, in effect, results in a sale within
the contemplation of law.
(g) Sworn Statement - shall mean an affidavit sworn to before a person
authorized to take oaths, or a declaration or certification made under
penalty of perjury.
Section 15 -2 - Revenue Measure
This article is enacted solely to raise revenue for municipal purposes and
is not intended for regulation. No Business Tax Certificate issued under the
provisions of this article shall be construed as authorizing the conduct or
continuance of any business.
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Section 15 -3 - Tax Payment Required
There are hereby imposed upon the businesses, trades, professions, callings
and occupations specified in this article business taxes in the amounts
hereinafter prescribed. It shall be unlawful for any person to transact and
carry on any business, trade, profession, calling or occupation in the City
without first having procured a Business Tax Certificate from the City so
to do and paying the tax hereinafter prescribed or without complying with any
and all applicable provisions of this article.
This section shall not be construed to require any person to obtain a Business
Tax Certificate prior to doing business within the City if such requirement
conflicts with applicable statutes of the United States or of the State of
California. Persons not so required to obtain said Certificate prior to doing
business within the City nevertheless shall be liable for payment of the tax
imposed by this article.
Persons described herein who unlawfully engage in such businesses, trades,
professions, callings or occupations in the City of Cypress, without payment
of a Business Tax, after receiving notification from the Collector of the
Business Tax obligation, shall, in addition to the other penalties and charges
provided in this article, sustain a penalty of 25 percent of the Business
Tax due.
Section 15 -4 - Business Tax A Debt
The amount of any Business Tax and penalty imposed by the provisions of this
article shall be deemed a debt to the City. The City may pursue any legal
remedies available to it for the collection of any delinquent Business Tax,
penalties, and administrative costs incurred in connection therewith, in-
cluding attorney fees.
Section 15 -5 - Evidence of Doing Business
When any person shall by use of signs, circulars, cards, telephone book, or
newspapers, advertise, hold out, or represent that he is in business in the
City, or when any person holds an active license or permit issued by a govern-
mental agency indicating that he is in business in the City, and such person
fails to deny by a sworn statement given to the Collector that he is not
conducting a business in the City, after being requested to do so by the
Collector, then these facts shall be considered prima facie evidence that
he is conducting a business in the City.
Section 15 -6 - Constitutional Apportionment
None of the Business Taxes provided for by this article shall be so applied
as to occasion an undue burden upon inter -state commerce or be violative of
the Constitutions of the United States and the State of California.
In any case where a Business Tax is believed by a Tax Certificate holder
or applicant for a Tax Certificate to place an undue burden upon inter -state
commerce or be violative of such constitutional clauses, he may apply to the
Collector for an adjustment of the tax. Such application may be made before,
at, or within six months after payment of the prescribed Business Tax. The
applicant shall, by sworn statement and supporting testimony, show his method
of business and the gross volume or estimated gross volume of business and
such other information as the Collector may deem necessary in order to deter-
mine the extent, if any, of such undue burden or violation. The Collector
shall then conduct an investigation and, after having first obtained the
written approval of the City Attorney, shall fix as the Business Tax for the
applicant an amount that is reasonable and non - discriminatory, or if the
Business Tax has already been paid, shall order a refund of the amount over
and above the Business Tax so fixed. In fixing the Business Tax to be charged,
the Collector shall have the power to base the tax upon a percentage of gross
receipts or any other measure which will assure that the tax assessed shall
be uniform with that assessed on businesses of like nature, so long as the
amount assessed does not exceed the Business Tax as prescribed by this
article. Should the Collector determine the gross receipts measure of
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Business Tax to be the proper basis, he may require the applicant to submit,
either at the time of termination of applicant's business in the City, or at
the end of each three -month period, a sworn statement of the gross receipts
and pay the amount of tax therefor, provided that no additional Business
Tax during any one calendar year shall be required after the Tax Certificate
holder shall have paid an amount equal to the annual Business Tax as precribed
in this article.
Section 15 -7 - Exemptions
Nothing in this article shall be deemed or construed to apply to any person
transacting and carrying on any business exempt by virtue of the Constitution
or applicable statutes of the United States or of the State of California
from the payment of such taxes as are herein prescribed. Specifically, the
following hereby are exempted from the provisions of this article:
1. Banks, pursuant to Article XIII Section 16 of the California
Constitution;
2. Insurance Companies, their employees and agents, pursuant to
Article XIII Section 14 4/5 of the California Constitution;
(this section shall not exempt brokers who are independent con-
tractors and agents of the insured rather than of the insurer)
3. Alcoholic Beverage Licensees, pursuant to Article XX Section 22
of the California Constitution;
4. Disabled Veterans, pursuant to the provisions of Section 16001
of the Business and Professions Code;
5. Charitable, religious, fraternal, and educational organizations
provided that: Not less than 85 percent of the gross receipts
derived from solicitation and not less than 50 percent of the gross
receipts derived from other business related activities are to be
appropriated solely for the purposes and objectives for which such
organization or association was formed; and
6. Day Care facilities where not more than six people are cared for
on a full or part -time basis, licensed by the State of California,
pursuant to Section 1523 of the Health and Safety Code.
Any person claiming an exemption pursuant to this section shall file a
sworn statement with the Collector, on a form provided by the Collector,
stating the facts upon which exemption is claimed, and in the absence of
such statement substantiating the claim, such person shall be liable for the
payment of the taxes imposed by this article.
The Collector shall, upon a proper showing contained in the sworn statement,
issue a Tax Certificate to such person claiming exemption under this section
without payment to the City of the Business Tax required by this article.
The Collector, after giving notice and a reasonable opportunity for hearing
to a Tax Certificate holder, may revoke any Certificate granted pursuant to
the provisions of this section upon determining that the holder is not en-
titled to the exemption as provided herein.
Section 15 -8 - Branch Establishment
A separate Business Tax Certificate under this article shall be obtained
for each branch establishment or location of the business engaged in business
in the City: and each Certificate shall authorize the holder to engage only
in the business certified thereby at the locaion or in the manner designated
in such Certificate.
Every person who operates any business, whether upon a cost rental or commis-
sion basis as a concession or upon rented floor space in or upon the premises
of any person holding a Tax Certificate under any provision of this article
shall obtain a separate and independent Tax Certificate pursuant to the
appropriate provision of this article and shall be subject to all of the
provisions hereof.
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Section 15 -9 - Two or More Businesses at Same Location
Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person conducting,
managing or carrying on two or more businesses at the same location shall
apply for and obtain a Tax Certificate for each such business. Except in
the case where the tax upon each business is based on gross receipts, the
gross receipts may be combined and one Business Tax paid on the basis of
the combined total gross receipts of the several businesses and one Business
Tax Certificate shall be issued. In the event the tax for each business
is based on gross receipts under different tax rate schedules, such person
shall pay a license tax for the combined total gross receipts of the several
businesses based on that tax rate schedule applicable to the business activity
producing the greatest amount of gross receipts.
Section 15 -10 - Non - transferable, Change of Location
No Business Tax Certificate issued pursuant to this article shall be
transferable; provided that where a Certificate is issued indicating a person
is transacting and carrying on a business at a particular place, such Certi-
ficate holder upon application therefor, payment of a five dollar ($5.00)
fee, and relinquishment of the original Tax Certificate may obtain a new
Tax Certificate showing some other location to which the business is or is
to be moved.
No person shall loan his Business Tax Certificate to another.
Section 15 -11 - Duplicate Business Tax Certificates
A duplicate Business Tax Certificate may be issued by the Collector to
replace any Certificate previously issued hereunder which has been lost or
destroyed upon the holder filing a statement of such fact, and at the time
of filing such statement, paying to the Collector a duplicate Business Tax
Certificate fee of five dollars ($5.00).
Section 15 -12 - Posting and Keeping Business Tax Certificates
Any person transacting and carrying on business at a fixed location
in the City shall keep the Business Tax Certificate posted in a conspicuous
place upon the premises where such business is carried on.
Any person transacting and carrying on business but not operating at a fixed
location in the City shall keep the Business Tax Certificate upon his person
at all times while transacting and carrying on the business for which it
is issued.
Section 15 -13 - Business Tax - How and When Payable
All Business Taxes due under the provisions of this article shall be paid
in advance, in lawful money of the United States of America.
Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all Business Taxes shall he
due and payable as follows:
1. Daily Taxes. Due on its effective date.
2. Quarterly Taxes. Due on the first day of January, April, July
and October.
3. Annual Taxes. Due on the first day of July.
4. Business Taxes for new operations commenced after the first day
of July are due within 30 days of the date the business commenced
and shall be pro -rated as follows:
Pro - ration of any annual Business Tax due under the provisions of this
article shall be made for any portion of the period for which a Business
Tax is payable:
a. if application is made during the quarter beginning July 1, 100%
of such fee shall be paid;
b. if application is made during the quarter beginning September 1,
75% of such fee shall be paid;
c. if application is made during the quarter beginning January 1,
50% of such fee shall be paid;
d. if application is made during the quarter beginning April 1, 25%
of such fee shall be paid.
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Section 15 -14 - Delinquent Taxes - Penalties
All Business Taxes due under the provisions of this article are delinquent
as follows:
1. Daily taxes. Delinquent at 5:00 p.m. on the due date.
2. Quarterly taxes. Delinquent at 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the
first month in which the quarterly tax is due.
3. Annual taxes. Delinquent at 5:00 p.m. on July 30th, except all
annual Business Taxes paid on a gross receipts basis are delin-
quent at 5:00 p.m. on August 31.
4. Taxes for new business operations commencing after the first day
of July are delinquent at 5:00 p.m. on the 30th day from the date
the operation commenced.
A penalty of twenty -five percent (25 %) shall be added to each Business Tax
remaining unpaid thirty (30) days after it becomes due. A penalty of fifty
percent (50 %) shall be added to each tax remaining unpaid sixty (60) days
after it becomes due. A penalty of one hundred percent (100 %) shall be
added to each tax remaining unpaid ninety (90) days after it becomes due.
Except those unpaid taxes based on gross receipts other than those taxes
for new businesses payable in accordance with Section 15 -16 shall have a
penalty of twenty -five percent (25 %) added on September 1, fifty percent
(50 %) added on October 1, and one hundred percent (100 %) added on November 1.
The Collector may, upon receipt of a written request therefor, extend for
not more than thirty days, the time for paying any sum required to be paid
hereunder provided written request is filed with the Collector prior to
the delinquency date.
Section 15 -15 - Refunds
No refund of an overpayment of taxes imposed by this article shall be
allowed in whole or in part unless a claim for refund is filed with the
Collector within a period of three (3) years from the last day of the calen-
dar month following the period for which the overpayment was made, and all
such claims for refund of the amount of the overpayment must be filed with
the Collector on forms furnished by him and in the manner prescribed by him.
Upon the filing of such a claim and when he determines that an overpayment
has been made, the Collector may refund the amount overpaid.
If application is made and Business Tax paid for a business which subse-
quently does not operate in the City, the applicant shall be entitled to a
refund of eighty percent (80 %) of the amount paid provided a claim therefor
is filed within thirty (30) days from the date on which payment was made.
Section 15 -16 - Application, First Business Tax Certificate
Every person required to pay a Business Tax under the provisions of this
article shall make application for the same to the Collector upon a form
provided by the Collector, and shall provide that information required by
the Collector to enable issuance of the Business Tax Certificate.
Upon application for a first Business Tax Certificate for a business taxed
on the basis of gross receipts, an applicant shall be required to pay the
minimum tax applicable to the business, which tax shall be pro -rated in
accordance with Section 15 -13.
Section 15 -17 - Renewal Business Tax Certificate
In all cases, the applicant for the renewal of a Business Tax Certificate
shall submit to the Collector for his guidance in ascertaining the amount of
the tax to be paid by the applicant, a sworn statement, upon a form to be
provided by the Collector, setting forth such information concerning the
applicant's business during the preceding year as may be required by the
Collector to enable him to ascertain the amount of the tax to be paid by
said applicant pursuant to the provisions of this article.
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Section 15 -18 - Contents of Business Tax Certificate
Every person required to pay a Business Tax under the provisions of this
article, who has made application as hereinabove prescribed, and who
has paid the prescribed tax, shall be issued a Business Tax Certificate
which contains the following information:
1. The name of the person to whom the certificate is issued;
2. The name of the business certified;
3. The place where such business is to be transacted and carried on;
4. The date of the expiration of such certificate; and
5. Such other information as may be necessary for the enforcement
of the provisions of this article.
Section 15 -19 - Statements and Records
No statement shall be conclusive as to the matters set forth therein, nor
shall the filing of the same preclude the City from collecting by appropriate
action such sum as is actually due and payable hereunder. Such statement
and each of the several items therein contained shall be subject to audit
and verification by the Collector, his deputies, or authorized employees
of the City, who are hereby authorized to examine, audit and inspect such
books and records of any Business Tax Certificate holder or applicant for
said Tax Certificate as may be necessary in their judgment to verify or
ascertain the amount of Business Tax due.
All persons subject to the provisions of this article shall keep complete
records of business transactions, including sales, receipts, purchases, and
other expenditures, and shall retain all such records for examination by
the Collector. Such records shall be maintained for a period of at least
three years. No person required to keep records under this section shall
refuse to allow authorized representatives of the Collector to examine
said records at reasonable times and places.
Section 15 -20 - Information Confidential
It shall be unlawful for the Collector or any person having an administrative
duty under the provisions of this article to make known in any manner
whatever the business affairs, operations, or information obtained by an
investigation of records and equipment of any person required to obtain a
Business Tax Certificate or pay a Business Tax, or any other person visited
or examined in the discharge of official duty, or the amount or source of
income, profits, losses, expenditures, or any particular thereof, set forth
in any statement or application, or to permit any statement or application,
or copy of either, or any book containing any abstract or particulars thereof
to be seen or examined by any person. Provided that nothing in this section
shall be construed to prevent:
1. The disclosure to, or the examination of records and equipment
by another City official, employee, or agent for collection
of taxes for the sole purpose of administering or enforcing any
provisions of this article, or collecting taxes imposed
hereunder;
2. The disclosure of information to, or the examination of records
by, Federal or State officials, or the tax officials of another
city or county, or city and county, if a reciprocal arrangement
exists, or to a grand jury or court of law, upon subpoena;
3. The disclosure of information and results of examination of
records of particular taxpayers, or relating to particular tax-
payers, to a court of law in a proceeding brought to determine
the existence or amount of any business tax liability of the
particular taxpayers to the City;
4. The disclosure after the filing of a written request to that
effect, to the taxpayer himself, or to his successors, receivers,
trustees, executors, administrators, assignees and guarantors,
if directly interested, of information as to the items included
in the measure of any paid tax, any unpaid tax or amounts of
tax required to be collected, interest and penalties; further
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provided, however, that the City Attorney approves each such
disclosure and that the Collector may refuse to make any
disclosure referred to in this paragraph when in his opinion
the public interest would suffer thereby;
5. The disclosure of the names and addresses of persons to whom
Business Tax Certificates have been issued, and the general
type or nature of their business;
6. The disclosure by way of public meeting or otherwise of such
information as may be necessary to the City Council in order
to permit it to be fully advised as to the facts when a
taxpayer files a claim for refund of Business Taxes, or submits
an offer of compromise with regard to a claim asserted against
him by the City for Business Taxes, or when acting upon any
other matter; and
7. The disclosure of general statistics regarding taxes collected
or business done in the City.
Section 15 -21 - Failure to File Statement or Corrected Statement
If any person fails to file any required statement within the time pres-
cribed, or if after demand therefor made by the Collector he fails to file
a corrected statement, or if any person subject to the tax imposed by this
article fails to apply for a Business Tax Certificate, the Collector
shall determine the amount of tax due from such person by means of such
information as he may be able to obtain.
If the Collector is not satisfied with the information supplied in state-
ments or applications filed, he shall determine the amount of any Business
Tax due by means of any information he may be able to obtain.
If such a determination is made, the Collector shall give notice of the
amount so assessed by serving it personally or by depositing it in the
United States Post Office at Cypress, California, postage prepaid, addressed
to the person so assessed at his last known address. Such person may within
ten (10) days after the serving or mailing of such notice make an application
in writing to the Collector for a hearing on the amount of the Business Tax.
At such hearing the applicant may offer evidence of the amount alleged to
be the proper Business Tax. After such hearing the Collector shall deter-
mine the proper tax to be charged and shall give written notice to the
applicant in the manner prescribed herein of such determination and the
amount of such tax.
If application for a hearing is not made within the time prescribed, the
Business Tax determined by the Collector shall become final and conclusive.
Section 15 -22 - Appeal
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Collector, or of any other officer
of the City, made pursuant to the provisions of this article concerning his
Business Tax may appeal therefrom to the City Council within fifteen (15)
days after notice thereof by filing with the City Clerk a written notice
of appeal, briefly stating in such notice the grounds relied upon for appeal.
If such appeal is made within the time prescribed, the City Clerk shall cause
the matter to be set for hearing before the City Council within thirty (30)
days from the date of receipt of such notice of appeal, giving the appellant
not less than ten (10) days' notice in writing of the time and place of hearing.
The findings and determination of the City Council at such hearing shall
be final and conclusive. No such determination shall conflict with any sub-
stantive provision of this article. Within three (3) days after such findings
and determination are made, the City Clerk shall give notice thereof to
the appellant.
In the event no appeal is taken, the decision of the Collector shall become
final and conclusive on expiration of the time fixed in this section for
appeal.
Section 15 -23 - Effect on Other Ordinances
Persons required to pay a Business Tax for transacting and carrying on any
business under the provisions of this article shall not be relieved from
the payment of any other applicable tax or fee required under any other
ordinances or the Code of the City and shall remain subject to the regulatory
provisions of other ordinances and the Code.
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Section 15 -24 - Unlawful Businesses
No Business Tax Certificate issued under the provisions of this article shall
be construed as authorizing the conduct of or continuance of any illegal
or unlawful business.
Section 15 -25 - Effect of Article on Past Actions
Neither the adoption of this ordinance nor its superseding of any portion
of any other ordinance of the City shall in any manner be construed to
affect prosecution for violation of any other ordinance committed prior to
the effective date hereof, nor be construed as a waiver of any Business Tax
or any penal provision applicable to any such violation, nor be construed
to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit required by any ordinance
to be posted, filed, or deposited, and all rights and obligations thereunto
appertaining shall continue in full force and effect.
Where a Business Tax Certificate for revenue purposes has been issued to
any person by the City and the tax paid for the business for which the
Certificate has been issued under the provisions of any ordinance heretofore
enacted and the term of such Certificate has not expired, then the Business
Tax prescribed for said business by this article shall not be payable
until the expiration of the term of such unexpired Business Tax Certificate.
Section 15 -26 - Rules and Regulations
The Collector may make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the
provisions of this article as may be necessary or desirable to aid in
the enforcement of the provisions of this ordinance. Said rules and
regulations shall be in writing and filed in the office of the Collector.
Section 15 -27 - Enforcement
It shall be the duty of the Collector and he is hereby directed to enforce
each and all of the provisions of this article, and the Chief of Police
and City Attorney shall render such assistance in the enforcement hereof
as may be required by the Collector or the City Council.
The Collector in the exercise of the duties imposed upon him hereunder,
and acting through his deputies or duly authorized assistants, shall examine
or cause to be examined all places of business in the City to ascertain
whether the provisions of this article have been complied with.
The Collector and each and all of his assistants and any police officer
shall have the power and authority to enter, free of charge, and at any
reasonable time, any place of business required to pay a Business Tax
prescribed herein, and demand an exhibition of its Business Tax Certificate.
Any person having such Certificate theretofore issued in his possession
or under his control who wilfully fails to exhibit the same on demand or
who wilfully refuses to exhibit necessary books and records as required
by the Collector or any of his assistants, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and subject to the penalties provided for by the City Code. It shall be the
duty of the Collector and each of his assistants to cause a complaint to be
filed against any and all persons found to be violating any of said provi-
sions.
Each department of the City which issues permits for work to be done shall
require the production of a valid unexpired Business Tax Certificate prior
to the issuance of such a permit.
Final building inspection approvals shall be issued only when it is ascer-
tained by the Building Division that all Business Tax liability of the
prime contractor and all sub - contractors employed by the prime contractor
has been fully satisfied.
Section 15 -28 - Penalty for Violation
Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance or knowingly
or intentionally misrepresenting to any officer or employee of this City
any material fact in procuring the Business Tax Certificate herein provided
for shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
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Section 15 -29 - Remedies Cumulative
All remedies prescribed hereunder 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.
Section 15 -30 - Tax Rate Schedule
The Business Tax shall be $25 or the amount computed in accordance with
the following Business Tax Rate Schedule, whichever is the greater:
01 - For the Business of General Retail Sales, including public utilities
subject to business tax, the annual tax shall be based on gross receipts
as follows:
$.26/$1,000.00
02 - For the Business of Automobile and Supermarket Sales at retail, the
annual tax shall be based on gross receipts as follows:
$.13/$1,000.00
03 - For the Business of Wholesale Sales or Manufacturing the annual tax
shall be based on gross receipts as follows:
$.16/$1,000.00
Except the annual tax for petroleum storage tank farms shall be as
follows:
Each tank under 50,000 barrels
Each tank 50,000 to 100,000 barrels
Each tank over 100,000 barrels
$2.50
$5.00
$7.50
04 - For the Business of General and Business Services, including but not
limited to: gardeners, maintenance, laundry /dry cleaning, secretarial,
and printing, the annual tax shall be based on gross receipts as
follows:
$.33/$1,000.00
Except in those cases where a service is not operated from a fixed
location, the annual tax shall be $25.00 per vehicle used for providing
said service.
05 - For the Business of Professional Services, including but not limited to:
doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, veterinarians, engineers,
architects, real estate brokers, consultants and any other professional
business or service determined by the Collector to be of a similar
character to any of the businesses specified the annual tax shall be
based on gross receipts as follows:
$.52/$1,000.00
06 - For the Business of Contractors requiring a license by the State,
the annual tax shall be based on gross receipts as follows:
$25.00 plus $.26/$1,000.00
This Section shall be applicable to owner /builders in the event they
are building for sale or for rent.
Gross receipts to be collected on each Building Permit and based on
building valuation.
Except the annual tax for the business of subcontracting shall be $40.00.
07 - For the Business of Commercial /Industrial Rental, the annual tax shall
be based on gross receipts as follows:
$.40/$1,000.00
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08 - For the Business of Residential Rental, the annual
on gross receipts as follows:
$ .40/ $1,000.00
tax shall be based 0
Includes rental of mobilehome spaces.
09 - For the Business of Money Lending, including but not limited to Finance
Companies and Savings and Loan Associations, the annual tax shall be
based on gross receipts as follows:
$ .33/ $1,000.00
Except the annual tax for Pawnbrokers shall be $300.00.
10 - For the Business of Recreation and Entertainment, the annual tax shall
be as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
J.
Arcade (amusement center)
Billiard (pool) Room
Bowling Alley
Circus Carnival
Dance
Horse Racing
Skating Rinks
Special Shows /Exhibitions
Theaters
Tip Sheets
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
- $150.00 per day
- $150.00 per day
- $100.00 per day
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
- $150.00 per day
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
- Gross Receipts $.40/$1,000.00
The business tax prescribed in 10b and 10e shall not be required where such
business is operated and owned by a person already paying a tax based on
gross receipts at the same location and which gross receipts include re-
ceipts from such business.
11 For the Business of Vending Machines, the annual tax shall be as follows:
a.
b.
Merchandise Dispensing
Juke Box & Amusement
devices (includes electronic
games and pinball)
- $10.00 per machine
- $15.00 per machine
The business tax prescribed in this Section shall not be required where such
machine or device is operated and owned by a person already paying a tax
based on gross receipts which gross receipts include receipts from such
machine or device.
The owner of the business wherein the machine or device is located shall be
responsible for the full amount of the business tax, if the owner of the
machine or device does not pay the tax when due and payable.
12 - For the Business of Transportation, the annual tax shall be as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Ambulance
Armored Car
Taxi
Tow Truck
Wholesale Delivery
- $25.00
- $25.00
- $25.00
- $25.00
- $25.00
per vehicle
per vehicle
per vehicle
per vehicle
per vehicle
The business tax prescribed in 12d shall not be required where said vehicle
is operated and owned by a person already paying a tax based on gross re-
ceipts at the same location and which gross receipts include receipts from
the operation of such vehicle.
13 - For the Business of Advertising Services, the
a. Outdoor Advertising Structures:
1st structure - $35.00
each additional - $25.00
b. Bus benches containing advertising
$5.00 per bench
c. Sound Vehicle or System
$25.00 per vehicle or system
annual tax shall be as follows:
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d. Kleig Lights
based on gross receipts as follows:
$.33/$1,000.00
e. Consumer Surveys
based on gross receipts as follows:
$.33/$1,000.00
f. Handbills (distribution of advertising material)
based on gross receipts as follows:
$.33/$1,000.00
The business tax prescribed in 13 f shall not be required where handbills
or advertising material is being distributed by a person already paying a
business tax in the City of Cypress.
14 - For the Business of Special Sales, including but not limited to:
swap meets, arts, crafts and other special sales, the annual tax
shall be based on gross receipts as follows:
$.26/$1,000.00
Except the tax for an auctioneer shall be $25.00 per day.
Except the annual tax for solicitors shall be $25.00.
15 - For the Business of Property Development, the tax shall be:
$50.00 per living unit developed
$50.00 per commercial /industrial unit developed
$50.00 per unit converted
SECTION 2. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause,
phrase, or portion of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any
person or place, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional
by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or
its application to other persons or places, The City Council hereby
declares that it would have adopted this ordinance, and each section, sub-
section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sub -
divisions,sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions, or the application
thereof to any person or place, be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby declares this ordinance to be necessary
as an emergency measure for preserving the public peace, health or safety
and declares that it shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the increase in the business tax effected by this ordinance shall not
become operative until the 1st day of July 1979. The City Council hereby
finds and determines as follows:
(a) The approval by the voters of Proposition 13, adding
Article XIIIA to the California Constitution, will substan-
tially reduce the revenues available to the City to enable
the City to provide essential governmental services to its
residents and taxpayers.
(b) The approval of said measure by the voters may eliminate
the authority of the City Council to impose new taxes to replace
the revenues no longer available to the City from and after July 1.
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(c) In order to insure that this ordinance is effective
prior to the effective date of the aforesaid Article
XIIIA, it is necessary that this ordinance take effect
immediately upon adoption.
INTRODUCED, ADOPTED, AND ORDERED POSTED at an adjourned regular meeting
of the City Council of the City of Cypress held on the 23rd day of June 1978.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
MAYOR OFJTHE CITY OF CYPRESS
I, DARRELL ESSEX, City Clerk of the City of Cypress, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that the foregoing Urgency Ordinance was duly adopted at an adjourned
regular meeting of the said City Council held on the 23rd day of June 1978;
by the following roll call vote:
AYES: 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Evans, Lacayo, MacLain, Rowan and Hudson
NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
CITY CLERK OF -THE CITY OF CYPRESS
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