ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING COMMERCE MUNICIPAL CODE (“CMC”) TITLE 5, CHAPTER 5.48 RELATING TO CARD CLUB POINTHOLDERS MINIMUM INTEREST
WHEREAS, the City of Commerce (the “City”) is a general law city, incorporated under the laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the proposed text amendment is consistent with the City of Commerce (“City”) General Plan, as it would help to further the goals and objectives of the Plan, including 3.3 Community Development Policy which states: “The creation of a strong employment and commercial base to finance public improvements and services”; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this text amendment is to amend the pointholder minimum interest affecting the Commerce Casino (“Casino”) to facilitate future expansion and enhance the Casino's operational flexibility; and
WHEREAS, the City’s current requirements allow the subdivision of any interest in a card club license to not less than one-quarter point. Any such subdivision will not be recognized by the City and shall be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to the provisions of the CMC; and
WHEREAS, the City’s proposed amendment will allow the subdivision of any interest in a card club license to not less than one-eighth point. Any such subdivision will not be recognized by the City and shall be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to the provisions of the CMC; and
WHEREAS it was determined that adding this regulation would facilitate future expansion of the Casino and enhance the Casino's operational flexibility.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby finds that adopting this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it is an activity that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Even if it were a project, it would be exempt under Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations §15308 in that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Commerce hereby finds and declares the recitals set forth hereinabove are incorporated herein and by this reference are made part of the findings.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby amends Section 5.48.290 of Chapter 5.48 of Title 5 of the Commerce Municipal Code to read as follows:
“5.48.290 Pointholders—Minimum interest.
A subdivision of any interest in a card club license to less than one-quarter one-eighth point is prohibited. Any such subdivision will not be recognized by the city and shall be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.”
SECTION 4. The City Council hereby deletes Section 5.48.292 of Chapter 5.48 of Title 5 of the Commerce Municipal Code in its entirety.
SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this title; it being hereby expressly declared that this title, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase hereof, would have been prepared, proposed, adopted, approved, and ratified irrespective of the fact that any single section subsection, sentence, clause, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted in the manner required by law.
SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this_______________, 2025.
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Ivan Altamirano, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lena Shumway
Secretary/City Clerk