Hearing Policies & Procedures Proposal 1 Todays Hearing - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Excise and Licenses

Hearing Policies & Procedures Proposal

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Today’s Hearing Policies and Procedures

• Genera

ral g l guideli lines f for how EXL c L conducts h heari ring p procedure res, , decisio sions a s and other s steps w ps within in o

• veral

all l licensi sing p process: ss:

• Cur

urrent d docum uments c can n be found nd o

• nl

nline ne a at t EX EXL website: www www.denvergov.o .org rg/businessli licensing

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• Haven’t been

updated since adoption in 2013

• Recent ordinance

changes make HPP

• utdated/antiquated
• Reside in two

different documents, sometimes confusing to navigate

License Types Requiring Needs & Desires Hearings

• Loc

Local Li Liquor Li Licenses:

• 3.2 Percent Beer License
• Arts Liquor License
• Beer and Wine License
• Brew Pub
• Club License
• Liquor Licensed Drug Store
• Hotel and Restaurant
• Hotel and Restaurant with Optional Premises
• Retail Liquor Store
• Tavern
• Vintner's Restaurant License
• All transfer of location applications for any liquor license
• Cabar

aret L License ses ( s (liv ive m music sic/e /entertain ainme ment)

• Mariju

ijuana L a License ses: s:

• New RMJ Stores
• New MMJ Centers
• All transfer of location applications for RMJ Stores and MMJ Centers

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Hearing Roles and Positions

• Applican

ant;

• Individual applying for license
• Neighbor
• rhood
• d Witnesses;
• Maximum of three parties in interest who can testify at length
• Other parties in interest may testify for against application “en masse” at a hearing
• RN

RNOs Os;

• Registered Neighborhood Organization who’s boundaries encompass designated area
• RNO representative may testify for or against application
• City A

Attorney;

• Represents City during hearing.
• Applican

ant’s Attorney; y;

• Represents applicant during hearing.
• He

Hear aring Of Offic icer;

• Professional attorney who conducts overall hearing and procedure. Drafts recommended decision

to EXL Director for consideration.

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Current Standard Hearing Process: Heari ring D Date Schedule led

Hea earin ing d date n e noticed ed to Applicant, R nt, RNOs, , DPD, C Cit ity Council

He Hear aring D Dat ate Pos

• sted on
• n p

prop

• perty,

notice placed i in Da Dail ily J Jou

• urnal

Hearing g conducted ed in in front of He Hear aring Of Offic icer

He Hear arin ing O Offic icer considers t testimony, , petitions, w s, witness ss statements, e

• etc. i

into

• Rec

ecomme mmended Dec Decision

Par arties may y submit

• bje

jections to Recommen mmended ded Decis isio ion EXL D L Direct ctor

• r Reviews

ws Recomm mmen ende ded d Decision, an and Mak Makes Fin inal l Decis ision Par arties may y ap appeal l Dir irector’s Final Decis isio ion t to D Distric ict Cour urt

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Hearing Policies & Procedures Working Group

• Hearing Policies & Procedures (HPP) Working Group Convened in August

2016 to update, revise, and simplify existing HPP documents.

• HPP Working Group includes:

Two representatives from RNO/INC Two industry representatives (applicant representatives) One hearing officer City Attorneys Office Excise and Licenses Office of Marijuana Policy

• HPP members equipped with legal background – very

important for HPP document.

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HPP Working Group Cont...

• HPP working group identified three principles to help guide

formulation of new HPP documents:

1) Clarification – need to clarify requirements and steps for hearing procedures (more clear definitions and clarity of various procedures and roles). 2) Communication – need to clearly and effectively communicate the process and steps required for hearings (posting hearing dates, when signatures are needed, etc.) 3) Standardization – need to standardize requirements where possible among different industry types (standardize between RMJ and MMJ, etc.)

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Proposed Modifications to Hearing Policies & Procedures:

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Legend:

• Green Text = Marijuana license hearing changes (medical &

retail)

• Blue Text = Liquor license hearing changes
• Red Text = Cabaret license hearing changes
• Black T

Text = = ch changes es f for all licen cense e type h e hea earings, o

• r other

changes. .

• License type hearing changes broken down into three categories:

I. Former Hearing Policies & Procedures II. Proposed Hearing Policies & Procedures III. Justification for proposed changes

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1) Technical HPP Document Changes

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

Two s separate d docum ument nts p prescribing ng polic icie ies a and p procedu dures es o

• nly f

y for r ret etail il marijua uana na i in 1 docum ument

• nt. L

. Liquo uor, , cabar aret, t, a and 3.2 b beverages i in the

• ther d

docum ument nt. . Only outlined policies and procedures for retail marijuana, and not medical marijuana Evening ng h hearing ng r requi uirement nts s set f forth in different nt d docum ument nt, w , with inconsi sist stencies a s among l license se t types. s. Previo vious d documen ent provid vided ed h heavy vy det etail il o

• n “adm

dmin inis istratio ion” o

• f

applica cations – detai tails n not

• t directly

relat ated to a actu tual hear aring r requirements. All licens nse t types r requi uiring a a pub ublic hearing no now c combined i int nto o

• ne

ne streamline ned d docum ument nt. . Policies and procedures now applicable to ALL marijuana hearings (retail and medical. Evening ng h hearing ng r requi uirement nts n now stream amlined, c con

• nsistent a

t and s same among a all li ll license t types. Polic icies ies a and p d procedures es n now l limit ited o

• nly

y to h hearing ng requi uirement nts. . Docum ument nt now m mor

• re e

eas asily-na navigable, , and nd i inc ncludes a all l licens nse types i int nto o

• ne

ne docum ument nt, a , avoiding ng c conf nfusion betw tween t two d

• different d

t doc

• cuments

ts. Provides more consistency in hearing requirements, adequately reflects current ordinance requirements for marijuana. Provide vide m more c e clarit ity a y and d d direc ectio ion o

• n

how t to r reque uest a an eveni ning ng h hearing ng regar ardless o

• f l

license t type. Adm dmin inis istratio ion procedu dures es o

• n

acceptin ing/revie viewin ing a applic icatio ions chan ange o

• ver t

time w with th o

• rdinan

ance. Polic icies ies a and p d procedures es s should a d apply y

• nly t

to h hearings. gs.

2) Petition Deadlines and Circulation

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

Filin ing d dea eadl dlin ines es for p peti titi tions f for eveni ning ng hea earin ing m must i include de 1 10 va valid id signa natur ures f from D Designa nated A Area. . No f filing d dead adlines for p peti titi tions i in support/opposition o

• f a

applica cation f for day h hear arings ( (certai ain r requirements ts f for eveni ning ng h hearing ngs). . Liquor pet etit itio ions m may y only ly c comm mmence af after th the s second d day of

• f n

noti tice p pos

• sting.

No No petiti tion c commence d date f for marijua uana na h hearing ngs. . No p petiti tion c commence d date f for c cabar aret hear arings. . Filing ng d deadline ne f for p petitions ns for e evening ng hear aring must c contain in 2 25 va valid id signa natur ures f from D Designa nated A Area. . All peti titi tions i in suppor

• rt/

t/oppos

• siti

tion m must t be f filed 1 14 4 days p prior t to hear aring dat ate f for all h hearing ngs. . All p peti titi tions for a all t ll types o

• f he

hearings ma may commence t the d day ay a after t the N Notice Pa Packet i is sent nt. . Evening ng h hearing ngs a are b becoming ng m more an and m mor

• re p

prevalent f for

• r E

EXL XL, an and pet etit itio ion-gath therers a are a able to to o

• btai

ain well m more t than 1 10 s signa

• natures. A

A higher threshold o

• f s

signat atures i is needed to raise s stand ndard f for e evening ng h hearing ng request. . Allows ad additional ti time f for

• r al

all p par arties t to

• review t

the p peti titi tions p prior

• r t

to t the hear

• aring. Provides b

bett tter s stream amlining

• f a

actua ual hearing ng p process. . Allo lows ws petition

• n c

collection

• n to

to c commence soone ner a and harmoni nizes r rules f for a all license h hearing ng t types. .

3) Hearing Length Provisions

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

No li limi mits or g gui uidance on h n how l long hearings l gs last st No p procedure f for reque uests t to c cont ntinue nue the h hearing to to a anoth

• ther d

day All h hearing ngs shal all n not

• t l

last m t more t than an 4 4 hour urs before H Hearing ng O Officer h has discreti tion to to c continue h hearing to to a anoth

• ther
• date. (

. (Sec. 2 . 2.03) 03) Any party ty i in interest m may r request the hearing ng b be c cont ntinue nued t to another day, , and h d hea earin ing o

• ffic

ficer h has full discretio ion t to grant o

• r deny t

the r

• request. (

(Sec. 2.0 2.02, , 2.03) 03) Streamli mlines length of

• f h

hearing f for

• r al

all parti ties t to m more “ “human ane” time f fram ame. Prevents ts e evening h hear arings f from

• m l

lasti ting we well p ll past m midnight ht. Provide vides m more c e clarit ity a y and d d direc ectio ion o

• n

how p parties m may r reque uest cont ntinua nuanc nce

• f h

hearing ng. .

4) Expert Witness Filing

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

No No requi uirement nts o

• r guideline

nes o

• n

expert w t witn tness t testi timon

• ny

Any expert w witness m must f t file a a brief stat atement on s subject m matt tter e experti tise, as we well ll as a any o

• the

her i informa mation describ ibin ing t their eir e exper ertis ise i e in any particul ular a

• area. (

. (Sec. 3 . 3.03) 03) Provide vides a all p parties ies w with a abil ilit ity t y to revie iew c credib edibil ilit ity o y of expert, a as we well a ll as to to p prov

• vide a

advan anced n notice o

• f expert

t testimony at h at hearing t to al

• all par

arties.

5) Scheduling Orders and Applicant Letters

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

On Only allud uded to g gene neral r requirement nts for p peti titi tions a and s signatu atures o

• f A

ALL

• hearings. N

No to tool to to te tell p parties e exact t dates o

• f filing

ng r requi uirement nts, p , petitions ns, , etc tc. Schedu dulin ing o

• rder

ders o

• r Applic

icant L Let etters will n now

• w b

be sent t t to a all parti ties i in interest t with th e exac act h hear aring r requirements ts, in includin ing e exa xact de deadlines f for f fil iling petitions, s , signa natur ures, e , expert w witne ness, , stand ndards o

• f i

issua uanc nce, e , etc. . Provide vides a all p parties ies w with c consis istent, clear ar r requirements ts i in advan ance o

• f the

hearing

• ng. A

. Avoids c conf nfus usion n with separ arat ate p parti ties o

• perat

ating u under separ arat ate s sets ts o

• f r

requirements ts.

6) Standards of Issuance (scope of public hearing)

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

Marijua uana na s stand ndards o

• f issua

uanc nce f for license o

• nly r

referred to to “ “good c cause”

• f a

applic icatio ion, i i.e. e., fa fail ilure t e to c comply y with th S Stat ate l law, evidence t the p public healt lth, s safety, we welf lfare o

• f p

publi lic wo would ld be a adversely a affected, e etc. Liquo uor s stand ndards o

• f i

issua uanc nce o

• nly

bas ased on

• n “needs an

and desires of

• f ad

adult inhab abitants ts o

• f the c

com

• mmunity

ty. Cabar aret stan tandar ards o

• f i

issuan ance m mirror

• rs

that o

• f l

liquo uor s stand ndards o

• f i

issuanc nce Marijua uana na hearing ngs n now i includ ude “ “good cause” e evidence plus us “needs a and desires of

• f ad

adults inhabitants” as as a a par art

• f t

the h hear aring s stan andar ards o

• f i

issuan ance (Sec. 5 . 5.03) 03) No c

• changes; sti

till b bas ased on

• n needs an

and desires s stand ndards o

• f i

issua uanc nce ( (Sec 4.03) 03) No c chang nges; ; still m mirrors l liquo uor stand ndards o

• f i

issua uanc nce. . Lang ngua uage n now a adequa uately reflects ts hearing ng r requi uirement nts f for m marijua uana na applicat ations s set t forth i in the D Denver Revis vised ed M Munic icip ipal C Code. de. Current l t languag age r reflects requirements ts set f t forth th i in Color

• rad

ado

• Revised S

Statu atutes. No c changes n s necessa ssary.

7) Special Event Hearing Requests

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

No No direction o

• r procedur

ures o

• n

n how Special al E Event H t Hear arings ( (triggered o

• n

request) ar are c con

• nducted, or
• r s

sta tandard of

• f

issua uanc nce ( (scope) o

• f p

public h hearing ng. . Outlin ines es p polic icie ies a and d procedu dures es o

• f h

how Special al E Event H t Hear arings a are c conducted. Also s set ets s spec ecific ific t time-wind ndow o

• f w

when n hear arings can an be r requested b befor

• re d

dat ate

• f s

special e event

• nt. (

. (Sec. 7 . 7.02) 02) Now p provide vides s structure and c d clarit ity o y on polic icie ies a and p procedu dures es f for cond nduc uction s n special e event nt hearing ngs. . Also p provide vides c clea ear d direc ectio ion to p partie ies

• n timeline t

to r request h t hear aring b before special e event t t tak akes p plac ace, a avoiding late o

• r last m

t minute h hear arings b before ti time an and e effort h has as b been p put i t into special e event. t.

8) Conditions on the Face of License

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Forme mer H HPP PP Propo pose sed H d HPP PP Just stif ific icat atio ion

Only a y allowed f d for a a maxim ximum of 4 4 conditions t to b

• be p

placed on

• n th

the f face of

• f

a license f from

• m n

negoti tiati tions and delib iber eratio ion o

• f

f hea earin

• ing. C

Condit ditio ions c can be p pulled f from Good N Neighborhood Agree eement p provide vided t d they a y are l e legal a and enforceab able. Removes es 4 4 condit ditio ion limit it o

• n the fa

e face o

• f

th the l license an and al allows an any c con

• nditions t

to

• be p

put o

• n license p

provided t the condit ditio ions a are l e legal a and d enforcea eable. e. Current p t practice a allows m more t than an j just t 4 cond nditions ns o

• n a license.

. New H HPP P reflect c current p t prac acti

• tice. A

Additional ally, condit ditio ions s sometim imes g get et “ “squee eezed” d” int nto 4 4 sent ntences, o

• r bul

ullet p points o

• n

n face o

• f l

license – makin ing 4 4 condit itio ion limit a t arbitr

• trary. N

New p proposal al a allow

• ws

whatever c condit ditio ions both p partie ies ag agree t to b

• be p

put on t on face of

• f l

license provide vided t d the c e condit ditio ions a are l e legal a and d enforceab able.

Proposed Minor Changes to HPP

• Designated Area (Sec 3.02(c)):
• More clarification on which sides of streets to include in

Designated Area.

• En-Masse testimony (Sec 3.03(b)):
• Clarification on eligibility and limits for en-masse testimony

(parties-in-interest only, cannot be cross-examined on testimony)

• Communication procedures w/ Department (Sec 2.02):
• More clarification on instructions for email/letter correspondence

related to hearings, as well as ex-parte communication limits.

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Proposed Minor changes to HPP Cont…

• Post Hearing Procedures (Sec 2.02):
• Outlines timelines required to submit protests, additional evidence, etc.
• Parties-in-Interest:
• More clear definitions of parties-in-interest and who’s eligible to testify at

hearings.

• Process for Obtaining Hearing File (Sec 3.03(b)):
• Provides instructions on how to obtain hearing file for all parties in advance of

hearing.

• Elected Official’s Role in Hearings:
• Clarifies ordinance requirements that elected officials can be designated as

parties in interest if their district overlaps any part of the Designated Area in marijuana hearings only. (Sec. 5.02)

• Elected official can be party in interest for liquor and cabaret hearings if they

live in the designated area (per statute requirements). (Secs. 4.02; 6.02)

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Next Steps:

• Public hearing for adoption tentatively scheduled for May 2nd.
• Review draft HPP and presentation at Excise and Licenses

website at denvergov.org/businesslicensing.

• Effective date applicable to all license applications - including

those still waiting to be scheduled for a hearing.

• Scheduling Order or Applicant Letter will be attached to each

application outlining specific hearing requirements.

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Questions?

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