RESOLUTION

NO. 2013-4

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ENACTMENT OF LICENSING REGULATIONS FOR INTERNET SWEEPSTAKES CAFES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. WHEREAS, the Ohio General Assembly is considering the passage ofHB 7, which would effectively prohibit internet sweepstakes cafes throughout the State of Ohio; and WHEREAS, the City of Willowick pursuant to Chapter 761 of its Codified Ordinances establishes appropriate local government regulations by its licensing internet sweepstake cafes; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 761 of the City's Codified Ordinances, there are presently four (4) internet sweepstakes cafes licensed for operation within the City of Willowick which operations have generated numerous jobs for City residents and resulted in the occupancy of otherwise vacant commercial buildings within the City; and WHEREAS, the City's licensed internet sweepstake cafes provides an annual revenue to the City of Willowick in the approximate amount of$125,000.00; and WHEREAS, the operation of the internet sweepstakes cafes by license within the City of Willowick has not resulted in the proliferation or increase in criminal activity within the City in proximity to the locations for internet sweepstake cafes; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLOWICK, COUNTY OF LAKE, STATE OF OHIO THAT: Section 1. This Council hereby declares its strong opposition to any effort by the Ohio General Assembly to legislatively terminate as an absolute prohibition the operation of internet sweepstake cafes, including the passage of HB 7, thereby reducing revenues to the municipalities of Ohio; Section 2. The Ohio General Assembly should request the drafting of legislation to provide for the licensing and regulation of internet sweepstake cafes which would bring uniformity to such operation and further provide regulations deemed necessary for such operation to control any perceived attendant criminal activity from such operation.

Section 3. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Resolution were conducted in an open meeting of this Council and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in such actions were conducted in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements including Chapter 123 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willowick.

Section 4. This Resolution constitutes an emergency measure in that the same provides for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Willowick; and for the further reason that the City must maintain revenue levels without threat of assault via legislation proposed by the Ohio General Assembly; therefore, this Resolution shall be in full force and take effect immediately upon its passage by Council and approval by the Mayor. PASSED: __ ~+-~_~--'="~==--_, 2013

Bob Patton, SUBMITTED to the Mayor for his approval on APR 1 7 ,2013

resident of Council

APPROVED by the Mayor on APR 1 7 ,2013

ATTEST:

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Susan Wovrosh, Clerk of Council Richard J. Bonde, Mayor