[Code 1992, § 11.04(1)]
No person, except as provided by W.S.A., § 125.06, shall distribute, vend, sell, offer or keep for sale at retail or wholesale, deal or traffic in or, for the purpose of evading any law or ordinance, give away any alcohol beverages, or cause the same to be done, without having procured a license as provided in this article, nor without complying with all the provisions of this chapter and all statutes, ordinances and regulations of the state and City applicable thereto.
[Code 1992, § 11.05]
(a) 
Form; fee; required descriptions. Application for a license to sell or deal in alcohol beverages shall be made in writing on forms prescribed by the state Department of Revenue and filed with the City Clerk. The fee prescribed for such license in Section 6-36 shall accompany the application. The premises shall be physically described, including every room and storage space to be covered by the license and including all rooms joined by connecting entrances or not separated by a solid wall.
(b) 
To be notarized. Applications shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant as provided by W.S.A., § 887.01.
[Code 1992, § 11.06]
All licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued and shall state clearly the specific premises for which granted, date of issuance, fee paid and name of the licensee and, unless sooner revoked, shall expire on June 30 thereafter, except as otherwise provided.
[Code 1992, § 11.08]
Every license issued under this chapter shall be posted and at all times displayed as provided in W.S.A., § 125.04(10). No person shall post such license or permit any other person to post it upon premises other than those mentioned in the application, or knowingly deface or destroy such license.
[Code 1992, § 11.10]
Before renewal of any license issued under this chapter is refused, the licensee shall be given written notice of any charges or violations against him or the reasons proposed for nonrenewal, a copy of any proposed motion for nonrenewal, and shall have an opportunity to be heard before the City Council.
[Code 1992, § 11.01]
Unless otherwise indicated, fees for licenses issued under this chapter shall be as set from time to time by the Council.
[Added 5-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-04]
(a) 
Operator licenses shall be issued to individuals by the City for the purpose of complying with §§ 125.32(2) and 125.68(2), Wis. Stats. Operators' licenses shall be issued only upon written application on forms provided by the City Clerk.
(b) 
Before issuance of any operator's license, every applicant shall provide proof of having successfully completed a responsible beverage server training course at any location that is offered by a vocational, technical, adult education district, and online forum and that conforms to curriculum guidelines specified by the board of vocational, technical and adult. Those who complete such programs shall have an appropriate endorsement recorded and placed on their licenses and shall be eligible to operate or be employed in establishments operating under a Class A or B license. An applicant is not required to provide proof of successful completion of a responsible beverage server training course if:
(1) 
The person is renewing an operator's license.
(2) 
Within the past two years, the person held a Class A or Class B license or permit or a manager's or operator's license.
(3) 
Within the past two years, the person has completed such a training course.
(c) 
Applicants who are applying for an operator license for the first time within the City of Lake Geneva will be required to provide proof of completing the training course under Subsection (a) of this section and may only apply for a one-year license.
(d) 
Applicants who are renewing an operator license within the City of Lake Geneva may apply for a two-year license.
(e) 
As a part of the operator's license review process, the Chief of Police will conduct a background check of the applicant.
(f) 
The City Clerk or designee shall determine if there are any unpaid City claims against the applicant; if an unpaid claim is found to be owed to the City of Lake Geneva, the Clerk shall withhold issuance of the license until such time that the unpaid City claim is satisfied.
(g) 
Upon favorable review by the Chief of Police, the City Clerk or Clerk's office designee shall issue all operator licenses. It shall be within the sole discretion of the Chief of Police to recommend issuance of a one-year renewal rather than a two-year renewal after the Chief of Police's background check.
[Amended 4-13-2020 by Ord. No. 20-02]
(h) 
The City Clerk or designee may issue a provisional operator's license to a person who is enrolled in a training course under Subsection (a) of this section and shall revoke that license if the applicant fails to successfully complete the course in which enrolled. Proof of enrollment shall be required before a provisional operator license may be issued. A provisional operator's license shall expire 60 days after its issuance or when a license under Subsection (a) of this section is issued to the holder, whichever is sooner.
(i) 
Denial of operator licenses.
(1) 
If an applicant is denied an operator license he/she may appeal the decision of the Chief of Police to the Common Council; This matter may be considered in open session or closed session. The Common Council is responsible for the final decision of approval or denial of a license.
(2) 
Any fees for denied operator license applications will not be refunded by the City of Lake Geneva.
(j) 
Fees. Fees for the aforementioned licenses shall by set by a resolution of the Common Council from time to time. Fee schedule shall be available upon request.