Opinion ID: 1790807
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Transfer Fees

Text: One patent inconsistency between the statutory process set forth by the ordinance and the process set forth by the Act relates to permit transfer fees. Under the current ordinance, an existing permittee or licensee seeking to transfer the permit or license to a different location within the jurisdiction of the city is required to pay an administrative fee ranging from $215 to $315. This fee is subject to change by resolution of the City Council. In contrast, Iowa Code section 123.38 states: The administrator [of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division] may by rule establish a uniform transfer fee to be assessed by all local authorities upon licensees or permittees to cover the administrative costs of such transfers, such fee to be retained by the local authority involved. (Emphasis added.) The Act does not give local authorities the power to establish a transfer fee. Instead the general assembly has, under its exclusive right to establish licenses and [alcoholic beverage] permits, assigned the power to establish transfer fees to the administrator. The City usurps this power by establishing its own transfer fees. In addition, the City's mechanism for setting the amount of the transfer fee does not assure uniformity within the state. Under the ordinance, the City Council can set its own fees for transfer requests without any regard for a fee established by the administrator. Beyond the irreconcilable conflict pertaining to transfer fees, we also find inherent conflicts between the fee collection procedures established in the Act and those set forth in the ordinance.