PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO:           Honorable Chairman                        DATE:  11/21/2002               FILE: CAO 03-2821

                 Members of the Board

                 Of County Commissioners

THRU:     Robert D. Sumner,              SUBJECT:      Amendments to Bingo Ordinance

County Attorney                                          to include sessions with 50 players or less

FROM:  Joseph D. Richards,             REFERENCES: Introduction 8/27/02; CORC

              Assistant County Attorney 9/24/02;

Public Hearing 12/3/02, New Port Richey, 6:30p.m.

It is recommended that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners

DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS:

On February 13, 2002, you directed the County Attorney’s Office to prepare amendments to the current Bingo Ordinance to include regulation of groups and organizations that annually average fifty players or less.  Based on the fact that we do not regulate small group bingo, some organizations may underestimate their bingo attendance in an effort to avoid the licensing requirements and procedures that currently exist for games of more than 50 players.  On November 6, 2002, you directed the County Attorney’s Office to advertise Public Hearing for December 3, 2002, Dade City, at 6:30p.m.

Presently is it not possible to know how many organizations and groups are underestimating their bingo attendance.  In addition, there is no means of knowing where these organizations are located or who is sponsoring the activity.

The amendments to the ordinance achieve the following:

1. Any authorized group or organization that sponsors bingo games and averages fifty players or less must register with the Office of the County Administrator annually. 

2. The registration form will contain the organization’s name, address, and phone number, along with the times and day(s) of the week bingo is played.

3. The form will contain a statement providing that the person who signs the form accepts responsibility for the bingo activity.

4. Registration will provide the necessary information to allow the Sheriff’s office to inspect the premises for purposes of compliance.

5. The registered organizations will be required to document the number of bingo players in attendance at each bingo session. The document must be completed at the end of each bingo session and prior to closing the bingo hall for the day.  These forms must be retained by the registered organization for three years.

6. An annual registration fee of $25.00 will be imposed.

Creating a Bingo Ordinance for groups and organizations with 50 players or less will give the Sheriff the ability to monitor compliance and give the Sheriff access to information that would otherwise not be available. The amendments will also help in identifying where bingo games are being held. The burden of this new registration requirement is minimal, but will enhance enforcement of the current ordinance. 

ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS:

We request that the Board of County Commissioners consider the following alternatives:

1. Accept public comments, adopt the attached ordinance by roll call vote, authorize the Chairman’s signature on same, and direct Board records to file a certified copy of the ordinance and coding form with the Department of State, retain one original and send one certified copy to the County Attorney, New Port Richey.

2.  Direct staff to other alternatives.               

RECOMMENDATION AND FUNDING:

It is the recommendation of the County Attorney’s Office that the Board of County Commissioners approve alternative number 1.

No funding is necessary for this item.

JDR/mjc

attachments:               proposed ordinance amendments

cc:                               Lou Garcia, Detective, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office