CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance amending Section 3-4A (Raffles) of the Naperville Municipal Code to accommodate progressive raffle contests and reflect recent changes made by the Illinois General Assembly (requires six positive votes)
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk’s Office
SUBMITTED BY: Pam Gallahue, PhD, Director-City Clerk and Mike DiSanto, City Attorney
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Since September 2018 staff from the City Clerk’s Office and the Legal Department have been working with representatives from Saints Peter and Paul (SsPP) on their request to hold a Queen of Hearts raffle. The raffle is based on a shuffled deck of 52 cards plus the two jokers. One card is drawn each week until the Queen of Hearts card is revealed.
Due to the potential duration of the raffle and other components that were inconsistent with the current ordinance, staff worked diligently to ensure the raffle was conducted within the parameters set forth in the Municipal Code.
After the raffle concluded, at the July 16 City Council meeting, a representative from SsPP spoke under Public Forum, provided a list of desired revisions, and requested staff be directed to draft a text amendment modifying the regulations to allow for continued progressive raffle events. At that time Council did not direct staff to prepare a text amendment.
Recently, SsPP and Councilman Hinterlong requested a meeting with staff from the City Clerk’s Office and the Legal Department to discuss a possible amendment to the raffle ordinance. The meeting was held on November 18 and afterward three Councilmembers requested an amendment be placed on an upcoming agenda for consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Public Act 101-0109 became effective on July 19, 2019 and amended the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Accordingly, the City of Naperville is revising its ordinance to reflect new state language as well as incorporating regulations allowing progressive raffles.
Aside from modifying language to be consistent with the state, two major changes related to progressive raffles include:
1. Defining a Key Location as the location where winning chances in the raffle are determined. This allows for winning chances to be sold throughout the state, however the winner must be picked within the City of Naperville.
2. Extending the duration of a raffle contest from 180 days to no more than one year. This will allow for 52 cards to be drawn.
All amendments to the ordinance are included in the attachment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A