HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4594CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
CHAPTER 12, ADULT ENTERTAINMENT STANDARDS, OF TITLE V
(FINANCE AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS), OF ORDINANCE NO.
4260 ENTITLED "CODE OF GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
RENTON, WASHINGTON" BY ADOPTING FINDINGS OF FACT AND
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Findings of Fact.
Based on public testimony and other evidence presented to it,
the Council makes the following Findings of Fact:
A. The activities defined herein are detrimental to the
public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the citizens
of the City of Renton and, therefore, such activities must be
regulated as provided herein.
B. Regulation of the adult entertainment industry is
necessary because in the absence of such regulation significant
criminal activity has historically and regularly occurred. This
history of criminal activity in the adult entertainment industry
has included prostitution, assaults, sexual conduct involving
contact between patrons and between entertainers and patrons,
narcotics and liquor law violations, breaches of the peace and the
presence within the industry of individuals with hidden ownership
interests and outstanding arrest warrants.
C. The activities described in subsection B. of this
section occur, in the absence of regulation, regardless of whether
ORDINANCE N0. 4594
adult entertainment is presented in conjunction with the sale of
alcoholic beverages.
D. Adult entertainment businesses which allow entertainers
to mingle with customers foster an environment that pressures
entertainers into acts of prostitution and other sexual contact
with customers. Regulations that require entertainers to maintain
a certain distance from customers are difficult to enforce and
frequently violated. Restricting entertainers to a performance
area affords the entertainers their constitutional right to
express themselves, while effectively discouraging acts of
prostitution and other sexual contact with customers.
E. Due to the information presented regarding the
connection of prostitution with adult entertainment businesses and
sexual conduct involving contact between patrons, and between
entertainers and patrons, there is a public health concern over
sexually -transmitted diseases. This public health concern
requires regulation of adult entertainment businesses in order to
protect the health, safety and well-being of the public.
F. It is necessary to license entertainers in the adult
entertainment industry to prevent the exploitation of minors; to
ensure that each such entertainer is an adult; and to ensure that
such entertainers have not assumed a false name, which would make
regulation of the entertainer difficult or impossible.
G. It is necessary to have a licensed manager on the
premises of establishments offering adult entertainment at all
times of operation so that there will be an individual responsible
for the overall operation of the establishment, including the
actions of entertainers, other employees, and patrons.
H. In order for law enforcement to enforce adult
entertainment regulations, it is necessary to maintain a certain
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level of visibility upon the premises of adult entertainment
businesses providing adult live entertainment. Maintaining
adequate lighting facilitates detection by managers and law
enforcement of unlawful conduct.
I. Persons who violate adult entertainment regulations are
likely to be repeat offenders. To deter unlawful behavior the
adult entertainment regulations must therefore include provisions
to deny or revoke a person a license if that person is shown to
have violated adult entertainment regulations in the recent past.
J. The license fees required herein are nominal fees
imposed as necessary cost recoupment measures designed to help
defray the substantial expenses incurred in regulating the adult
entertainment industry.
K. Hidden ownership interests for the purposes of skimming
profits and avoiding the payment of taxes have historically
occurred in the adult entertainment industry in the absence of
regulation. These hidden ownership interests have historically
been held by organized and white collar crime elements. In order
to effectively protect the public health, safety, morals, and
general welfare it is important that the City of Renton be fully
apprised of the actual ownership of adult entertainment
establishments.
L. There are sufficient important and substantial
government interests to provide a constitutional basis for
reasonable time, place, and manner regulations under which adult
entertainment businesses can operate.
SECTION II. Chapter 12, Adult Entertainment Standards, of
Title V (Finance and Business Regulations), of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton,
Washington" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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CHAPTER 12
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT STANDARDS
Section
5-12-1:
Definitions.
Section
5-12-2:
Prohibition.
Section
5-12-3:
Adult Entertainment Business License Required.
Section
5-12-4:
Adult Entertainment Business License
Application.
Section
5-12-5:
Adult Entertainment Business License
Investigation.
Section
5-12-6:
Issuance Of Adult Entertainment Business
License.
Section
5-12-7:
Denial of Adult Entertainment Business
License.
Section
5-12-8:
License Required For Managers And Entertainers
Of Adult Entertainment Businesses.
Section
5-12-9:
Manager and Entertainer License Application.
Section
5-12-10:
Issuance of License for Manager and
Entertainer.
Section
5-12-11:
License Renewal.
Section
5-12-12:
Fees.
Section
5-12-13:
Exemptions.
Section
5-12-14:
License Nontransferable.
Section
5-12-15:
License - Posting And Display.
Section
5-12-16:
Hours Of Operation.
Section
5-12-17:
Persons Under Eighteen Prohibited.
Section
5-12-18:
Alcohol Prohibited.
Section
5-12-19:
Record Keeping Requirements.
Section
5-12-20:
Inspections.
Section
5-12-21:
Facility Specifications for Adult
Entertainment Businesses Providing Adult Live
Entertainment.
Section
5-12-22:
Owner Duties.
Section
5-12-23:
Manager Duties.
Section
5-12-24:
Standards Of Conduct Applicable To Employees,
Entertainers, Patrons and Customers in Adult
Entertainment Businesses Providing Adult Live
Entertainment.
Section
5-12-25:
Standards of Conduct and Operation Applicable
to Adult Entertainment Businesses that are
Adult Arcades.
Section
5-12-26:
Suspension Or Revocation Of License.
Section
5-12-27:
Denial, Suspension Or Revocation Of License -
Appeal.
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Section 5-12-28: Limitations Of Liability.
Section 5-12-29: Criminal Penalties.
Section 5-12-30: Civil Penalty.
Section 5-12-31: Additional Enforcement.
Section 5-12-32: Severability.
Section 5-12-33: Intent.
5-12-1: Definitions.
For the purposes of this ordinance, the following terms and
words are defined as follows:
A. "Adult entertainment business" means:
1. Any enterprise, which, for money or any other form
of consideration, features adult live entertainment as defined
herein;
2. Any adult motion picture theater as defined in City
Code section 4-31-2; and
3. Any adult arcade containing individual viewing
areas or stations or booths, where, for money or any other form of
consideration, one or more still or motion picture projectors,
slide projectors, or similar machines, or other image producing
machines are used to show films, motion pictures, video cassettes,
slides, or other photographic reproduction of sexual activities or
anatomical areas as defined herein.
B. "Adult live entertainment" shall mean a person appearing
nude or a live performance which is characterized by sexual
activities as defined herein.
C. "Adult live entertainment performance area" shall mean
an area where adult live entertainment shall occur.
D. "Applicant" shall mean any person who applies for an
adult entertainment business license or an adult entertainment
manager or entertainer license.
E. "City" shall mean the City of Renton, Washington.
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F. "Criminal activities" shall mean any conviction, bail
forfeiture or adverse finding under federal, state or local law
for acts which are sexual crimes against children, sexual abuse,
rape, distribution of obscenity, distribution of erotic material
to minors, prostitution, promoting prostitution, transporting
persons for purposes of prostitution or enticing or coercing
persons to travel for purposes of prostitution, permitting
prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, pandering, racketeering,
or violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
G. "Director" shall mean the Finance & Information Services
Administrator or his or her designee.
H. "Employee" shall mean any person, including an
independent contractor who works in or at or renders any service
directly related to the operation of any adult entertainment
business, whether or not such person is paid compensation by the
operator of said business.
I. "Entertainer" shall mean any person who provides adult
live entertainment in an adult entertainment business, whether or
not a fee is charged or accepted for such entertainment.
J. "Manager" shall mean any person who manages, directs,
administers, or is in charge of the affairs and/or the conduct of
an adult entertainment business.
K. "Nude or State of Nudity" shall mean the appearance or
less than complete and opaque covering of the anus, genitals,
pubic region, buttocks, areola or nipple of the female breast, or
any artificial depiction of the same.
L. "Obscene" shall mean an activity or material that, taken
as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or
scientific value, and,
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1. taken as a whole by an average person applying
contemporary community standards, appeals to a prurient interest
in sex, or,
2. taken as a whole by an average person applying
contemporary community standards, depicts patently offensive
representations of:
a. ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted,
actual or simulated; or
b. masturbation, fellatio, cunnilingus,
bestiality, excretory functions, or lewd exhibition of the
genitals or genital area; or
C. violent or destructive sexual acts, including
but not limited to human or animal mutilation, dismemberment, rape
or torture.
M. "Owner" shall mean the sole proprietor, significant
stockholder, general partner, or significant limited partner of
any adult entertainment business.
N. "Person" shall mean any natural person; firm; joint
venture, including all participants; partnership, including all
partners; association, social club, or fraternal organization,
including all officers and directors; corporation, including all
officers, directors and significant stockholders; estate; trust;
business trust; receiver; or any other group or combination acting
as a unit.
0. "Satisfactory documentation" shall mean:
1. A motor vehicle operator's license issued by any
state bearing the applicant's photograph and date of birth; or
2. An identification card bearing the applicant's
photograph and date of birth issued by a federal or state
government agency; or
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3. A valid passport issued by the United States of
America or any other country.
P. "Sexual activity" shall mean any of the following:
1. The fondling or other intentional touching of human
genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, female breasts, or
artificial depiction of the same; or
2. Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated,
including intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy; or
3. Masturbation, actual or simulated; or
4. Excretory functions as part of or in connection
with any of the activities set forth in subdivisions 1 through 3
of this subsection.
Q. "Police" shall mean the Police Department.
R. "Significant limited partner" shall mean any person who
owns twenty percent (200) or greater interest in an adult
entertainment business.
S. "Significant stockholder" shall mean any person who owns
twenty percent (200) or greater stock interest in an adult
entertainment business.
5-12-2: Prohibition.
A person shall not use any property or premises for an adult
entertainment business within the City of Renton, except as
permitted by City ordinance.
5-12-3: Adult Entertainment Business License Required.
A. No person shall operate an adult entertainment business
without a valid adult entertainment business license issued by the
City. The fact that a person possesses other types of state or
county permits and/or licenses does not exempt him/her from the
requirement of obtaining an adult entertainment business license.
Any person granted a license pursuant to this ordinance shall
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
operate an adult entertainment business only under the name
designated in the license and shall conduct business only for the
specific type of adult entertainment business specified in the
license and at the location specified in the license. It is
unlawful for any person to operate or knowingly allow or cause to
be operated an adult entertainment business without an adult
entertainment business license.
B. The director is responsible for granting, denying,
revoking, renewing, and suspending adult entertainment business
licenses.
5-12-4: Adult Entertainment Business License Application.
A. An application for an adult entertainment business
license shall be made on forms provided by the director and shall
be signed by the applicant and notarized or certified to be true
under penalty of perjury. The completed application shall include
the following information and documents:
1. If the applicant is:
a. A sole proprietor, he/she shall state his/her
legal name, any aliases, stage names, previous names, date of
birth, optional disclosure of social security number, mailing
address, residential address and satisfactory documentation as
defined herein, that he/she is eighteen (18) years of age or
older.
b. A partnership, the partnership shall state:
(1) its complete name,
(2) the legal names, dates of birth and
optional disclosure of social security numbers of all general
partners and significant limited partners, and satisfactory
documentation, as defined herein, that each general partner and
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ORDINANCE N0. 4594
significant limited partner is eighteen (18) years of age or
older,
(3) whether the partnership is general or
limited and a copy of the partnership agreement, if any exists,
(4) the mailing address for each general
partner and significant limited partner or the address of the
registered office for service of process, if any exists,
(5) if any of the partners are corporations,
the information required in subsection 5-12-4. (A) (1) (c) for each
corporation.
C. A corporation, the corporation shall state:
(1) its complete name,
(2) the date of its incorporation,
(3) evidence that the corporation is in good
standing under the laws of the state of Washington,
(4) the legal names, dates of birth, optional
disclosure of social security numbers, and capacity of all
officers, directors and significant stockholders, and satisfactory
documentation that each is eighteen (18) years of age or older,
(5) the name of the registered corporate
agent,
(6) the address of the registered office for
service of process, and
(7) in an affidavit from each officer,
director, or significant stockholder the relationship of each to
the corporation.
2. If the applicant has had any criminal activity or
is currently serving a sentence for a criminal activity, defined
herein, within a five year period immediately preceding the date
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of the application, and, if so, the criminal act involved and the
date and place of the criminal activity.
3. If the applicant has, within the last two years,
had a previous permit or license under this ordinance or other
similar ordinances from any other jurisdiction denied, suspended,
or revoked, and, if so, the name and location of the adult
entertainment business for which the permit or license was denied,
suspended, or revoked, the entity denying the same, as well as the
date of the denial, suspension, or revocation.
4. If the applicant holds any other permits and/or
licenses for an adult entertainment business in the City of Renton
or any other jurisdiction, and, if so, the names and locations of
such other adult entertainment businesses.
5. The type of adult entertainment business license
that is the subject of the license application.
6. The location of the proposed adult entertainment
business, including a legal description of the property, street
address, and telephone number(s).
7. Two two-inch by two-inch color photographs of the
applicant taken within six months of the date of the application,
showing only the full face of the applicant. The photographs
shall be provided at the applicant's expense.
8. A driver's license number and state or federally
issued tax identification number for the applicant.
9. A complete set of fingerprints of the applicant
utilizing fingerprint forms prescribed by the director.
10. A sketch or diagram showing the configuration of
the adult entertainment business, including a statement of total
floor space occupied by the business. The sketch or diagram must
be drawn to a designated scale or drawn with marked dimensions of
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
the interior of the premises to an accuracy of plus or minus six
inches.
11. Applicants for a license shall have a continuing
duty to promptly supplement application information required in
the event that said information changes in any way from what is
stated on the application. The failure to comply with said
continuing duty within thirty days from the date of such change by
supplementing the application on file with the director, shall be
grounds for suspension of a license.
12. The license fee as established in this ordinance.
5-12-5: Adult Entertainment Business License Investigation.
The director shall refer an application for an adult
entertainment business license to the following:
A. The Fire Department and the
Planning/Building/Public Works Department for reports on
compliance with all applicable fire, building and zoning codes of
the City,
B. The Seattle -King County Department of Public Health
for a report on all applicable health codes of King County, and
C. The Police Department for investigation and
recommendation.
Each department shall submit a written response as to its
recommendation on the issuance of a license along with specific
reasons and applicable laws if the recommendation is disapproval
of the license. Such reports shall be submitted within thirty
days from the date of the application for an adult entertainment
business license. The director shall conduct an on-site
inspection of the adult entertainment business prior to issuing a
license to ensure compliance with the requirements of this
ordinance.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
5-12-6: Issuance Of Adult Entertainment Business License.
A. The director shall issue an adult entertainment business
license within 45 (forty-five) days from the date of the
application unless one or more of the criteria set forth in
section 5-12-7 is present.
B. The license, if issued, shall state on its face the name
of the person or persons to whom it is issued, the specific type
of adult entertainment business, the expiration date, and the
address of the adult entertainment business. The license shall
have affixed to it one such photograph of the applicant. The
license shall expire one year from the date the license was
issued.
5-12-7: Denial of Adult Entertainment Business License.
The director shall deny the adult entertainment business
license and shall notify the applicant in writing of such denial
for any of the following reasons:
A. The applicant is under eighteen years of age.
B. The applicant has failed to provide information required
by the license application or this ordinance.
C. The applicant has made a materially false statement in
the application for a license which the applicant knows to be
false. "Materially false statement" means any false statement,
oral or written, regardless of its admissibility under the rules
of evidence, which could have affected the course or outcome of
the license application.
D. The applicant is currently serving a sentence for a
criminal activity as defined herein
E. The applicant is currently under suspension or
revocation of a license related to adult entertainment issued by
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
this City or any other jurisdiction for a violation which would be
a violation under the provisions of this chapter.
F. The applicant is overdue on his/her payment to the City
of fees, fines, or penalties assessed against him/her or imposed
upon him/her in relation to an adult entertainment business.
G. The applicant has failed to comply with all applicable
requirements of fire, building, zoning and/or health codes or laws
of the City, county and/or state.
H. The applicant has failed to comply with any provision or
requirement of this ordinance.
5-12-8: License Required For Managers And Entertainers Of
Adult Entertainment Businesses.
No person shall act as a manager or entertainer at any adult
entertainment business without having first obtained a manager's
or entertainer's license from the director.
5-12-9: Manager and Entertainer License Application.
An application for an adult entertainment business manager's
or entertainer's license shall be made on forms provided by the
director and shall be signed by the applicant and notarized or
certified to be true under penalty of perjury. The completed
application shall contain a color photograph of the applicant to
be taken by the director and shall contain the following:
A. The applicant's name, any aliases or previous names, any
stage names or nicknames used in entertaining, home address, home
telephone number, date and place of birth, and optional disclosure
of social security number.
B. Whether the applicant had any criminal activity, defined
herein, within a five year period immediately preceding the date
of the application, and, if so, the criminal act involved and the
date and place of the criminal activity.
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C. The names and addresses of all employers or individuals
or businesses for whom the applicant was an employee or
independent contractor for the period of two years immediately
prior to the application date, and the time period of such
employment.
D. The name and address of each adult entertainment
business at which the applicant intends to work as an entertainer.
E. Satisfactory documentation, as defined herein, that the
applicant is eighteen years of age or older.
F. Evidence of the applicant having been fingerprinted from
the Police Department.
G. The license fee as established in this ordinance.
5-12-10: Issuance of License for Manager and Entertainer.
A. The director shall issue an entertainer or manager
license promptly upon receipt of the completed application,
evidence of fingerprinting by the Police Department, satisfactory
documentation, as defined herein, that the applicant is eighteen
years of age or older and the license fee.
B. The license shall state on its face the name of the
person to whom it is issued and the expiration date. The license
shall expire one year from the date the license was issued.
C. The director shall revoke a manager or entertainer
license, for not more than one year, if such manager or
entertainer had a criminal activity, as defined herein, in
association with adult entertainment, within the preceding two
years for a misdemeanor or five years for a felony.
5-12-11: License Renewal.
A. An application for renewal of a license issued under
this chapter shall:
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1. Be made on forms provided by the director, signed
by the applicant and notarized or certified to be true under
penalty of perjury, and submitted to the director no later than
thirty days prior to the expiration of such license; and
2. Include payment of the license fees as established
in this ordinance.
B. All applicants for a license renewal shall present their
current license for verification of identity, and upon issuance -of-
a renewed license, shall surrender the expiring license to the
director.
C. The director shall renew a license upon submittal of the
renewal application and review of the renewal application 'and
applicant's file, unless the director is aware of facts from this
review that would disqualify the applicant from being issued the
renewal license, and further provided that the application
complies with all provisions of this ordinance.
5-12-12: Fees.
Every person applying for a license under this chapter shall
pay the following non-refundable fees with the license
application:
A. Adult Entertainment Business $750
B. Entertainer $ 75
C. Manager $ 75
D. License Replacement $ 5
5-12-13: Exemptions.
This ordinance shall not be construed to prohibit:
A. A person appearing in a state of nudity or semi -nudity,
modeling in a class operated by: a proprietary school, licensed
by the state of Washington; a college, junior college, or
university supported entirely or partly by taxation; a private
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
college or university which maintains and operates educational
programs in which credits are transferable to a college, junior
college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
B. Plays, operas, musicals, or other dramatic works that
are not obscene;
C. Classes, seminars, and lectures held for serious
scientific or educational purposes that are not obscene; or
D. Exhibitions,performances, expression or dances that are
not obscene.
5-12-14: License Nontransferable.
No license issued pursuant to this ordinance shall be
transferable.
5-12-15: License - Posting And Display.
A. Every adult entertainment business license shall be
displayed in a prominent place within the adult entertainment
business.
B. Every entertainer and manager shall have his/her license
in his/her work area so that it is readily available for
inspection by government licensing or law enforcement personnel.
5-12-16: Hours Of Operation.
It is unlawful for any adult entertainment business to be
conducted, operated, or otherwise open to the public between the
hours of two a.m. and ten a.m.
5-12-17: Persons Under Eighteen Prohibited.
A. It is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen
years to be in any adult entertainment business;
B. It is unlawful for any owner, manager, or other person
in charge of any adult entertainment business to knowingly permit
or allow any person under the age of eighteen years to be in or
upon such premises.
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5-12-18: Alcohol Prohibited.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited from being served or
present at any adult entertainment business except if the adult
entertainment business licensee possesses a valid Washington state
liquor license.
5-12-19: Record Keeping Requirements.
A. Within thirty days following each calendar quarter, each
adult entertainment business licensee shall file with the director
a report signed under penalty of perjury verifying the licensee's
gross receipts and amounts paid to entertainers for the preceding
calendar quarter.
B. Each adult entertainment business licensee shall
maintain and retain for a period of two years from the date of
termination of employment, the names, addresses, social security
numbers and ages of all persons employed or otherwise retained as
entertainers by the licensee.
C. Each adult entertainment business licensee shall
maintain and retain for a period of two years a record of the name
and license of each entertainer by shift and date.
5-12-20: Inspections.
A. All books and records required to be kept pursuant to
this ordinance shall be open to inspection by the director or
Police Department during the hours of operation of the adult
entertainment business. The purpose of such inspection shall be
to determine if the books and records meet the requirements of
this ordinance.
B. The adult entertainment business shall be open to
inspection by the director, Police Department, fire or health
officials, or their designees during the hours when the adult
entertainment business is open. The purpose of such inspection
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
shall be to determine if the adult entertainment business is
operated in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.
It is hereby expressly declared that unannounced inspections are
necessary to ensure compliance with this ordinance.
5-12-21: Facility Specifications for Adult Entertainment
Businesses Providing Adult Live Entertainment.
Adult entertainment business providing adult live
entertainment must meet the following facility specifications:
A. Any adult entertainment business performance area shall
be at least twenty-four inches in elevation above the level of the
patron seating areas, and shall be separated by a distance of at
least six feet from all areas of the premises to which patrons
have access. A continuous railing at least three feet in height,
attached to the floor, and located at least six feet from all
points of the adult live entertainment performance area shall
separate any performance area and patron areas. Should any court
of competent jurisdiction find the six foot separation to be
unconstitutional, and there is any lesser distance of separation
that has been found constitutional or which the court finds
constitutional, then this section shall be deemed amended to
provide for that lesser constitutional separation.
B. Any adult entertainment business performance area must
be visible from any entrance into the patron areas. Visibility
shall not be blocked or obscured by doors, curtains, drapes, or
any other obstruction whatsoever.
C. No activity or entertainment occurring on the premises
shall be visible at any time from any public place.
D. No entertainer shall be visible from any public place
during the entertainer's hours of employment, or apparent hours of
employment, on the premises.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
E. Sufficient lighting shall be provided and equally
distributed in and about the parts of the premises which are open
to and used by patrons and customers. The standard for sufficient
lighting shall be that during all hours of operation all objects
are plainly visible and a program, menu, or list printed in 8
point type is readable by the human eye with 20/20 vision from two
feet away.
F. Doors to areas on the premises which are available for
use by persons other than the owner and/or manager, or their
agents or employees may not be locked during business hours.
5-12-22: Owner Duties.
The owner of any adult entertainment business is responsible
for the following:
A. The owner shall be responsible for ensuring that a
licensed manager is on duty during all hours of operation of the
adult entertainment business.
B. The owner shall not knowingly allow a violation of this
Code to exist or to continue to exist at the adult entertainment
business.
5-12-23: Manager Duties.
The manager of any adult entertainment business is
responsible for the following:
A. A licensed manager shall be on duty at any adult
entertainment business during all hours of operation and shall be
present in or have a view of any adult live entertainment
performance area and areas of the adult entertainment business,
excluding bathrooms, that are open to patrons and/or customers.
B. The manager shall verify that any entertainer who
provides adult live entertainment within the adult entertainment
business possesses a current and valid entertainer's license.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
C. The manager shall ensure that within six hours after an
entertainer has provided adult live entertainment, such
entertainer shall not serve in any other capacity, including but
not limited to being a licensed manager or waitperson.
D. The manager shall ensure that all patrons and customers
are at least eighteen years of age.
E. The manager shall not knowingly allow a violation of
this code to exist or to continue to __exist at the __adult
entertainment business.
5-12-24: Standards Of Conduct Applicable To Employees
Entertainers Patrons and Customers in Adult Entertainment
Businesses Providing Adult Live Entertainment.
A. The following standards of conduct must be adhered to at
all times by employees, entertainers, patrons and customers in
adult entertainment businesses providing adult live entertainment.
1. No employee or entertainer may appear nude in any
part of the premises open to view of patrons and/or customers,
except in an adult live entertainment performance area. No
entertainer may perform anywhere on the premises except in an
adult live entertainment performance area.
2. No patron or customer shall go into or upon an
adult live entertainment performance area.
3. An entertainer is prohibited from being present in
areas of the adult entertainment business that are open to patrons
and/or customers within six hours after the entertainer has
provided adult live entertainment. Entertainers are required to
use restroom facilities that are separate from restroom facilities
for patrons and/or customers.
4. Within six hours after an entertainer has provided
adult live entertainment, no patron, customer, employee or
21
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
entertainer shall allow, encourage, or permit physical contact
between such entertainer and patron or customer.
5. No patron, customer, employee or entertainer shall
engage in sexual activity on the premises of an adult
entertainment facility.
6. No employee or entertainer shall use artificial
devices or inanimate objects to depict sexual activity.
7.No entertainer_ shall be visible from any _public
place outside the premises during the entertainer's hours of
employment or actual hours of employment.
8. No entertainer shall use any name other than the
name(s) stated in the entertainer's application for his/her
entertainer license.
9. No patron or customer shall give to any entertainer
any gratuity or other payment, except for a gratuity for a
performance in an adult live entertainment performance area. Any
gratuity for such performance shall be placed in a receptacle
located at least six feet away from the adult live entertainment
performance area.
10. No entertainer shall solicit, demand, accept, or
receive any gratuity or other payment from a patron or customer
except for a gratuity for a performance in an adult live
entertainment performance area. Any gratuity for such performance
shall be placed in a receptacle located at least six feet away
from the adult live entertainment performance area.
11. within six hours after an entertainer has provided
adult live entertainment, such entertainer shall not serve in any
other capacity, including but not limited to being a licensed
manager or waitperson.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
12. At least two signs, in English, readable in block
print from twenty feet, away shall be conspicuously displayed in
the public area of the adult cabaret or adult theater stating the
following:
THIS ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS IS REGULATED BY THE CITY OF
RENTON:
a. Entertainers and/or patrons are not permitted
to engage in any type of sexual activity on the premises;
b. Entertainers are not permitted to appear nude
except in an adult live entertainment performance area;
C. Entertainers are not permitted to perform
except in an adult live entertainment performance area;
d. Entertainers are prohibited from being present
in areas of the adult entertainment business that are open to
patrons or customers within six hours after the entertainer has
provided adult live entertainment;
e. Entertainers are not permitted to solicit,
demand, accept, or receive any gratuity or other payment from a
patron except a gratuity for a performance in an adult live
entertainment performance area. Any gratuity for such performance
shall be placed in a receptacle located at least six feet away
from the adult live entertainment performance area;
f. Patrons shall not give to any entertainer any
gratuity or other payment, except for a gratuity for a performance
in an adult live entertainment performance area. Any gratuity for
such performance shall be placed in a receptacle located at least
six feet away from the adult live entertainment performance area;
g. violations are subject to criminal
prosecution.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
13. No person may operate or maintain any kind of
warning device or system for the purpose of warning or aiding and
abetting the warning of any employee, patron, customer or any
other person that the police, health, fire or building inspectors
or other public officials are approaching or have entered the
premises.
5-12-25: Standards of Conduct and Operation Applicable to
Adult Entertainment Businesses that are Adult Arcades.
All adult entertainment businesses that are adult arcades
having facilities for customers' viewing of depictions of human
nudity and/or sexual conduct of any nature, including depictions
of sexual activities, as defined herein, shall comply with the
following:
A. Construction/Maintenance.
1. Each viewing area shall be visible from a manager's
station at all times and shall not be obscured by any curtain,
door, wall, other enclosure, merchandise, display racks or other
materials. As used in this section, "viewing area" means the area
where a patron or customer may watch a film, video or other
viewing device, and includes any station or booth for individual
viewing.
2. The premises shall be maintained in a clean and
sanitary condition at all times.
3. Sufficient lighting shall be provided and equally
distributed in or about the parts of the premises which are open
to and used by patrons and customers. The standard for sufficient
lighting shall be that during all hours of operation all objects
are plainly visible and a program, menu or list printed in 8 point
type is readable by the human eye with 20/20 vision from two feet
away.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
4. Restrooms may not contain video reproduction
equipment.
5. No steps or risers are allowed in any adult arcade
booth or station.
6. No adult arcade station or booth shall have more
than one seat. No seat within an adult arcade station or booth
shall have any seat back or side that obscures the occupant of an
adult arcade station or booth from view.
7. The floor coverings in adult arcade stations or
booths shall be nonporous, easily cleaned surfaces and shall not
consist of rugs or carpeting.
8. The wall and ceiling surfaces of adult arcade
stations or booths shall be constructed of, or permanently covered
by nonporous, easily cleanable material, and shall not consist of
wood, plywood, composition board or other porous material within
forty-eight inches of the floor.
9. All ventilation devices between the adult arcade
stations or booths must be covered by a permanently affixed
ventilation cover. Ventilation holes may only be located one foot
from the top of the station or booth walls or one foot from the
bottom of the station or booth walls. There may not be any other
holes or openings in the stations or booths.
10. Doors to areas on the premises which are available
for use by persons other than the owner and/or manager, or their
agents or employees may not be locked during business hours.
B. Unlawful Conduct. The following conduct or activity is
unlawful on the premises:
1. Masturbation or sexual activity of any kind, and/or
2. Two or more customers in a viewing station or booth
at the same time.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
3. No person may operate any kind of warning device or
system for the purpose of warning or aiding and abetting the
warning of any employee, patron, customer, member or other persons
that the police, health, fire or building inspector or other
public officials are approaching or have entered the premises.
4. No person under eighteen years of age shall be
permitted in such premises. The employees shall check
identification of all patrons and customers _upon entering the
premises.
C. Signs. At least two signs, in English, readable in
block print from twenty feet away, shall be conspicuously
displayed on the premises advising customers using viewing
stations or booths that:
1. Masturbation or sexual activity is prohibited and
unlawful on the premises.
2. It is unlawful for more than one customer to occupy
a viewing station or booth at any time.
3. Violations are subject to criminal prosecution.
5-12-26: Suspension Or Revocation Of License.
A. The director shall revoke or suspend, for not more than
one year, any license issued under this chapter, and shall notify
the license holder in writing of such action, if the director
determines that the license holder has made with the intent to
mislead a materially false statement in the application for a
license or license renewal. "Materially false statement" means
any false statement, oral or written, regardless of its
admissibility under the rules of evidence, which could have
affected the course or outcome of the license application.
B. The director shall revoke or suspend, for not more than
two years, any license issued under this chapter, and shall notify
26
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
the license holder in writing of such action, if the director
determines that the license holder:
1. Has a misdemeanor criminal activity, as defined
herein, arising out of an activity related to adult entertainment,
while licensed under this chapter;
2. Is currently under suspension or revocation of a
license related to adult entertainment issued by the City of
Renton or any other jurisdiction for a violation which would be a
violation under the provisions of this chapter;
3. Is adjudicated to be in violation of this chapter,
or in violation of a provision of another jurisdiction which would
be a violation under this chapter, in accordance with the
adjudicative proceedings pertaining to this chapter or by
proceedings in another jurisdiction which would be equivalent to
those of this chapter.
C. The director shall revoke or suspend, for not more than
five years, any license issued under this chapter, and shall
notify the license holder in writing of such action, if the
director determines that the license holder:
1. Has a felony criminal activity, as defined herein,
arising out of an activity related to adult entertainment, while
licensed under this chapter;
2. Commits an act referred to under subsection 5-12-
27.B above for the second time while licensed under this chapter.
D. Upon receipt of a suspension or revocation of a license,
the license holder shall promptly deliver the license to the
director. However, if the suspension or revocation is appealed,
the license holder need not deliver the license to the director
until the appeal process is completed. In the case of a license
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
suspension, the director shall return the license to the license
holder at the expiration of the suspension period.
5-12-27: Denial, Suspension Or Revocation Of License -
Appeal.
The appeals procedure set forth in City Code Chapter 4-8 for
appeals of administrative determinations shall apply to appeals
brought by any party aggrieved by actions of the director pursuant
to any section of this chapter; except that each of the following
shall also apply:
A. If an appeal is brought by any party aggrieved by action
of the director pursuant to any section of this chapter the status
quo shall be maintained pending resolution of the controversy and
the director shall not revoke or suspend the aggrieved party's
license prior to resolution of the matter by the Hearing Examiner.
B. During the course of proceeding before the Hearing
Examiner the burden of proof shall be upon the director.
C. If review of a decision of the Hearing Examiner is
allowed by general law and is timely sought by any aggrieved
party, the status quo shall be maintained pending resolution of
the controversy and the director shall not revoke or suspend the
aggrieved party's license prior to resolution of the matter.
5-12-28: Limitations Of Liability.
None of the provisions of this ordinance are intended to
create a cause of action or provide the basis for a claim against
the City, its officials, or employees for the performance or the
failure to perform a duty or obligation running to a specific
individual or specific individuals. Any duty or obligation
created herein is intended to be a general duty or obligation
running in favor of the general public.
5-12-29: Criminal Penalties.
ORDINANCE NO. 4594
Any person violating any of the conduct provisions of this
chapter, sections 5-12-24 and 5-12-25, shall, upon conviction, be
guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine not to exceed one
thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the City jail for not more
than ninety days, or both.
5-12-30: Civil Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, except
the conduct standards of sections 5-12-24 and 5-12-25, shall be
subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand
dollars per violation, to be directly assessed by the director.
The director, in a reasonable manner, may vary the amount of the
penalty assessed to consider the appropriateness of the penalty to
the size of the business of the violator; the gravity of the
violation; the number of past and present violations committed;
and the good faith of the violator in attempting to achieve
compliance after notification of the violation. All civil
penalties assessed will be enforced and collected in accordance
with the procedure specified under this title.
5-12-31: Additional Enforcement.
Notwithstanding the existence or use of any other remedy, the
director may seek legal or equitable relief to enjoin any acts or
practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of this
chapter or other regulation herein adopted.
5-12-32: Severability.
If any portion of this ordinance as now or hereafter amended,
or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid
or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the
validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any section, provision,
or part thereof not adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional,
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ORDINANCE NO. 4594
and its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be
affected.
5-12-33: Intent.
It is the intent of this ordinance to regulate conduct and
not to unconstitutionally interfere with state or federal
constitutional rights. To the extent this ordinance implicates
constitutional rights, it is the intent of this ordinance to
impose only reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on
those constitutional rights. Any reviewing court should consider
this statement of intent to arrive at an interpretation of this
ordinance which is constitutional.
SECTION III. This ordinance shall be effective upon its
passage, approval, and (30) days after publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 8th day of April , 1996.
MarilyfV'U Petersen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 8th day of April
Approve as to form:
Lawrence J. Warr , City Attorney
Date of Publication: 4/12/96
ORD.544-3/27/96:as.
30
J se Tanner, Mayor
1996.