Georgia- Ringgold officials are making it more difficult for adult entertainment venues, like pornographic book stores, movie houses and strip clubs, to open shop in the city.
Ringgold City Council voted 3-1 this week to approve a revised version of its adult entertainment ordinance, first adopted in 1993.
Council member Martha Denton, who voted against, questioned why the city even needed an ordinance, saying she is opposed to having an ordinance on such a topic.
City Attorney Kim Sawyer said the reason for having any ordinance is to protect public safety, health and welfare.
According to Sawyer, the revised ordinance will help tighten existing restrictions on adult entertainment in the city and focus on nuisances such as signs and licensing.
“A city cannot prohibit adult entertainment from coming in,” he said. “You have to regulate it, or they can do things you cannot believe.”
Councilman Bill McMillon encouraged the council to require adult business licens
e holders to be a U.S. citizen and not a convicted felon.
Mayor Joe Barger said the city has to control such activities or businesses can do almost anything.
“Sometimes when you pass an ordinance, you do it to help something from happening,” he said. “We must do everything we can legally to regulate these businesses, so if they do get here the residents are protected.”
Should such a business locate in Ringgold and choose to pay the $5,000 application fee, receive approval and proceed with opening an adult bookstore, adult dancing establishment, adult video store or other such venture, the owner will have a long list of criteria to meet to regulates its operations.
Sawyer said the ordinance limits strip clubs to topless only.
“No dancing shall occur closer than 10 feet to any patron,” he said. “All rooms in the business have to be open. Dancers are not supposed to touch any customers.”
Sawyer said other communities have faced legal scrutiny over strict ordinances.
To avoid a loss of the entire ordinance in the event of losing a challenge, Sawyer said the city added a clause making each section stand independently and remain in force even if one clause is overturned.
“Lawyers will be looking for any loophole to turn it over,” he said.
The ordinance was approved Feb. 9 by Ringgold Planning and Zoning Commission and recommended for approval by the council, although planning and zoning member Tom Clark said he wants the commission to review the ordinance in more detail and offer amendments if needed.
According to city officials, no adult business license requests have been made in the last decade.
Vice Mayor O.C. Adcock was absent and did not vote.
Other adult entertainment restrictions:
* Employees and customers shall not be less than 21-years-old;
* No alcohol sales;
* Businesses cannot have any on-premise or off-premise signs including sexual content;
* No dancer shall solicit any pay or gratuity from any patron, and no patron shall directly pay or give any gratuity to a dancer;
* No gambling on the premises;
* Adult entertainment businesses may not be located in the downtown district or any historic district or within 600 feet of a residence; within 1000 feet of a church, school, child care, government building or public park; within 1000 feet of another adult entertainment establishment, or within 600 feet of any business selling alcohol;
* Building colors are limited to white, brown and beige;
* No multicolored lighting, flashing lights, strobe lights, search lights, laser light emitting diodes, lights causing glare or vision problems to motorists, light or lighting form of sexually oriented design or depictions;
* No music, thumping sounds or other bass tones or other sound vibration from subwoofers or drums, singing, clapping, cheering screaming or other calls or similar nuisance type sounds shall be allowed to emanate from the premises, or be heard or felt by a distance of 300 feet from the building’s walls.