Friday, December 17, 1999
City, strip bars settle on regulations
No nudity, but G-string OK
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by adult bars against Covington's adult entertainment ordinance will give city officials another tool to regulate clubs that allow illegal activities, such as prostitution.
“It will keep out, through the screening process, the known prostitutes, or the people who've been in the prostitution business,” said Covington Solicitor Joe Condit.
However, bars with nightclub licenses will be able to offer adult entertainment until 2:30 a.m., instead of 1 a.m., as the city had initially proposed.
Under the settlement, nude entertainment is prohibited. That applies to the property where a sexually oriented business is located, no matter who may own the bar in the future.
Likewise, exotic dancers can continue to strip down to pasties and G-strings, even if future court cases or laws adopted elsewhere require them to put on more clothing.
“We have agreed to some regulation, in terms of bar licensing and (employee) licensing, and the internal operation of the clubs,” said Robert Lotz, the lawyer representing the bars. “However, the city has agreed that the level of undress, and the hours of operation will remain the same.”
Both sides announced they had settled the lawsuit Wednesday, two days before today's scheduled hearing in U.S. District Court in Covington. Judge William O. Bertelsman still must approve the settlement.
Covington has nine adult entertainment bars, a number that hasn't varied much in recent years. Six of those bars and an exotic dancer joined in the lawsuit against the city.
The city adopted its ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses last spring. However, Covington officials delayed enforcing it, pending the resolution of a federal law suit claiming the ordinance was too restrictive and that it violated the constitutional rights of bar owners and employees.
“I believe that between now and Jan. 1, all the (adult entertainment) bars will get all their employees registered,” Mr. Lotz said. “We're working on an effective date of Jan. 1” for enforcement of the ordinance.
The ordinance called for a $155 licensing fee for sexually oriented businesses and workers to cover the costs of criminal background checks and the administration of the ordinance.
While the licensing fee does not change with the settlement, the city has agreed that it will be based upon the actual cost of administering the ordinance.
For example, if a bar employee changes employers within nine months, that employee would not have to undergo another investigation at a cost of $155, Mr. Condit said.
“We admit and acknowledge the city's right to some regulation and some cost,” Mr. Lotz said. “We just want to make sure that the bars are able to continue to operate in the same manner as they have in the past 20 years.”
“We can't make it so restrictive that we put (adult entertainment) bars out of business,” Mr. Condit said. The city wants to ensure that the businesses “are not in any way involved in illegal activities, especially prostitution. That's the No. 1 secondary offense of improperly run sexually oriented businesses.”
Flurry of threats plague Tristate schools
Accused officer's record mixed
Reburial ends family's long ordeal
City, strip bars settle on regulations
Hospitals and doctors busy, but it's not flu
Justin case in higher court
Lucasville payments held up by state
Rapist should stay in prison, prosecutor says
Restored fountain changing color
Teacher takes gifts to land where he was slave
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Reducing mistakes in medicine
Vote for Top Events of the Century
Ballet planning debut of original production
Burbank calling it quits next year
GET TO IT
Man needs help furnishing own place
Opera delays 'Aida' redesign, bid for grant
Teaching is what she loves to do
Walnut Hills pantry open again Saturday
Colerain to ask voters to replace road levy
Council president to step down
Crescent Springs singled out for high drunk-driving arrests
Fairfield schools head to retire
Indiana shooting called likely suicide
Judge urges deal in methadone fight
Mason, schools agree on terms
Paul Voinovich's firm did shoddy work, jury says
Porch-light beacons speed aid to seniors
Six-laner to replace historic span in Hamilton
TRISTATE DIGEST
22 who brought conventions to Northern Ky. to be honored
