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Plant City 1 Hearing Away From Tougher Nudity Laws

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/28/2007 11:57 am

PLANT CITY - City commissioners have taken another step toward banning total nudity and lap dances at sexually-oriented businesses.

The new laws, which would refine and toughen existing codes, were approved Monday by a 4-0 vote at the first of two public hearings. Commissioner Dan Raulerson was absent.

No member of the public spoke during Monday's hearing.

The second and final public hearing will be held during the commission's next meeting, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

The amendments establish licensing regulations for adult entertainment businesses and prohibit their operation between 2 and 6 a.m., except for adult motels. There are no sexually-oriented businesses in the city. Officials say they want updated law on the books in case one opens.

Scott Bergthold, a lawyer who specializes in helping local governments draft ordinances pertaining to sexually-oriented businesses, said the updates are "state of the art." Bergthold, who worked with City Attorney Ken Buchman on refining the laws, told commissioners he based his work on Hillsborough County ordinances adopted last year.

"The ordinance mirrors what is upheld in federal court," Bergthold said, "and is as strong in the city as it is in the county that surrounds it."

The new regulations would ban patrons and employees in sexually-oriented businesses from being completely nude. Dancers at clubs or bars, who may perform semi-nude, must remain at least six feet from any customer and on a stage that is at least 18 inches from the floor. The 6-foot buffer would ban lap dances, which involve physical contact between the dancer and customer.

Citing studies and court cases that documented "adverse secondary effects" of sexually-oriented businesses, Bergthold said such establishments have been linked to prostitution, public indecency, illicit sexual activity and drug use, sexual assault and exploitation, and lower values for surrounding property.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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