98-038 ORD PROVIDING THAT ORDINANCE NO 1710 BE AMENDED BY ADDING ARTICLE SIX OF CHAPTER 21 TO BE NUMBERED SECTIONS 21-125 THROUGH 21-149 OF SAID ORDINANCE

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ORDINANCE NO. 98-038 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY Ot' PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, BE AMENDED BY ADDING ARTICLE SIX OF CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE TO BE NUMBERED SECTIONS 21-125 THROUGH 21-149 OF SAID CODE; PROVIDING 1+'OR THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUS[NESSES IN THE INCORPORATED AREAS OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONN'LICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1998. WHEREAS, there is the potential for the location of sexually oriented businesses in Paris, Texas, and such businesses require special supervision from the public safety agencies of the City to protect and preserve the health, safety and welfare of the patrons of such businesses as well as the citizens of the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that sexually oriented businesses are frequently used for unlawfui sexual activities, including prostitution and sexual liaisons of a casual nature; and WHEREAS, the concern over sexually transtnitted diseases is a legitimate health concern of the City which demands reasonable regulation of sexually oriented businesses to protect the health and well-being of the citizens; and W HEREAS, licensing is a legitimate and reasonable means of accountability to ensure that operators of sexually oriented businesses comply with reasonable regulations and to ensure that operators do not knowingly allow their establishments to be used as places of illegal sexual activity or solicitation of the same; and WHEREAS, there is convincing documented evidence that sexually oriented businesses, because of their very nature, have a deleterious effect on both the existing businesses around them and the surrounding residential areas adjacent to them, causing increased crime and the devaluation of property; and WHEREAS, it is recognized that sexually oriented businesses, due to their nature, have serious objectionable operational characteristics, particularly when they are located in close proximity to each other, thereby contributing to urban and rural blight and downgrading the quality of life in the adjacent area; and W HEREAS, the City Council desires to minimize and control these adverse effects and thereby protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry; protect the citizens from increased crime; preserve the quality of life; preserve the property values and character of surrounding neighborhoods and deter the spread of urban and rural blight; and