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MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE TO <br />REVIEW ORDINANCE TO REGULATE SEXUALLY <br />ORIENTED BUSINESSES <br />JUNE 30, 1998 <br />The Committee to Review Ordinance to Regulate Sexually Oriented Businesses met <br />Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at 4:30 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Paris, <br />Texas. Mayor Pro Tern Jerry L. Thomas, Chairman, called the meeting to order with <br />the following members present: Councilwoman Mary Ann Fisher, Leon Williams, <br />Reverend Doug Miller, and Loren Stephens. Also present was City Manager Michael <br />E. Malone, City Attorney Scott P. Foster, and Assistant City Clerk Barbara Denny. <br />Chairman Thomas asked the City Attorney for an explanation concerning legal <br />requirements and background information for the regulation of sexually oriented <br />businesses. <br />City Attorney Foster advised the committee concerning regulations in connection <br />with sexually oriented businesses and how they relate to the First Amendment to the <br />Constitution. Mr. Foster stated that most land use regulations permit permanent <br />zoning for promoting public health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the <br />public and that specific language to that effect will be found in every ordinance the <br />City enacts concerning zoning. Mr. Foster advised when fundamental <br />constitutional rights are involved, the City must show that there is a compelling state <br />interest in regulating the secondary effects of the sexually oriented businesses. The <br />City must apply strict scrutiny and regulate these businesses in the least restricting <br />means. <br />City Attorney Foster stated that this Committee is going to have findings and <br />evidence presented in order that the Committee will know what to regulate and why <br />to regulate it. He said that the findings and evidence will be very important in <br />deciding what type regulations are in the best interest of the citizens of the City of <br />Paris. Mr. Foster said that the Committee can use studies and surveys from other <br />cities in reviewing and determining findings concerning effects of these businesses. <br />He said that the Committee needs to be aware of some legislative findings found in <br />the Local Government Code, Section 243, and to study the land use zoning <br />requirements. Mr. Foster said that the courts have stated that you need to make <br />sure that your restrictions do not restrict down to less than a minimum of 5 %of land <br />available in a city. <br />Chairman Thomas said that when the Committee looks at the City of Paris overall <br />map that 5% of an area must be available for these businesses to be productive, <br />even if we have guidelines restricting these businesses from certain entities such <br />as schools, churches, or residential areas. City Attorney Foster stated that the Fifth <br />Circuit Court of Appeals has interpreted the 5% to be actual useable land. Mr. Foster <br />said that he had contacted the City Engineer about preparing a map for the <br />