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 ORDINANCEORDINANCE 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
WHEREAS, it is not the intent ofthis Ordinance to suppress any speech activities protected
by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, but to enact a content-neutral Ordinance
that addresses the secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses; and
WHEREAS, it is not the intent of the City Council to condone or legitimize the promotion
of obscene materials; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that applicable state law prohibits the promotion
of obscene materials, and the City Council expects and encourages state enforcement officials to
enforce state obscenity statutes against any such illegal activities in Paris, Texas;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority granted by the Constitution, Chapter 243
of the Texas Local Government Code, and the Charter of the City of Paris, BE IT ORDAiNED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PAR[S, PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas, be amended
by adding Article Vl to Chapter Twenty-One to be numbered sections 21-125 through 21-149 of said
code; providing for the licensing and regulation of sexually oriented businesses in the incorporated
areas of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict
herewith; to read as follows:
CNAPTER 21
MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES AND PROVISIONS
ARTICLE VI
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sec.
21-125.
PURPOSE AND INTENTION
Sec.
21-126.
DEFINITIONS
Sec.
21-127.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Sec.
21-128.
LICENSE REQUIRED
Sec.
21-129.
ISSUANCE OF LICENSE
Sec.
21-130.
LICENSE FEES FOR SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Sec.
21-131.
INSPECTION
Sec.
21-132.
EXPIRATION OF LICENSE
Sec.
21-133.
SUSPENSION
Sec.
21-134.
REVOCATION
Sec.
21-13 5.
APPEAL
Sec.
21-136.
TRANSFER OF LICENSE
Sec.
21-137.
LOCATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Sec.
21-138.
EXEMPTIONS FROM LOCATION RESTRICTIONS
Sec.
21
-139.
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ESCORT AGENCIES
Sec.
2l
-140.
ADD1TiONAL REGULATION S FOR NUDE MODEL STUDIOS
Sec.
21
-141.
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT THEATERS AND ADULT
MOTION PICTURE THEATERS
Sec.
21
-142.
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT MOTELS
Sec.
21
-143.
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO EXHIBITION OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
FILMS OR VIDEOS
Sec.
21
-144.
DISPLAY OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL TO MINORS
Sec.
2l
-145.
ENFORCEMENT
Sec.
21
-146.
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
Sec.
21-147.
SEVERABILITY
Sec.
21
-148.
EXISTING SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Sec.
21
-149.
TIME OF EFFECT
Sec.
21
-125.
PURPOSE AND INTENT.
(a) It is the purpose of this Ordinance to promote the health, safety, morals, and general
welfare of the citizens of the City, and to regulate sexually oriented businesses in
order to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent the concentration of
sexually oriented businesses within the City. The provisions of this Ordinance have
neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of
any communicative materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is
neither the intent nor effect of this Ordinance to restrict or deny access by adults to
sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually
oriented entertainment to their intended market.
(b) It is the intent of the City Council that the location regulations of Sec. Z 1-137 of this
ordinance are promulgated pursuant to Chapter 243 of the Texas Local Government
Code.
Sec.21-126. DEFINITIONS.
In this Ordinance:
(a) Adult Arcade means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein
coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically
controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing
devices are maintained to show images to five (5) or fewer persons per machine at any
one (1) time, and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by
the depicting or describing of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical
areas."
(b) Adult Bookstore or Adult Video Store means a commercial establishment that as one
of its principal business purposes offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration
any one or more of the following
(1) books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films,
motion pictures, video cassettes or video reproductions, slides, or other visual
representations that depict or describe "specitied sexual activities" or
"specified anatomical areas"; or
(2) instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed for use in connection
with "specified sexual activities."
(c) Adult Cabaret means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or similar commercial establishment
that regularly features:
(1) persons who appear in a state of nudity or semi-nudity, including topless
dancers, nude dancers or strippers, male or female; or
(2) live performances that are characterized by the exposure of "specified sexual
activities" or by "specified anatomical areas"; or
(3) films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic
reproductions that are characterized by the depiction or description of
"specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."
(d) Adult Motel means a hotel, motel or similar cammercial establishment that:
(1) offers accommodations to the public for any form of consideration; provides
patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures,
video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that are
characterized by the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities"
or "specified anatomical areas"; and has a sign visible from the public right-of-
way which advertises the availability of this type of photographic
reproductions; or
(2) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time that is less than ten (10)
hours; or
(3) allows a tenant or occupant of a sleeping room to subrent the room for a
period of time that is less than ten (10) hours.
(e) Adult Motion Picture Theater means a commercial establishment where, for any form
of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar
photographic reproductions are shown that are characterized by the depiction or
description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."
(f) Adult Theater means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial
establishment that regularly features persons who appear in a state of nudity or live
performances which are characterized by the exposure of "specified anatomical areas"
or by "specified sexual activities. "
(g) Child Care Facility means a building used as a day nursery, children's boarding home,
child placement agency, religious or charitable encampment for children or any other
place for the care or custody of children under sixteen ( 16) years of age.
(h) h rch means a building in which persons regularly assemble for worship, intended
primarily for purposes connected with faith, or for propagating a particular form of
belief.
(i) Chief of Police means the City of' Paris Chief of Police or his designated agent.
(j) Escort means a person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion,
guide, or date for another person, or who agrees or offers to privately model lingerie
or to privately perform a striptease for another person.
(k) Escort AgencX means a person who, or business association that, furnishes, offers to
furnish, or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its business purposes, for a fee, tip,
or other consideration.
(l) Establishment means and includes any of the following:
(l) the opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new
business;
(2) the conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented
business, to any sexually oriented business;
(3) the addition of any sexually oriented business to any other existing sexually
oriented business; or
(4) the relocation of any sexually oriented business.
(m) Licensee means a person in whose name a license to operate a sexually oriented
business has been issued, as well as the individual listed as an applicant on the
application for a license.
(n) Nude Model Studio means any place where a person who appears in a state of nudit_y
or semi-nudity or displays "specified anatomical areas" is provided to be observed,
sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other
persons who pay money or any form of consideration.
(o) Nudity or a State of Nuditv means:
(1) the appearance of a human bare buttock, anus, male genitals, female genitals,
or female breast; or
(2) a state of dress that fails to opaquely cover a human buttock, anus, male
genitals, female genitals, or areola of the female breast.
(p) erates or Causes to be Operated means to cause to function or to put or keep in
operation. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated a
sexually oriented business whether or not that person is an owner, part owner, or
licensee of the business.
(q) Person means an individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or
other legal entity.
(r) Residential District means a single family, duplex, townhouse, multiple family or
mobile home district or area so designated by such uses.
(s) Residential Use means property used for single family, duplex, multiple family, mobile
home park, mobile home subdivision, or campground purposes.
(t) School means any public or private learning center, elementary school, secondary
school, junior college, community college, college, university or other center for post-
secondary education.
(u) Semi-Nude means a state of dress in which clothing covers no more than the genitals,
pubic region, and areolae of the female breasts, as well as portions of the body
covered by supporting straps or devices.
(v) Sexual Encounter Center means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of
its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration:
(1) physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the
opposite sex; or
(2) activities between male and female persons and/or persons of the same sex
when one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or semi-nude.
(w) Sexually Oriented Business means an adult arcade, adult bookstore or adult video
store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, adult theater, escort
agency, nude model studio, or sexual encounter center.
(x) Specified Anatomical Areas means human genitals in a state of sexual arousal.
(y) Specified Sexual Activities means and includes any of the following:
(l) the fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region,
buttocks, anus, or female breasts;
(2) sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral
copulation, or sodomy;
(3) masturbation, actual or simulated; or
(4) excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set
forth in (1) through (3), above.
(z) Substantial Enlargement of a Sexually Oriented Business means the increase in floor
area occupied by the business by more than twenty (20) percent, as the floor area
existed on the date of the enactment of this Ordinance.
(aa) Transfer of Ownership or Control of a sexually oriented business means and includes
any of the following:
(1) the sale, lease, or sublease of the business;
(2) the transfer of securities that constitute a controlling interest in the business,
whether by sale, exchange, or similar means; or
(3) the establishment of a trust, gift, or other similar legal device that transfers the
ownership or control of the business, except for transfer by bequest or other
operation of law upon the death of the person possessing the ownership or
control.
Sec. 21-127. CLASSIFICATIONS OF SEX[1ALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
Sexually oriented businesses are classified as follows:
(a) adult arcades;
(b) adult bookstores or adult video stores;
(c) adult cabarets;
(d) adult motels;
(e) adult motion picture theaters;
(f) adult theaters;
(g) escort agencies;
(h) nude model studios; and
(i) sexual encounter centers.
Sec. 21-128. LICENSE REQUIRED
(a) A person commits an offense if he operates a sexually oriented business without a
valid license issued by the City for the particular type of business.
(b) An application for a license must be made on a form provided by the Chief of Police.
The application form shall be sworn to and shall:
(1) include the name and address of the applicant;
(2) state whether the applicant meets each of the requirements set forth in Sec.
21-129 of this Ordinance;
(3) include the name and address of each person required to sign the application
pursuant to Sec. 21-128(d) ofthis Ordinance, and the name, address and type
of entity (if applicable) of' each person or entity owned or controlled by such
person that owns or controls an interest in the business to be licensed; and
(4) such other matters, consistent with this Ordinance, as may be specified in the
application form. The application must be accompanied by a sketch or
diagram showing the configuration of the premises, including a statement of
total floor space occupied by the business. The sketch or diagram need not
be professionally prepared but must be drawn to a designated scale or drawn
with marked dimensions of the interior of the premises to an accuracy of plus
or minus six inches (6"). Applicants who must comply with Sec. 21-143 of
this Ordinance shall submit a diagram meeting the requirements of Sec. 21-
143 of this Ordinance.
(c) The applicant must be qualified according to the provisions of this Ordinance and the
premises must be inspected and found to be in compliance with the law by the Chief
of Police.
(d) If a person who wishes to operate a sexually oriented business is an individual, he or
she must sign the application for a license as applicant. If a person who wishes to
operate a sexually oriented business is other than an individual, each individual who
has a twenty percent (20%) or greater interest in the business must sign the
application for a license as applicant. Each applicant must be qualified under Sec. 21-
129 ofthis Ordinance and each applicant shall be considered a licensee if a license is
granted.
Sec. 21-129. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.
(a) The Chief of Police shall approve the issuance of a license to an applicant within thirty
(30) days after receipt of an application unless the Chief of Police finds one or more
of the following to be true:
(1) An applicant is under eighteen (18) years ofage.
(2) An applicant or an applicant's spouse is overdue in payment to the City of
taxes, fees, fines, or penalties assessed against or imposed upon the applicant
or the applicant's spouse in relation to a sexually oriented business.
(3) An applicant has failed to provide information reasonably necessary for
issuance of the license or has falsely answered a question or request for
information on the application form.
(4) An applicant or an applicant's spouse has been convicted of a violation of a
provision of this Ordinance other than the offense of operating a sexually
oriented business without a license, within two (2) years immediately
preceding the application. The fact that a conviction is being appealed shall
have no effect.
(5) The license fee required by this Ordinance has not been paid.
(6) An applicant has been employed in a sexually oriented business in a
managerial capacity within the preceding twelve (12) months and has
demonstrated an inability to operate or manage a sexually oriented business
premises in a peaceful and law-abiding manner, thus necessitating action by
law enforcement officers.
(7) An applicant or the proposed establishment is in violation of or is not in
compliance with Sec. 21-131, Sec. 21-136, Sec. 21-137, Sec. 21-139, Sec.
21-140, Sec. 21-14 I, Sec. 21-142, Sec. 21-143 or Sec. 21-144 of this
Ordinance.
(8) The premises to be used for the sexually oriented business are not in
compliance with all applicable City laws, regulations and ordinances.
(9) An applicant or an applicant's spouse has been convicted of a crime:
(A) involving;
(I) any of the following offenses as described in Chapter 43 of the
Texas Penal Code:
(aa) prostitution;
(bb) promotion of prostitution;
(cc) aggravated promotion of prostitution;
(dd) compelling prostitution;
(ee) obscenity;
(ft) sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a
minor;
(gg) sexual performance by a child; or
(hh) possession of child pornography;
(II) any of the following offenses as described in Chapter 21 of the
Texas Penal Code:
(aa) public lewdness;
(bb) indecent exposure; or
(cc) indecency with a child;
(III) sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault as described in
Chapter 22 of the Texas Penal Code;
(IV) incest, solicitation of a child, or harboring a runaway child as
described in Chapter 25 of the Texas Penal Code; or foregoing
offenses;
(V) criminal attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of
the above for which:
(aa) less than two (2) years have elapsed since the date of
conviction of the date of release from confinement
imposed for the conviction, whichever is the later date,
if the conviction is of a misdemeanor offense;
(bb) less than five (5) years have elapsed since the date of
conviction or the date of release from confinement for
the conviction, whichever is the later date, if the
conviction is of a felony offense; or
(cc) less than five (5) years have elapsed since the date of
the last conviction or the date of release from
confinement for the last conviction, whichever is the
later date, if the convictions are of two (2) or more
misdemeanor offenses or combination of misdemeanor
otTenses occurring within any 24-month period.
(b) The fact that a conviction is being appealed shall have no effect on the disqualification
of the applicant or applicant's spouse.
(c) The license, if granted, shall state on its face the name of the person or persons to
whom it is granted, the expiration date, and the address of the sexually oriented
business. The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place at or near the entrance
to the sexually oriented business so that it may be easily read at any time.
Sec. 21-130. LICENSE FEES FOR SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
The annual fee for a sexually oriented business license shall be $200.00.
Sec. 21-131. INSPECTION.
(a) An applicant or licensee shall permit representatives of the City of Paris Police
Department to inspect the premises of a sexually oriented business for the purpose of
ensuring compliance with the law, at any time it is occupied or open for business.
(b) A person who operates a sexually oriented business or his agent or employee commits
an offense if he refuses to permit a lawful inspection of the premises by a
representative of the Police Department at any time it is occupied or open for
business.
(c) The provisions of this section do not apply to areas of an adult motel that are
currently being rented by a customer for use as a permanent or temporary habitation.
Sec. 21-132. EXPIRATION OF LICENSE.
Each license shall expire one (1) year from the date of issuance and may be renewed only by
making application as provided in Sec. 21-128. Application for renewal should be made at
least thirty (30) days before the expiration date, and when made less than thirty (30) days
before the expiration date, the expiration of the license will not be affected.
Sec.21-133. SUSPENSION.
The Chief of Police shall suspend a license for a period not to exceed thirty (30)days if he
determines that a licensee or an agent or employee of a licensee has:
(a) violated or is not in compliance with Sec. 21-13 Sec. 21-13 6, Sec. 21-13 7, Sec. 2 l-
13 9, 21-140, Sec. 21- l 41, Sec. 21- I 42, Sec. 21-143, or Sec. 21-144 of this
Ordinance;
(b) engaged in excessive use of alcoholic beverages while on the sexually oriented
business premises;
(c) refused to allow an inspection ofthe sexually oriented business premises as authorized
by this Ordinance;
(d) knowingly permitted gambling by any person on the sexually oriented business
premises; or
(e) demonstrated inability to operate or manage a sexually oriented business in a peaceful
and law-abiding manner thus necessitating action by law enforcement officers.
Sec.21-134. REVOCATION.
(a) The Chief of Police shall revoke a license if a cause of suspension in Sec. 21-133 of
this Ordinance occurs and the license has been suspended within the preceding twelve
(12) months.
(b) The Chief of Police shall revoke a license if he determines that:
(1) a licensee gave false or misleading information in the material submitted to the
Chief of Police during the application process;
(2) a licensee, an agent or an employee has knowingly allowed possession, use,
or sale of controlled substances on the premises;
(3) a licensee, an agent or an employee has knowingly allowed prostitution on the
premises;
(4) a licensee, an agent or an employee knowingly operated the sexually oriented
business during a period of time when the licensee's license was suspended;
(5) a licensee has been convicted of an offense listed in Sec. 21-129(a)(9)(A) for
which the time period required in Sec. 21-129(a)(9)(B) has not elapsed;
(6) on two (2) or more occasions within a 12-month period, a person or persons
committed an offense, occurring in or on the licensed premises, of a crime
listed in Sec. 21-129(a)(9)(A), for which a conviction has been obtained, and
the person or persons were agents or employees of the sexually oriented
business at the time the offenses were committed;
(7) a licensee or an agent or an employee has knowingly allowed any act of sexual
intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, masturbation, or sexual contact to occur
in or on the licensed premises. The term "sexual contact" shall have the same
meaning as it is defined in Section 21.01, Texas Penal Code; or
(8) a licensee is delinquent in payment to the City for any ad valorem taxes, sales
or other taxes related to the sexually oriented business.
(c) The fact that a conviction is being appealed shall have no effect on the revocation of
the license.
(d) Subsection (b)(7) of this section does not apply to adult motels as a ground for
revoking the license unless the licensee, agent or employee knowingly allowed the act
of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, masturbation, or sexual contact to
occur in a public place or within public view.
(e) When the Chief of Police revokes a license, the revocation shall continue for one (1)
year and the licensee shall not be issued a sexually oriented business license for one
(1) year from the date revocation became effective. If, subsequent to revocation, the
Chief of Police finds that the basis for the revocation has been corrected or abated,
the applicant shall be granted a license if at least ninety (90) days have elapsed since
the date the revocation became effective. If the license was revoked under Subsection
(b)(5) of this section, an applicant may not be granted another license unti) the
appropriate number of years required under Sec. 21-129(a)(9)(B) has elapsed.
Sec.21-135. APPEAL.
If the Chief of Police denies the issuance of a license, or suspends or revokes a license, the
Chief of Police shall send to the applicant, or licensee, by certified mail, return receipt
requested, written notice of the action and the right to an appeal. Upon receipt of written
notice of the denial, suspension, or revocation, the licensee whose application for a license
has been denied or whose license has been suspended or revoked shall have the right to appeal
to the state district court. An appeal to the state district court must be filed within thirty (30)
days after the receipt of notice of the decision of the Chief of Police. The licensee shall bear
the burden of proof in court.
Sec. 21-136. TRANSFER OF LICENSE.
A licensee shall not transfer his license to another, nor shall a licensee operate a sexually
oriented business under the authority of a license at any place other than the address
designated in the application.
Sec. 21-137. LOCATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
(a) A person commits an offense if'the person operates or causes to be operated a
sexually oriented business within one thousand feet (1,000') of.
(1) a church;
(2) a school;
(3) a child care facility;
(4) a boundary of a residential district;
(5) a public park;
(6) the property line of a lot devoted to residential use; or
(7) any building or structure in which alcoholic beverages are offered for sale.
(b) A person commits an offense if he or she causes or permits the operation,
establishment, substantial enlargement, or transfer or ownership or control of a
sexually oriented business located within one thousand feet (1,000') of another
sexually oriented business.
(c) A person cammits an offense if he or she causes or permits the operation,
establishment, or maintenance of more than one (1) sexually oriented businesses in the
same building, structure, or portion thereof, or the increase of floor area of any
sexually oriented business in any building, structure, or portion thereof containing
another sexually oriented business.
(d) For the purpose of Subsection (a) of this section, measurement shall be made in a
straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the nearest
portion of the building or structure used as a part of the premises where a sexually
oriented business is conducted, to the nearest property line of the premises of a
church, school, child care facility or building or structure in which alcoholic beverages
are offered for sale, or to the nearest boundary of an affected public park, residential
district, or residential lot.
(e) For the purposes of Subsection (b) of this section, the distance between any two (2)
sexually oriented businesses shall be measured in a straight line, without regard to
intervening structures or objects, from the closest exterior wall of the structure in
which each business is located.
( fl Any sexually oriented business lawfully operating on the effective date of this
Ordinance that is in violation of Subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this Section shall be
deemed a nonconforming use. The nonconforming use will be permitted to continue
for a period not to exceed twelve ( 12) months, unless sooner terminated for any
reason or voluntarily discontinued for a period of thirty (30) days or more. Such
nonconforming use shall not be increased, enlarged, extended, or altered except that
the use may be changed to a conforming use. If two (2) or more sexually oriented
businesses are within one thousand feet (1,000') of one another and otherwise in a
permissible location, the sexually oriented business which was first established and
continually operating at a particular location is the conforming use and the later-
established businesses is nonconforming.
(g) A sexually oriented business lawfully operated as a conforming use is not rendered a
nonconforming use by the location, subsequent to the grant or renewal of the sexually
oriented business license, of a church, school, child care facility, public park,
residential district, or residential lot, or any building or structure in which alcoholic
beverages are offered for sale, within one thousand feet (1,000') of the sexually
oriented business. This provision applies only to the renewal of a valid license, and
does not apply when an application for a license is submitted after a license has
expired or has been revoked.
Sec. 21-138. EXEMPTIONS FROM LOCAT[ON RESTRICTIONS.
(a) If the Chief of Police denies the issuance of a license to an applicant because the
location of the sexually oriented business establishment is in violation of any section
ofthis Ordinance, then the applicant may, not later than ten (10) calendar days after
receiving notice of the denial, file with the City Clerk a written request for an
exemption from the location restrictions of this Ordinance.
(b) If the written request is filed with the City Clerk within the ten-day limit, the City
Council shall consider the request. The City Council shall set a date for a public
hearing within sixty (60) days from the date the written request is received.
(c) A hearing by the City Council may proceed if a quorum of the City Council is present.
The City Council shall hear and consider evidence offered by any interested person.
The formal rules of evidence do not apply.
(d) The City Council may, in its discretion, grant an exemption from the location
restrictions of this Ordinance if it makes the following findings:
(1) That the location of the proposed sexually oriented business will not have a
detrimental effect on nearby properties or be contrary to the public safety or
welfare;
(2) That the granting of the exemption will not violate the spirit and intent of this
Ordinance;
(3) That the location of the proposed sexually oriented business will not
downgrade the property values or quality of life in the adjacent areas or
encourage the development of urban or rural blight;
(4) That the location of an additional sexually oriented business in the area will
not be contrary to any program of neighborhood conservation nor will it
interfere with any efforts of urban renewal or restoration; and
(5) That all other applicabte provisions of this Ordinance will be observed.
(e) The City Council shall grant or deny the exemption by a majority vote. Failure to
reach a majority vote shall result in denial of the exemption. Disputes of fact shall be
decided on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence. The decision of the City
Council is final.
(f) Ifthe City Council grants the exemption, the exemption is valid for one (l) year from
the date of the City Council's action. Upon the expiration of an exemption, the
sexually oriented business is in violation of the location restrictions of this Ordinance
until the applicant applies for and receives another exemption.
(g) If the City Council denies the exemption, the applicant may not reapply for an
exemption until at least twelve (l2) months have elapsed since the date of the City
Council's action.
(h) The grant of an exemption does not exempt the applicant from any other provisions
of this Ordinance other than the location restrictions.
Sec. 21-139. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ESCORT AGENCIES.
(a) An escort agency shall not employ any person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
(b) A person commits an offense if he acts as an escort or agrees to act as an escort for
any person under the age of eighteen ( 18) years.
Sec. 21-140. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR NUDE MODEL STUDIOS.
(a) A nude model studio shall not employ any person under the age of eighteen (18)
years.
(b) A person under the age of eighteen (18) years commits an offense if he appears in a
state of nudity or semi-nudity in or on the premises of a nude model studio. It is a
defense to prosecution under this subsection if the person under eighteen (18) years
was in a restroom not open to public view or persons of the opposite sex.
(c) A person commits an offense if he appears in a state of nudity or semi-nudity or
knowingly allows another to appear in a state of nudity or semi-nudity in an area of
a nude model studio premises which can be viewed from the public right-of-way.
(d) A nude model studio shall not place or permit a bed, sofa, or mattress in any room on
the premises, except that a sofa may be placed in a reception room open to the public.
Sec.21-141. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT TI--IEATERS AND ADiILT
MOTiON PICTURE THEATERS.
(a) A person commits an offense if he knowingly allows a person under the age of
eighteen (18) years to appear in a state of nudity or semi-nudity in or on the premises
of an adult theater or adult motion picture theater.
(b) A person under the age of eighteen (18) years commits an offense if he knowingly
appears in a state of nudity or semi-nudity in or on the premises of an adult theater or
adult motion picture theater.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections (a) and (b) of this section if the
person under eighteen (18) years was in a restroom not open to public view or
persons of the opposite sex.
Sec. 21-142. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT MOTELS.
(a) Evidence that a sleeping room in a hotel, motel, or similar commercial establishment
has been rented and vacated two (2) or more times in a period of time that is less than
ten (10) hours creates a rebuttable presumption that the establishment is an adult
motel as that term is defined in this Ordinance.
(b) A person commits an offense if, as the person in control of a sleeping room in a hotel,
motel, or similar commercial establishment that does not have a sexually oriented
business license, he rents or subrents a sleeping room to a person and, within ten (10)
hours from the time the room is rented, he rents or subrents the same sleeping room
again.
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b) of this section, the terms "rent" or "subrent" mean the
act of permitting a room to be occupied for any form of consideration.
Sec. 21-143. REGULATIONS PERTAINiNG TO EXHIBITION OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
FILMS OR VIDEOS.
(a) A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business, other
than an adult motel, which exhibits on the premises in a viewing room of less than one
hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor space, a film, video cassette, or other video
reproduction which depicts "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical
areas", shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Upon application for a sexually oriented business license, the application shall
be accompanied by a diagram of the premises showing a plan thereof
specifying the location of one (l) or more manager's stations, the location of
all overhead lighting fixtures, and switches, which lights are controlled by
which switches and designating any portion of the premises in which patrons
will not be permitted. Only agents or employees shall have access to light
switches. A manager's station may not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet of
floor area. The diagram shall also designate the place at which the permit will
be conspicuously posted, if granted. A professionally prepared diagram in the
nature of an engineer's or architect's blueprint shall not be required; however,
each diagram should be oriented to the north or to some designated street or
object and should be drawn to a designated scale or with marked dimensions
sufficient to show the various internal dimensions of all areas of the interior
of the premises to an accuracy of plus or minus six inches (6"). The Chief of
Police may waive the foregoing diagram for renewal applications if the
applicant adopts a diagram that was previously submitted and certifies that the
configuration for the premises has not been altered since it was prepared.
(2) The application shall be sworn to be true and correct by the applicant.
(3) No alteration in the configuration or location of a manager's station may be
made without the prior approval of the Chief of Police.
(4) It is the duty of the owners and operator of the premises to ensure that at least
one (1) employee is on duty and situated in each manager's station at all times
that any patron is present inside the premises.
(5) The interior ofthe premises shall be contigured in such a manner that there is
an unobstructed view from a manager's station of every area of the premises
to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose excluding restrooms.
Restrooms may not contain video reproduction equipment. If the premises
have two (2) or more manager's stations designated, then the interior of the
premises shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed
view of each area of the premises to which any patron is permitted access for
any purpose from at least one (1) of the manager's stations. The view
required in this subsection must be by direct line of sight from the manager's
station.
(6) It shall be the duty of the owners and operator, and it also shall be the duty of
any agents and employees present in the premises to ensure that the view area
specified in Subsection (a)(5) of this section remains unobstructed by any
doors, walls, merchandise, display racks or other materials at all times that any
patron is present on the premises and to ensure that no patron is permitted
access to any area of the premises which has been designated as an area in
which patrons will not be permitted in the application filed pursuant to
Subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(7) The premises shall be equipped with overhead lighting fixtures of sufficient
intensity to illuminate every place to which patrons are permitted access at an
illumination of not less than one (1.0) footcandle as measured at the floor
level.
(8) It shall be the duty of the owners and operator and it also shall be the duty of
any agents and employees present on the premises to ensure that the
illumination described above is maintained at all times that any patron is
present on the premises.
(b) A person having a duty under Subsections (a)(1) through (a)(8), above, commits an
offense if he or she knowingly fails to fulfill that duty.
Sec. 21-144. DISPLAY OF SEXUALLY EXE'L1CIT MATERIAL TO MINORS.
(a) A person commits an offense if, in a business establishment open to persons under the
age of seventeen (17) years, he displays a book, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, film,
or video cassette, the cover of which depicts, in a manner calculated to arouse sexual
lust or passion for commercial gain or to exploit sexual lust or perversion for
commercial gain, any of the following:
(1) human sexual intercourse, masturbation, or sodomy;
(2) fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks,
or female breasts;
(3) less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, buttocks, or that
portion of the female breast below the top of the areola; or
(4) human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, whether covered or
uncovered.
(b) In this section "display" means to locate an item in such a manner that, without
obtaining assistance from an agent or employee of the business establishment:
(1) it is available to the general public for handling and inspection; or
(2) the cover, outside packaging on the item or contents of the item is visible to
members of the general public.
Sec. 21-145. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, any person violating Sec. 21-
137 of this Ordinance, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine not to exceed
$2,000.00 for each offense and a separate offense shall be deemed committed upon
each day during or on which a violation occurs.
(b) Ifthe sexually oriented business involved is a nude model studio or sexual encounter
center, then violation of Sec. 21-128(a) or Sec. 21-137 ofthis Ordinance is punishable
as a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, above, any person violating a
provision ofthis Ordinance other than Sec. 21-137, upon conviction, is punishable by
a fine not to exceed $2,000.00 for each offense and a separate offense shall be deemed
committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Sec. 21-128(a), Sec. 21-137 or Sec. 21-140(d)
of this Ordinance that a person appearing in a state of nudity or semi-nudity did so in
a modeling class operated:
(1) by a proprietary school licensed by the State of Texas; a college, junior
college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
(2) by a private college or university which maintains and operates educational
programs in which credits are transferrable to a college, junior college, or
university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or
(3) in a structure:
(A) which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no
other advertising that indicates a nude or semi-nude person is available
for viewing; and
(B) where in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at least
three (3) days in advance ofthe class; and
(C) where no more than one (l) nude or semi-nude model is on the
premises at any one tune.
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under Sec. 2I-128(a) or Sec. 21-137 of this Ordinance
that each item of descriptive, printed film, or video material offered for sale or rental,
taken as a whole, contains serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Sec. 21-146_ IN.IUNCTIVE RELIEF.
A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business without a valid
license or in violation of Sec. 21-137 of this Ordinance is subject to a suit for injunction as
well as prosecution for criminal violations.
Sec. 21-147. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or provision of this Ordinance, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall to any extent be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unconstitutional, the remaining sections, subsections,
clauses, phrases and provisions of this Ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated.
Sec. 21-148 EXISTING SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
(a) The owner or operator of a sexually oriented business that is in existence on the
effective date of this Ordinance shall file an application within thirty (30) days from
the effective date of this Ordinance.
(b) The status quo of an existing sexually oriented business shall be maintained during the
licensing procedure.
(c) The effective date of this Ordinance for the purposes of subsection (a) above is the
date assigned in section 21-149 or the date in which the property a sexually oriented
business is located is fully annexed within the corporate limits of the City of Paris.
Sec. 21-149. TIME OF EFFECT.
This Ordinance takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 1998.
Section 2. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are expressly
repealed.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this the l Oth day of August, 1998.
ATTEST:
Mattie Cunningham, City Cle
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~
Scott P. Foster, City Attorney