City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 10
Chapter 10.72
Section 10.72.010
 

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division V. Code Enforcement and Animal Regulations

Chapter 10.72 Adult Arcades

Section 10.72.010 Findings
  1. Based upon a wide range of evidence presented to the Spokane city council and to other jurisdictions, including but not limited to the testimony of law enforcement officers and members of the public, and on other evidence, information, publications, articles, studies, documents, case law and materials submitted to and reviewed by the city council and staff, the councils of other cities within the region and in other jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations and other legislative bodies, the city council finds that the commercial offering of adult entertainment establishments containing adult arcade devices is a use which, although afforded some constitutional protection, often creates or enhances undesirable secondary effects, which include a wide range of criminal and other unlawful activities that have regularly and historically occurred, including prostitution, narcotics and liquor law violations, breaches of the peace, assaults and sexual conduct and other criminal activity involving contact between patrons and between entertainers and patrons, some of whom have been minors; and
  1. Based upon the specific experiences of Spokane and the adult entertainment establishments containing adult arcade devices currently located within the City of Spokane, the city attorney has advised that the ordinance codified in this chapter be enacted; and
  1. It is not the intent of this chapter to suppress any speech activities protected by the First Amendment, but to enact a content-neutral ordinance which addresses the adverse secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments containing adult arcade devices; and
  1. The city council, therefore, finds that the protection and the preservation of public health, safety and welfare requires establishment of this chapter.

Date Passed: Monday, October 3, 2022

Effective Date: Monday, October 3, 2022

ORD C36289 Section 5