The following definitions are applicable in this chapter:
ADULT BATHHOUSE
An establishment or business which provides the service of
baths of all kinds, including all forms and methods of hydrotherapy,
that is not operated by a medical practitioner or a professional physical
therapist licensed by the State of Wisconsin and which establishment
provides to its patrons an opportunity for engaging in specified sexual
activities as defined in this article.
ADULT BODY-PAINTING STUDIO
An establishment or business wherein patrons are afforded
an opportunity to paint images on a body which is wholly or partially
nude. For purposes of this chapter, an adult body painting studio
shall not be deemed to include a tattoo parlor.
ADULT BOOKSTORE
An establishment having as a substantial or significant portion
of its stock-in-trade in books, magazines, and other periodicals which
are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting,
describing, or relating to specified sexual activities or specified
anatomical areas as defined herein. This includes an establishment
having as its stock-in-trade, for sale, rent, trade, lease, inspection
or viewing books, films, videocassettes, motion pictures, magazines
or other periodicals which are distinguished or characterized by their
emphasis on matters depicting, describing or relating to specific
sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, and in conjunction
therewith have facilities for the presentation of adult entertainment,
including adult-oriented videotapes, films, motion pictures or other
offered entertainment for observation by patrons therein.
ADULT CABARET
A cabaret which features topless dancers, strippers or similar
entertainers.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
Any exhibition of any motion pictures, recording, photographic
reproduction, closed-circuit transmission, cable/satellite transmission,
subscriber programming, or other physical medium that allows an image
to be displayed or transmitted; and/or any live performance, display
or dance of any type which has a significant or substantial portion
of such performance or is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis
on, any actual or simulated performance of, specified sexual activities,
or exhibition and viewing of specified anatomical areas, as defined
herein, appearing unclothed, or the removal of articles of clothing
to reveal specified anatomical areas.
ADULT MINI MOTION-PICTURE THEATER
An enclosed building with a capacity for less than 50 patrons,
including establishments that have coin-operated video or motion-picture
booths, used for presenting material distinguished or characterized
by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to specified
sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined herein
for observation by patrons therein.
ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATER
An enclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons
at which a significant or substantial portion of the material presented
is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting,
describing, or relating to specified sexual activities or specified
anatomical areas as defined herein for observation by patrons therein.
ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATER (OUTDOOR)
A parcel of land from which individuals may view a motion
picture presented out of doors which presents material distinguished
or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or
relating to specified sexual activity or specified anatomical areas,
as defined herein, for observation by patrons.
ADULT NOVELTY SHOP
An establishment or business having as a substantial or significant
portion of its stock-in-trade in novelty or other items which are
distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on, or designed for,
specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, as defined
herein, or stimulating such activity.
ADULT-ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENT
An establishment which includes, but is not limited to, adult
bookstores, adult motion-picture theaters, adult mini motion-picture
theaters, adult bathhouses, adult body-painting studios, adult novelty
shops or adult cabarets, and further means any premises to which public
patrons or members are invited or admitted and which are so physically
arranged so as to provide booths, cubicles, rooms, compartments or
stalls separate from the common area of the premises for the purposes
of viewing adult entertainment, whether or not such adult entertainment
is held, conducted, operated or maintained for profit, direct or indirect.
BOOTH, ROOM or CUBICLE
Such enclosures as are specifically offered to the public
or members of an adult-oriented establishment for hire or for a fee
as part of a business operated on the premises which offers as part
of its business the entertainment to be viewed within the enclosure
which shall include, without limitation, such enclosures wherein the
entertainment is dispensed for a fee, but a fee is not charged for
mere access to the enclosure. However, "booth," "room," or "cubicle"
does not mean such enclosures that are private offices used by the
owners, managers or persons employed on the premises for attending
to the tasks of their employment, which enclosures are not held out
to the public or members of the establishment for hire or for a fee
or for the purpose of viewing entertainment for a fee, and are not
open to any persons other then employees; nor shall this definition
apply to hotels, motels or other similar establishments licensed by
the State of Wisconsin pursuant to Chapter 50, Wis. Stats.
CHURCH
A building, whether situated within the Town or not, in which
persons regularly assemble for religious worship intended primarily
for purposes connected with such worship or for propagating a particular
form of religious belief. As used herein, "church" includes buildings
for all forms of organized religions, whether the members refer to
their organization as a "church" or by another name.
CUSTOMER
Any person who:
A.
Is allowed to enter an adult-oriented establishment in return
for the payment of an admission fee or any other form of consideration
or gratuity; or
B.
Enters an adult-oriented business and purchases, rents or otherwise
partakes of any merchandise, goods, entertainment or other services
offered therein; or
C.
Is a member of and on the premises of an adult-oriented establishment
operating as a private club.
DAY-CARE CENTER
A facility licensed by the State of Wisconsin pursuant to
§ 48.65, Wis. Stats., whether situated within the Town or
not.
DOOR, CURTAIN or PORTAL PARTITION
A nontransparent closure device which prevents activity taking
place within a booth, room or cubicle from being seen or viewed from
outside the booth, room or cubicle.
EMPLOYEE
Any and all persons, including independent contractors, who
work in or at or render any services directly or indirectly related
to the operation of an adult-oriented establishment.
ENTERTAINER
Any person who provides entertainment within an adult-oriented
establishment as defined in this chapter, whether or not a fee is
charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not entertainment
is provided as an employee or independent contractor.
KNOWINGLY
Having general knowledge of, or reason to know, or a belief
or grounds for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry
of both:
A.
The character and content of any material described herein which
is reasonably suspect under this section; and
B.
The age of a minor; provided, however, that an honest mistake
shall constitute an excuse from liability hereunder if the defendant
made a reasonable, bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of
such minor.
MINOR
Any person under the age of 18 years.
NUDITY
The showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area,
or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering or the showing
of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any
part of the nipple, or the showing of covered male genitals in a discernible
turgid state.
OPERATOR
Any person operating, conducting, maintaining or owning any
adult-oriented establishment.
PATRON
A person who gives financial or other support to a person,
organization, cause, or activity.
RESIDENTIAL
Pertaining to the use of land, whether situated within the
Town or not, for premises such as homes, townhouses, duplexes, condominiums,
apartments and mobile homes, which contain habitable rooms for nontransient
occupancy and which are designed primarily for living, sleeping, cooking
and eating therein. A premises which is designed primarily for living,
sleeping, working and eating therein shall be deemed to be residential
in character unless it is actually occupied and used exclusively for
other purposes. Hotels, motels, boardinghouses, nursing homes and
hospitals shall not be considered to be residential.
SADOMASOCHISTIC ABUSE
Flagellation or torture by a person clad in undergarments,
a mask or bizarre costume, or the condition of being fettered, bound
or otherwise physically restrained on the part of one so clothed.
SCHOOL
A building, whether situated within the Town or not, where
persons regularly assemble for the purpose of instruction or education,
together with playgrounds, stadia and other structures or grounds
used in conjunction therewith. The term is limited to:
A.
Public and private schools used for primary or secondary education
in which any regular kindergarten or grades one through 12 classes
are taught; and
B.
Special educational facilities in which students who have physical
or learning disabilities receive specialized education in lieu of
attending regular classes in kindergarten or any of grades one through
12.
SEXUAL CONDUCT
The commission of any of the following: sexual intercourse,
sodomy, bestiality, necrophilia, human excretion, masturbation, sadism,
masochism, fellatio, cunnilingus or lewd exhibition of human genitals.
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
Physical sexual contact between individuals that involves
the genitalia of at least one person including, but not limited to,
heterosexual intercourse, sodomy, fellatio, or cunnilingus.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS
Less than completely and opaquely covered:
A.
Human genitals, pubic region;
C.
Female breast below a point immediately above the top of the
areola; or
D.
Human male genitals in a discernible turgid state, even if completely
and opaquely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
Simulated or actual:
A.
Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, sodomy, bestiality,
necrophilia, sadomasochistic abuse, fellatio, cunnilingus;
B.
Fondling or other erotic touching of another's or one's
own human genitals, pubic region, perineum, buttock, anus, or female
breasts;
C.
Excretory functions, as part of or in connection with, any of the activities set forth in Subsections
A and
B of this definition above.
SUBSTANTIAL
As used in various definitions, shall mean 50% or more of
a business's stock-in-trade, display space, floor space or retail
sales in any one month during the license year.
In addition to purposes described in §
110-1, it is the purpose of this chapter to regulate adult-oriented establishments to promote the health, safety, morals, and the general welfare of the citizens of the Town of Lowell, to aid in the alleviation and prevention of the adverse and deleterious effects of criminal activity and disruption of the public peace associated with such establishments, and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent the serious health hazards associated with unsafe and unsanitary conditions known to exist in those establishments and to alleviate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and other contagious diseases in those establishments.
A nonrefundable adult-oriented establishment license application
fee as prescribed in accordance with the Town Board's current Fee
Schedule shall be submitted with the application for a license.
The adult-oriented establishment license shall be displayed
in a conspicuous public place in the adult-oriented establishment.
Any adult-oriented establishment having available for customers,
patrons or members any booth, room, or cubicle for the private viewing
of adult entertainment in which a significant or substantial portion
of the material presented is distinguished or characterized by an
emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified
sexual activities or specified anatomical areas must comply with the
following requirements:
A. Access. Each booth, room, or cubicle shall be totally accessible
to and from aisles and public areas of the adult-oriented establishment
and shall be unobstructed by any door, lock or other control-type
devices.
B. Construction. Every booth, room or cubicle shall meet the following
construction requirements:
(1) Each booth, room or cubicle shall be separated from adjacent booths,
rooms, cubicles and any nonpublic areas by a wall.
(2) Have at least one side totally open to a public, lighted aisle so
that there is an unobstructed view at all times of anyone occupying
same.
(3) All walls shall be solid and without any openings, extended from
the floor to a height of not less than six feet, and be light-colored,
nonabsorbent, smooth-textured and easily cleanable.
(4) The floor must be light-colored, nonabsorbent, smooth-textured and
easily cleanable.
(5) The lighting level of each booth, room or cubicle, when not in use,
shall be a minimum of ten footcandles at all times, as measured from
the floor.
C. Occupants. Only one individual shall occupy a booth, room or cubicle
at any time. No occupant of same shall engage in any type of specified
sexual activity, cause any bodily discharge or litter while in the
booth. No person shall alter, damage or deface any portion of any
such booth, room or cubicle in such a manner that it no longer complies
with the provisions of this section.
D. Setback. A two-inch-wide glow-in-the-dark line shall be prominently
and continuously displayed on the floor, marking a distance of six
feet from each unenclosed stage on which an employee in a state of
partial or total nudity may appear. For purposes of this provision,
an "unenclosed stage" is a stage that is not physically separated
from customers or patrons by a solid wall of unbreakable glass or
Plexiglas or substantially equivalent material with no openings that
would permit physical contact with customers or patrons.
E. Required sign. A sign shall be continuously and conspicuously posted on the interior of the adult-oriented establishments at each entrance where customers or patrons enter the premises and adjacent to each stage that states, in letters at least two inches high. TOUCHING OR TIPPING AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS IN A STATE OF NUDITY IS A VIOLATION OF §
110-14Q OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF LOWELL, PUNISHABLE BY A FORFEITURE OF UP TO $1,000. PATRONS SHALL REMAIN AT LEAST SIX FEET FROM ALL UNENCLOSED PERFORMANCE STAGES.
The provisions of this section relating to the licensing of
adult-oriented establishments shall not apply to:
A. Any business operated by or employing a licensed psychologist, licensed
physical therapist, licensed masseuse, licensed vocational nurse,
registered nurse, licensed athletic trainer, licensed cosmetologist,
or licensed barber, provided such licensed individual is only engaged
in performing the normal and customary functions authorized under
the license held;
B. Any business operated by or employing a licensed physician or licensed
chiropractor while engaged in practicing the healing arts;
C. Any retail establishment whose principal business in the offering
of wearing apparel for sale to customers and that does not exhibit
merchandise on live models(s); or
D. Educational activities.
(1) An activity sponsored by:
(a)
A school licensed by the State of Wisconsin or a college, junior
college or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or
(b)
A private college or university that maintains or operates educational
programs in which credits are transferable to a college, junior college,
or university supported entirely or partly by taxation.
(2) Any activity conducted or sponsored by an entity identified in this Subsection
D must meet all of the following requirements:
(a)
The activity must be situated in a structure that has no sign
or other advertising visible from the exterior of the structure, indicating
a nude person is available for viewing; and
(b)
In order to participate in a class, a student must enroll at
least three days in advance of the class; and
(c)
No more than one nude model is on the premises at any one time.
In addition to any other actions allowed by law or taken by
the Town Board, including the action of license revocation, suspension
or nonrenewal, anyone who violates any of the provisions of this article
shall forfeit not less than $250, but not more than $2,000, for each
and every offense, together with the costs of prosecution. If such
forfeiture and costs are not paid, such person so convicted shall
be subject to any civil penalties or other penalties available by
law.