Go-Go a no-no? Dancing cage at Charlie's Barfly sparks council debate

The Go Go cage at Charlie's is currently enjoyed by patrons, but current discussions among the city council could put restrictions on the use of paid dancers. (Photos by Andrea Kemp/Staff Writer) [Click to enlarge]

The council called a special session on Jan. 19 to address two separate issues relating to entertainment establishments within the city.

Marsh seeks Marquee liquor license

An initial agenda item at the Jan. 19 session was the request for a liquor license from Eric Marsh, a business owner interested in re-opening The Marquee, a Spirit-Lake bar housed in the Great Lakes Mall.

Marsh had originally planned to present his proposal at the Jan. 26 regular council meeting, but realized the time line may effect his desire to open by Jan. 29. When unable to present the proper paperwork at the special session on the 19th, Marsh returned for a second setting with the council on Friday, Jan. 22, and ultimately received approval from the council to re-open the business with co-operator Kimberly Bents.

Ordinance No. 04-10: Sexually-oriented activities

During the Jan. 19 special session, Earl Maahs, Spirit Lake city attorney, described a proposed ordinance, No. 04-10, that would regulate and license sexually-oriented businesses.

According the council officials, the discussion of the ordinance came from a need to align the guidelines with newly-enacted zoning literature in the city, as well as to outline guidelines for ownership.

"We basically want to know a whole lot of information about (sexually-oriented businesses and their owners), have a whole lot of background, criminal history, so on and so forth," Stevens said.

Ordinance No. 04-10 also solidified types of sexually-oriented businesses and set parameters for operation.

"They have to pay some fees, they're subject to a lot of inspections,," Stevens said. "In essence, what the city is saying, and why it is written this way, is that you can have all of these types of businesses. If you have that kind of business, it's going to be very closely regulated by the city."

Stevens notes that the the nature of the business is a long-standing topic among council members and city officials.

"A number of us have seen a number of communities where a business suddenly pops up out of the blue and they're an adult entertainment business and the city has no regulations," Stevens said. "We did not want to find ourselves in that position."

Charlie's Barfly Saloon

Charlie Hughes, owner of Charlie's Barfly Saloon, feels the reason behind the ordinance discussion at numerous city council meetings is a direct result of the installation of a Go-Go Dancing cage, a sign advertising the live dancing and job postings seeking dancers at his establishment.

While Hughes has not yet begun hosting paid dancers, he notes that patrons of the bar enjoy being able to dance on the stage - and in the cage.

"It's going to be like 'Laugh-In' with Goldie Hawn," Hughes said. "That's what I envisioned when I built it."

Stevens does admit that Hughes's latest business venture was much of the reason behind council's discussions of No. 04-10.

"I think in the background, the Go Go Dancers on the marquee at Charlie's Barfly Saloon made us think ...about addressing it," Stevens said.

Stevens adds that, as of now, the activities set to take place at Charlie's Barfly comply with current regulations of the ordinance.

Ordinance, zoning and moratorium

According to Stevens, another reason for discussions of the sexually-oriented activities ordinance involved the passing of new zoning guidelines for the city.

"The planning and zoning commission has to recommend a zoning ordinance for quite a long time," Stevens said. "They just finished their work Tuesday the 19th; they held a public hearing of this complete new ordinance; they adopted this ordinance; so now it goes to the council for approval."

Ordinance 04-10 and the new zoning guidelines are closely related, according to Stevens, and both govern businesses in separate ways.

"The zoning ordinance regulates where it can be and nothing else; this sexually oriented business ordinance is a business regulation; this doesn't have anything to do with where, it's more how," Stevens said. "The zoning ordinance regulates where."

At a Jan. 26 meeting of the council, council members agreed to next discuss zoning ordinances at a Feb. 9 hearing; until the regulations are adopted, members voted to place the sexually oriented activities ordinance under a moratorium.