§ 18-52. Purpose; policy; authority; application.

The city commission finds that the commercial exploitation of explicit sexual conduct through the public exhibition of lewd films and the sale of lewd publications constitutes a debasement and distortion of a sensitive key relationship of human existence, central to family life, community welfare and the development of human personality; that such exploitation is indecent and offensive to the senses and to public morals and interferes with the interest of the public in the quality of life and total community environment, the tone of commerce in the city, property values, and the public safety; and that the continuation of such activities is detrimental to the best health, safety, convenience, good morals, and general welfare of the city and of the residents, citizens, inhabitants, and business thereof and is unlawful and may not be made the subject of a lawful license. Accordingly, the city commission hereby declares such activities to be public nuisances, and herein establishes procedures for the abatement thereof and for the assessment and collection of costs of abatement which may be incurred by the city incident to such abatement. This article shall apply to existing establishments which are presently engaged in the activities herein declared to be public nuisances.

(Code 1953, § 28-86; Ord. No. C-81-91, § 1, 1-19-82)