REDDING, Calif. — The city of Redding defining what makes an adult entertainment business, as well as where they can be located.
At the Redding City Council meeting Jan. 21, a major topic of conversation was outlining specific terms for adult businesses. Kiss Me Novelties & Lingerie owner Stephanie Drew told the Northstate’s News that, since moving the business to Market Street, she was made aware of some complaints from members of the community.
She said only about 10% of the store’s products are adult toys. The store also has lingerie, photo sessions and pole dancing classes.
“How I don’t qualify as an adult entertainment business is because I’m all inclusive, so my dance waivers do say you have to be 16 or over, just like any gym, but your parent has to be with you,” Drew said. “I’ve only had one mom call and ask if their 17-year-old could do it with her, and that was it. But they never showed up. So it’s very few and far between that I get anybody under the age of 18 wanting to do this.”
Drew said students “leave [the classes] feeling empowered.”
She added, “The emotional stress and the financial stress that I’ve had to deal with from relocating twice in less than two years is insane. I’ll never get ahead if they keep doing this to me.”
Following the complaints, city leaders discussed the definitions, activities, and zoning of adult businesses at the meeting. Members of the community then got a chance to share their points of view.
“When it does come to entertainment, we have a responsibility to our community, to our children here, to have some kind of level of requirement of what is exposed to them,” one person said.
Another said, “We have far more in-your-face businesses in our mall.”
The city of Redding currently has two ordinances to define adult businesses. One: if your business sells predominantly sexual products for arousal, and the other, if your business promotes sexual activity and/or is limited only to adults, excluding minors.
With some of the language being vague and written decades ago, City Attorney Christian Curtis recommended referring this to the Planning Commission for updates.
The council then agreed, deciding to refer it. Next, the Planning Commission will update the definitions, categories, and zoning of adult businesses and activities.
During the meeting, City Councilmember Tenessa Audette said to Drew, “I would think this is an adult business. If your products and services are for sexual arousal, sexual gratification. I mean that is what you’re going in there for… I want you to be successful, it’s just a matter of, where are you going to be successful?”
Drew told us if the city tries to make her move, she will either let them buy out the business or, she said, she will move only if they pay for it.
This post was originally published on here
