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the whole way in which conditional use permits are processed. The spin offs in the zoning <br />ordinance amendment were a result of focusing on adult uses, but were necessary because of some <br />of the ramifications. <br /> <br />The Commission recessed at 9:00 p.m. <br /> <br />Chairman Zimmerman called the meeting back to order al 9:22 p.m. <br /> <br />Mr. Glen Hampton - 15551 Potassium Street N.W. - stated that having citizen input on the <br />proposed zoning ordinance amendment to establish zones for adult uses is important. He feels sure <br />that Ramsey's ordinance will stand the court test, but the City should also be sure that it has the <br />backing of the citizens. Mr. Hampton stated that he is sure that nobody has surveyed the residents <br />of Ramsey to determine what they feel is obscene in relationship to this community's standards. <br />Mr. Hampton stated to that affect, he has a petition containing 1,000 signatures and it would <br />behoove the Cit'3, of Ramsey to find out how the citizens really feel. <br /> <br />Mr. Licht stated that Mr. Hampton's question regarding what adult materials are acceptable and <br />what are not is a very critical point in what the City is attempting to do because it gets into the <br />definition of adult uses; pornographic, which is acceptable and obscenity, which is not acceptable. <br />This all relates to content. The courts have stated that communities can address adult uses via <br />zoning, but they cannot regulate content of material. <br /> <br />Mr. Hampton stated that the Ramsey government needs to know exactly what each house thinks is <br />acceptable and what is not acceptable so a community standard can be established. What is defined <br />as obscene varies by community and it needs to be established where that level is in this <br />community. <br /> <br />Commissioner LaDue noted that the City does not have the authority or power to define obscenity; <br />that responsibility is with the courts. <br /> <br />~C~qse #. 2: <br /> <br />Review Reports on_ Secondory tmi>i~ct of Adl~lt Uses 9n Ri~m$¢y and <br />Other Commlmitie,5. <br /> <br />AND <br /> <br />C~qse # 3: Review _Report from Norlhwest Associated Consultants on Adult <br /> Uses. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley indicated that the Planning and Zoning Commission has been provided with copies of <br />reports for their information purposes regarding adult uses, one of which was prepared by the <br />Minnesota Attorney General's Working Group on Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses <br />which was published on June 5, 1989. The Attorney General's report documents that communities <br />experience problems as a result of adult uses. That report also focuses on a study done in Phoenix, <br />Arizona in which two identical areas were zoned similarly, except one had adult uses and the other <br />did not. From that study, it was learned that in the areas that had adult uses, there was a higher rate <br />of crime overall, a higher rate of sex-related crimes and property related crimes were 43% higher in <br />those areas conducting sex businesses than in the area that did not. A similar study done in <br />Indianapolis, Indiana revealed the same impacts. These studies reveal a ~eat deal about secondary <br />impacts relating to sexually oriented businesses. 1Va'. Hartley stated that based on the Minnesota <br /> <br />Pl:.nning and Zoning Commission / October 22, I990 <br /> Page 6 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />