Dear Editor,

The City Council appears to be on the verge of once again ignoring residents in favor of a zoning change and misguided referendum that could harm our city.

At the August 20 City Council meeting, City Manager Daniel Miera pointed out that the Comprehensive Plan for Central City, which includes numerous boards and commissions staffed by residents, is the most authentic “voice of residents.” One of those commissions, the City Planning Commission, voted unanimously to recommend limiting sexually oriented businesses to the industrial zone, and the Council voted to approve that recommendation on the first vote at their last meeting. This is how a fair and transparent process that honors the voice of residents is supposed to work, and the Council should vote to approve the recommendation on second reading at their next meeting. However, a last-minute proposal by Councilman Todd Williams puts that vote at risk.

Without explanation, Councilman Williams proposed an entirely different approach to zoning that would allow sexually oriented businesses in all three zones in the City with the requirement that they not be within 1,000 feet of gathering places and residences. It was further proposed that the acting city attorney create language for a referendum to allow people to vote on a non-binding referendum to voice their support or opposition to having sexually oriented businesses in the City. These recommendations will be presented at the next meeting.

Here’s the catch: Any sexually oriented business would be highly motivated to fund a massive political campaign in support of its position on the referendum. This campaign could include bringing in a large number of canvassers to register people to vote, having people move to the City and register to vote (registering to vote is allowed up to the day before an election), and lobbying any current residents who are indifferent to the issue to vote in their favor. There is no way that residents would have the resources to launch a similar campaign to educate the public about how sexually oriented businesses result in an “increase in crime and a decrease in property values” (from the original ordinance).

The Council should not approve a referendum for the ballot that would only create chaos and division between now and the November election. Councilman Williams has repeatedly stated that he believes there are many people who support sexually oriented businesses, but who have not spoken out. If that is the case, those people should collect signatures to put the referendum on the ballot, which would be their right.

Councilman Williams’s proposed approach to zoning is opposed to how residents’ voices are guaranteed through the Comprehensive Plan for Central City. As someone who has dedicated years of volunteer service serving on two separate commissions, I find his lack of respect for the many people serving on these commissions to be offensive. It is clear that his proposal could benefit sexually oriented businesses against the direction of residents and should be rejected by other council members.

Peter Droege

Central City resident