EVERETT—
The Everett City Council voted Wednesday night to update is lewd conduct ordinance to help crack down on illegal conduct at bikini barista coffee huts.By a unanimous vote the council changed the ordinance that hadn't been changed in 25 years.
Bikini Barista Coffee Huts and other drive through businesses will now be considered public places where lewd conduct is not allowed.
before the vote the council heard from more than a dozen members of the community who were fed up with the lewd behavior near their homes and/or businesses.
One woman told the Council; "20 years ago who would have thought we'd be addressing an issue of women selling, pretending to sell coffee, but not really selling coffee, selling a lot more than coffee. It's basically a drive through strip club."
Council President Arlan Hatloe said; "I think the majority of these baristas do obey the law and conduct themselves properly. Those who have chosen not to do that will have an immediate affect."
Two amendments were offered that would have more strictly controlled what the baristas are allowed not to wear, but they didn't get enough support from the Council to make it into the ordinance, but that could change one Councilmember suggested the amendments be brought up for another vote at a later date.
The Council and the City Attorney will work with Everett Police to decide how best to enforce the ordinance.
Police have received complaints from customers and passers by who have seen baristas exposing themselves.
According to a Snohomish County court document one citizen told police she saw; "Baristas outside the stand wearing G-strings and pasties and one barista shaking her butt toward highway-99... while children passed by."
At the grab-n-go hut Tuesday there was a noticeable change. The windows are now tinted so you can't see inside unless you're sitting at the drive-thru window.
The Everett City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on a proposal to amend an ordinance to make lewd conduct a thing of the past.
The proposal would make two changes to the city's lewd conduct ordinance. First it would change what is considered lewd conduct and it would put bikini barista huts and other drive through business on the list of places that are considered public places where lewd conduct is not allowed.
City Of Everett Public Information Officer Kate Reardon says; "It would not matter if you were conducting yourself illegally on a street corner or if you were conducting yourself illegally as a person serving a customer in a drive-up window the law pertains to you the same either place."
If passed, the proposal won't ban bikini coffee huts or wearing bikinis in public as long as all private parts remain covered.
In a Q13 FOX News report Wednesday night, the bikini barista who bared it all to our undercover cameras has been fired from her job, according to the owner.
We spoke to owner, Bill Wheeler, who insists this type of behavior is a violation of their policies. "Any girl caught doing anything illegal will be fired on the spot," says Wheeler. "Every girl that works for us knows that our policy states clearly, acceptable attire for work. They must cover their bottoms and use pasties, if necessary."
Wheeler believes his coffee stands have been targeted by police. While police say they are targeting lewd behavior.
The investigation started after residents complained about the bikini baristas offering more than just coffee. The two month investigation ended Wednesday with the case being forwarded to the prosecutor's office.
Everett Police say they will continue to investigate reports of lewd behavior at bikini coffee huts.
Sgt. Robert Goetz says; "If they're violating the law we're gonna investigate it and we're gonna charge them."
The Snohomish county Sheriff's Office also has received multiple complaints about the coffee huts and say they too will take action when they can.
SCSO Rebecca Hover says; "It's not just a matter of the people who are choosing to go to these stands other people are seeing things now too and when they're seeing things that violate the ordinance that's when we have a problem."
The community is coming together for a town hall meeting Wednesday October 6th at 7pm at the Clearview Foursquare Church in Snohomish to discuss the bikini stands. In a letter to media, the concerned group of Snohomish County residents say, "These 'bikini' baristas have capitalized on a loop hole in legislation on our city and county records and they are virtually unregulated."
The Everett City Council is currently considering changes to its lewd conduct ordinance. The city says they've received numerous complaints from people upset about the scantily-clad baristas.
Everett City Council President Arlan Hatloe told Q13 FOX News last week what was reported to the city, "Ladies that are not properly dressed and not only that but lewd actions, things that are totally inappropriate with total nakedness and so forth."
According to the ordinance, a lewd act is misdemeanor in Everett. The proposed changes would add new language to what defines a lewd act. The new rules wouldn't necessarily ban bikini espresso stands altogether. Instead it would define them as public places where lewd conduct wouldn't be allowed.
