The City Council voted unanimously last week to oppose a liquor license application to the state’s licensing board by the owners of a proposed strip club.
Council members told the Salem News that if the board approves the club’s liquor license that it would fight all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court to keep the club from opening.
At its meeting last week, the council heard from 22 people who complained about the possible negative impact the club would have in the community.
The council voted to submit a negative recommendation to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission on the application for a liquor license by club’s owners. The action means the licensing board would give the application more scrutiny, said board spokesman Ken Palke.
But to prevail, the city would have to show that the club would have a negative impact on businesses or facilities that cater to children, Palke added.
While some communities use zoning changes to bar strip clubs from certain areas, in Oregon, the state constitution prohibits cities from making such changes for strip clubs.
The city’s own liquor license application board urged the Council to reject the club’s application, saying it was too close to parks, schools and other public facilities. It also questioned the club owner, Frank Boussad’s reputation and moral character.
Boussad, who attended the meeting, did not comment.
Julia Allison, head of the local neighborhood association, complained that there were too many strip clubs in Salem, giving a negative impression of the city to local children.
There are four strip clubs and 11 adult stores in the city.
But Police Chief Gerry Moore said the city’s strip clubs have done well in policing themselves and keeping problems at a minimum.
Council members said they plan to deny a city liquor permit to the club when the issue goes before them. But the state’s liquor board will have the ultimate voice on the matter.
