§ 6-24. Public dances.
(a)
Definitions. As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the meanings stated:
(1)
Public dance: Any dance wherein the public may participate by payment, directly or indirectly, of an admission fee or price for dancing, and also all teenage dances.
(2)
Public dancing place: Any room or space open to the public in which dancing is carried on and to which admission may be had by the public by payment directly or indirectly of an admission fee or price for dancing.
(3)
Police officer: Any person who is a fulltime peace officer or part-time peace officer of International Falls.
(4)
Teenage dance: Any dance held primarily for those persons 19 years of age and younger.
(b)
License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a public dancing place, or hold a public dance without first obtaining a license from the city administrator. No license shall be issued to anyone under the age of 18 years.
(1)
License fee. The fee for each dance shall be four times the hourly pay scale of the International Falls police patrolman as stated in the current labor contract between the city and the police department on file in the city administrator's office.
(2)
Application for license. An application for a dance license shall be filed with the city administrator at least seven days before the date of the dance and shall specify the name and address of the person, persons, committee and place thereof and whether the dance is for teenagers, adults or both.
(3)
At least one police officer shall be assigned by the chief of police or his designee, to every public dance and shall be in attendance if at all reasonably possible.
(4)
The dance license shall be made available to the officer in attendance.
(5)
A license may apply for a yearly right to hold dances as long as the locations, time and circumstances are adequately described, and the proper fees paid in advance. Upon payment of this fee the city administrator may issue up to 12 licenses.
(c)
Dance regulations.
(1)
Obscenity and immorality prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to dance, at any public dance, in an indecent or obscene manner as defined in section 6-22. It shall be unlawful for any person at a public dance to speak rude, boisterous, obscene or indecent manner or for any licensee to permit any person so to act or speak in a public dancing place. Nor shall any licensee permit any intoxicated person or any person who persists in violating the law, to be or remain in a public dancing place.
(2)
Illumination. Every public dancing place shall be illuminated, while in public use, with sufficient lighting to allow the police officer in attendance to observe the activities therein.
(3)
Hours of dancing. Public dances shall not be held or conducted after the hour of 1:00 a.m. of any day. All teenage dances shall end at 12:00 midnight, except for the prom dance as established by school district 361 shall end at 1:00 a.m.
(d)
Application and license.
(1)
A verified application for a dance license shall be filed with the city and shall specify the names and addresses of the person, persons, committee or organization that is to hold the dance, time and place thereof, and area of the dance floor.
(2)
All applications shall be accompanied by affidavits of two residents showing that the applicant is of good character and reputation in the community in which he lives, that he has not been convicted of a felony, gross misdemeanor, or violation of any public dance laws within the past five years. No license shall be issued to any person who has been so convicted.
(3)
No license shall be granted by the council for any place having so-called "private apartments" or "private rooms" furnished or used for any purposes other than legitimate business purpose which adjoins such dancing place, or which may be reached by stairs, elevators, or passageways leading from such dancing place. Nor shall a license be granted for any place which is not properly ventilated and equipped with necessary toilets, washrooms or lighting facilities.
(4)
Applications may be referred to the chief of police for investigation prior to being acted upon by council.
(5)
The council shall act upon all dance licensed applications at a regular or special meeting thereof, whether or not is it included in the call or agenda of the meeting.
(6)
At least one officer of the law shall be designated by the chief of police to be present at every public dance during the entire time said dance is being held. For purposes of this subsection, the term "officer of the law" means any person who is a fulltime peace officer, parttime peace officer, or person deputized by the chief of police.
(7)
The dance license shall be posted in the public dancing place and shall state the name of the licensee, the amount paid therefor, and the time and place licensed. The license shall also state that the licensee is responsible for the manner of conducting the dance.
(e)
Dance regulations.
(1)
Obscenity and immorality prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to dance, or for a licensee to permit or suffer any person to dance at any public dance in an indecent or immodest manner. It is also unlawful for any person at a public dance to speak in a rude, boisterous, obscene, or indecent manner or for any licensee to suffer or permit any person so to act or speak in any public dancing place.
(2)
Illumination. Every public dancing place shall be brightly illuminated while in public use, and dancing therein while the lights are extinguished, dimmed or turned low so as to give imperfect illumination is prohibited.
(3)
Certain persons prohibited. No licensee shall permit any unmarried person under the age of 16 years, unless said unmarried person is accompanied by his parent or guardian, to remain in a public dancing place. Nor shall any licensee permit any intoxicated person, or other person who persists in violating the law, to be or remain in a public dancing place.
(4)
Hours of dancing. All public dances held on Saturday shall close promptly at 1:00 o'clock a.m. Public dances shall not be held or conducted between the hours of 1:00 o'clock a.m. and 6:00 o'clock a.m. of any day.
(Ord. No. 39, 2nd series, eff. 4-5-85; Ord. No. 7, 3rd series, eff. 3-27-95)