Iowa’s large cities push for bill to sue strip clubs deemed a danger to public safety

Large cities in Iowa, led by Davenport, are pushing for a bill that would allow cities to file suit in court against strip clubs if the city or county attorney deem them to be a danger to public safety.

Legislators passed a similar bill covering bars in 2022, but city officials say a loophole exists for adult entertainment establishments that do not serve alcohol.

The bill, HF 2334, would allow cities and counties to ask a court to limit the hours of an "adult cabaret" if there's sufficient evidence that an owner, manager, employee or patron on or within 500 feet of the premises:

• shoots a gun

• assaults another person with a dangerous weapon resulting in injury or death, or

• engages in a riot at least three times. The riot participants do not need to be the same each time.

The temporary injunction would limit the business hours to between noon and 10 p.m. and prohibit the consumption of alcohol on the property.

After a trial, if the court declares a public safety nuisance exists, the court could order additional restrictions, including a two-year injunction, temporary or complete closure, change in business practice or operation, or posting a bond.

Davenport has two adult entertainment establishments within city limits, Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel told a subcommittee of House lawmakers Monday. Bladel said they've seen crowds of more than 150, which he said requires significant police resources to tamp down disturbances.

"Additionally, we've had shots fired at these establishments as well as even leading up to a homicide," Bladel said during the hearing. "So, all the things outlined in that bill for nuisances, we've had at these establishments, and what this does is it gives us an opportunity to put this in court.

"We try to work with the owners, but some of the challenges that we do get is that these are franchise businesses out of the state, so we don't get a whole lot of responses as far as prevention, intervention and how we can slow these issues."

In October 2021, police say 35-year-old Samuel Wires Jr. was shot and killed by Lance Johnson outside Déjà Vu Showgirls on Grand Avenue in Davenport at 2:58 a.m. This past November, Scott County prosecutors entered into a plea agreement with Johnson on a charge of attempted murder. In April 2022, police said a 33-year-old man was seriously wounded in a shooting after 2 a.m. outside the same club.

Managers of the club at the time said police calls for service were directed at people holding parking lot parties outside who had nothing to do with their business, and that they'd tried various methods to disperse the crowds.

After the Legislature passed into law the nuisance bar bill in 2022, Bladel told lawmakers Monday that the city went through the court system to put sanctions on two bars within Davenport limits.

The Metro Coalition, which represents the largest cities in Iowa, and the city of Davenport are registered in favor of the bill. Lobbyists for the cities of Waukee and Des Moines and the Iowa League of Cities spoke in support of the bill during the subcommittee hearing Monday.