CITY COMMISSION AGENDA MEMO October 7, 2019

FROM: Katie Jackson, City Attorney

MEETING: October 15, 2019

SUBJECT: Public Nudity Ordinance

PRESENTER: Katie Jackson, City Attorney

BACKGROUND

In 2003, the City adopted a prohibition on public nudity in Sections 22-59 through 22-61 of the City Code. The ordinance makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly appear in a state of nudity in public. Nudity is defined to include male and female genitals and buttocks, and female toplessness (except while breastfeeding).

The City has prosecuted 51 public nudity cases from 2003 through today; 37 of the 51 defendants were males exposing their genitalia. Of the 14 female defendants, six were cited for toplessness, which occurred between 2004 and 2010.

Kansas is in the 10th Circuit of federal courts, which means that 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decisions are binding in Manhattan. Many news outlets reported recently that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals made it “legal” for a woman to go topless in public in the six states within the 10th Circuit. The media is referring to the decision in Free the Nipple v. City of Fort Collins, Colorado. In this case, the plaintiffs filed a civil lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the Fort Collins ordinance that only criminalized female toplessness.

In February, the Court in the Fort Collins case entered a preliminary injunction against the City, stating that, if the case proceeds, the Court will likely find the Fort Collins’ public nudity ordinance to be unconstitutional as a violation of women’s equal rights. Fort Collins decided not to continue its appeal, and the case will be dismissed in a City settlement with the plaintiffs. Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins do not prohibit female toplessness.

The 10th Circuit Court did not issue a final decision on the merits, so the media reports of the “legalization of female toplessness” in six states are not accurate. The preliminary injunction does not declare the City’s public nudity ordinance to be unconstitutional. However, the 10th Circuit’s decision was strongly worded, and its language can be used in a challenge to a 10th Circuit of the city’s existing ordinance.

The Fort Collins decision is contrary to several other federal circuits that have upheld laws criminalizing only female toplessness. In May, the 8th Circuit issued a preliminary decision to uphold Springfield, Missouri’s similar ordinance in a civil lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In that case, the appeals court said it needed to follow precedent from 2003, but the ACLU is further appealing the case.

When the federal circuit courts disagree on a legal issue, the law applies differently in the different circuits, until the U.S. Supreme Court resolves the “circuit split” and issues a decision on the issue. The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to hear a case from New Hampshire as to whether female toplessness laws are unconstitutional, and the U.S. Supreme Court will decide soon whether to hear the case. However, that decision has been delayed; on October 4, 2019, the State of New Hampshire asked for an extension to file materials with the U.S. Supreme Court. If the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case, then the Court could resolve the “circuit split” within a year or so.

DISCUSSION

A challenge to Manhattan’s ordinance could arise in one of two ways:

(1) law enforcement issues a citation to a woman who is topless in public, and the citation is sent to Municipal Court for prosecution. The City prosecutors will prosecute the violation, and will defend any challenge to the ordinance’s constitutionality through the state court system.

(2) a civil lawsuit is filed by plaintiffs challenging the ordinance’s constitutionality. A civil lawsuit can be filed simply because the ordinance exists; an actual violation need not occur. In a civil lawsuit, the City will incur legal fees and, if the City loses, can be required to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees or, less likely, damages.

Some cities have already experienced response to the 10th Circuit’s decision. In Salt Lake City, Utah, some criminal defense attorneys have already filed motions to dismiss similar criminal charges, using the 10th Circuit’s argument. Oklahoma has seen a fair amount of activity. On September 29, 40 men and women rollerbladed topless in a Tulsa park. A woman who received a citation from the City of Tulsa announced she initiated a lawsuit. The next day, the City of Tulsa said it would not enforce the prohibition on female toplessness, then reversed course again when the Oklahoma Attorney General said that the 10th Circuit did not automatically invalidate state and local laws in Oklahoma. On October 5, four women scootered topless through Bricktown in Oklahoma City, and initial reports indicate no citations were issued. On the other hand, Sand Springs announced it would no longer enforce its ordinance, while Stillwater does not expressly prohibit female toplessness, but can prosecute a circumstance if the facts support the city’s “public indecency” ordinance or state law. Kansas has not yet experienced the same level of activity, perhaps in part because the State of Kansas does not have a law that generally prohibits public nudity, unlike Oklahoma. Kansas has several laws, discussed below, that may apply to an individual appearing nude in public. However, the general display of public nudity, absent other facts, is not illegal per state law.

That means that unless a Kansas city has adopted an ordinance criminalizing female toplessness, general female toplessness is not illegal in that area unless the facts violate a different state law. While many first class cities have public nudity ordinances that prohibit female toplessness, smaller cities including Great Bend and Hays, do not. Topeka adopted its public nudity ordinance in 2015.

The Uniform Public Offense Code (“UPOC”), produced by the League of Kansas Municipalities to serve as Kansas cities’ criminal code (similar to how the STO serves as our traffic code) also does not contain a general prohibition on female toplessness. Instead, the UPOC has offenses involving child pornography and prohibiting a commercial establishment from displaying or distributing materials “harmful to minors,” which may contain nudity.

That said, no person has the unrestricted ability to appear in public in a state of nudity. The facts of a woman appearing topless in public may violate a different state law. For example, a woman appearing topless in public could violate the state law prohibiting “lewd and lascivious behavior” if the facts meet the law’s requirements. K.S.A. 21-5513 makes it unlawful for any person to appear in public exposing a sex organ, in the presence of someone other than a spouse and who has not consented, with the intent to arouse or gratify the offender’s own sexual desires or of another person. In addition, the facts could violate another sex offense criminalized under state law.

The 10th Circuit decision does not require the City Commission to amend its ordinance. The City Commission may decide to maintain the existing ordinance, accepting the risk of a legal challenge through a criminal or civil case. The City would have an uphill battle defending any challenge and overcoming the 10th Circuit’s legal arguments that such an ordinance would be found to be unconstitutional. However, it is also possible that no legal challenge would arise.

That said, from a strictly legal perspective, this item recommends the amendment of the ordinance to decriminalize general female toplessness, while otherwise maintaining the law against public nudity. This approach provides a “safe harbor” as we await possible Supreme Court action, eliminating the risk of a legal challenge that would expend City funds or resources. In addition, this approach recognizes that many areas of Kansas do not have local ordinances generally prohibiting public nudity, instead relying on state laws as the facts arise.

If amended, Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance would still criminalize the exposure of male or female genitalia and buttocks. In addition, a woman appearing topless in public could be prosecuted under state law, if warranted by the facts. The City Commission maintains the ability to restore the provision until we have a conclusive decision from a Kansas appeals or federal court declaring such ordinances unconstitutional. If, for some reason, the issue does not get heard by a higher court in our jurisdiction in the next year, the City Commission can revisit the ordinance and make changes it sees fit.

This ordinance does not prohibit a private business owner or organization from requiring all patrons to wear a shirt upon their private property. If a topless male or female enters the location, they can be asked to put on a shirt or leave, and be cited for criminal trespass if they refuse.

FINANCING

No impact.

ALTERNATIVES

The Commission has the following alternatives concerning the issue at hand. The Commission may:

1. Approve first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 22-60 and 22-61 of the Code of Ordinances relating to nudity in a public place. 2. Decline to approve first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 22-60 and 22-61 of the Code of Ordinances relating to nudity in a public place. 3. Modify the ordinance to meet the needs of the Commission. 4. Table the request.

RECOMMENDATION

City Administration recommends that the City Commission approve first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 22-60 and 22-61 of the Code of Ordinances relating to nudity in a public place.

POSSIBLE MOTION

Approve first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 22-60 and 22-61 of the Code of Ordinances relating to nudity in a public place.

KJJ/

Enclosure: 1. Draft Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. ______

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 22-60 AND 22-61 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS; RELATING TO NUDITY IN A PUBLIC PLACE.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS:

Section 1. That Sections 22-60 and 22-61 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Manhattan, Kansas, are hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 22-60. Same – Definitions The following words or phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the following meanings: (a) Nudity: means less than completely or opaquely covering and exposing to view: (1) Human male or female genitals; or (2) Any portion of the anal cleft or cleavage of the male or female buttocks. Attire that is insufficient to comply with this requirement includes, but is not limited to, G-strings, T-backs, thongs or any other clothing that does not completely or opaquely cover the anal cleft or cleavage of the male or female buttocks; or (3) Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered. (b) Person: any live human being aged 10 or older. (c) Places Set Apart for Nudity: means public places outside of the home where nudity or exposure is necessary and customarily expected; including, but not limited to, public restrooms, enclosed single-sex functional shower, locker and/or dressing room facilities, enclosed motel rooms and hotel rooms designed and intended for sleeping accommodations, doctor’s offices and portions of hospitals set apart for this purpose. (d) Public Place: means any location frequented by the public, or where the public is present or likely to be present, including, but not limited to, streets, avenues, highways, roads, waterways, stores, meeting facilities or businesses and commercial establishments (whether for profit or not for profit and whether open to the public at large or where entrance is limited by cover charge or membership) within the corporate boundaries of the City of Manhattan. This definition shall include any commercial establishment featuring live sexually oriented entertainment, including, but not limited to, cabarets, adult arcades, adult dance studios and nightclubs.

Sec. 22-61. Same – Exemptions The prohibition set forth in this Section 22-59 shall not apply to the following: (a) Places set apart for nudity. This exception does not include the use of a place set apart for nudity for a purpose not intended by that place, including any sexual conduct, including sexual conduct for profit, promotion of business or commercial exploitation. (b) Any theater, concert hall, art center, museum or similar establishment that is primarily devoted to the arts or theatrical performances and in which nudity is incorporated into the art exhibit or theatrical performance and is not a mere guise or pretense used to exploit the conduct of being nude for profit or commercial gain. (c) Nudity incorporated into an educational curriculum at an accredited university, technical school or institution whose classes may transfer to an accredited university or technical school.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication in the official city newspaper.

Section 3. Ordinance No. 6369 and all other Ordinances or portions thereof, in conflict herewith are here by repealed.

PASSED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS, THIS _____ DAY OF ______, 2019.

______Michael L. Dodson, Mayor

ATTEST:

______Gary S. Fees, MMC, City Clerk