Everett limits conduct, but not attire of bikini baristas

By RAY LANE
KOMO-TV STAFF

The Everett City Council has voted to pass a tougher lewd behavior ordinance limiting conduct in public places.

However, the revision passed on Wednesday night does not address attire as some had hoped.

Area neighbors and business owners attended the meeting, hoping to convince the council to do away with bikini barista coffee stands in the wake of recent prostitution charges filed against five baristas at a local stand.

One shop owner even presented the council with home video reportedly taken around lunch time last week at the Grab-N-Go Espresso Stand where five baristas were charged with prostitution last week.

The footage showed young women dancing around, wearing pasties and underwear.

Residents said it's rude and crude behavior that needs to stop.

"Her bare butt is parading right in front of my business," said resident Rhonda Bremond.

The Everett City Council agreed to change its lewd conduct ordinance, saying such conduct should not be allowed in public places.

Many people cheered the move, but said more needs to be done.

"I have a right not to see women bare-breasted, licking whipped cream off each other's breasts and private parts, and men standing up and watching it," said Kris McLeod.

The next step will target what the women wearing, or in some cases, not wearing. Pasties and G-strings could become illegal in a place of business, outside a actual strip club.

Some area residents, especially parents, said they have to go out of their way to avoid driving by a questionable coffee stand.

"I do not walk around my house naked for my boy and their friends to see. And I do not, will not tolerate that in my neighborhood," said Jennifer Lindell.

A growing concern for neighbors is the possible presence of prostitution near their homes, and strange men hanging around the coffee stands.

"This is drifting into my home territory now. I don't want it. I want this to have stricter guidelines. Please protect our children, our neighborhoods," said Michelle Hills.

The city said the revised lewd conduct ordinance will take effect in about three weeks, after the city's legal department and the police figure out exactly how to enforce it.