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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA AMENDING ARTICLE
IV, CHAPTER 2, PART 3 OF THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE
BY ADDING THERETO DIVISION 4 DECLARING THE COMMERCIAL
EXPLOITATION OF LEWD MOTION PICTURE FILMS AND LEWD
PUBLICATIONS TO BE CONTRARY TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY,
AND GENERAL WELFARE, AND A PUBLIC NUISANCE; DECLARING
ANY PLACE DISPLAYING OR EXHIBITING SUCH LEWD MOTION
PICTURE FILMS OR PUBLICATIONS TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE
PER SE; MAKING ALL LEWD MATTER AND PUBLICATIONS POSSESSED
IN SUCH PLACES A PUBLIC NUISANCE PER SE; PROVIDING FOR
NOTICE AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TO ABATE THE SAME; AND
PROVIDING A PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF
COSTS OF ABATEMENT.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the Arcadia Municipal Code is hereby amended by
adding Division 4 to Article IV, Chapter 2, Part 3 containing Sections
4234, 4234.1, 4234.2, 4234.3, 4234.4, 4234.5, 4234.6, and 4234.7 to
'read as follows:
"ARTICLE IV.
CHAPTER 2.
PART 3.
DIVISION 4.
PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS AND POLICY
DISORDERLY CONDUCT, NUISANCES, ETC.
IMMORALITY
LEWD MATTER, PUBLIC NUISANCE
Section 4234.
PURPOSE; POLICY; AUTHORITY; APPLICATION.
The City Council finds that the crass commercial exploitation of
explicit sexual conduct through the public exhibition of lewd films and
sale of lewd publications, constitutes a debasement and distortion of a
sensitive key relationship of human existence, central to family life,
community welfare and the development of human personality; that such
exploitation is indecent and offense to the senses and to public morals
and interfers with the interest of the public in the quality
'"
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~10n of such activities is detrimental to the best
health, safety, convenience, good morals, and general welfare
of the City of Arcadia, and of the residents, citizens, inhabi-
tants, and business thereof and is unlawful and may not be
made the subject of a lawful license. Pursuant to Sections
33771, 33773 and 38773.5 of the Government Code, Section 731
of the Code of Civil Procedure, and Sections 3479, 3480, 3491
and 3494 of the Civil Code, the city council hereby declares
such activities to be public nuisances, and herein establishes
procedures for the abatement thereof and for the assessment
and collection of costs of abatement which may be incurred
by the city incident to such abatement. This ordinance shall
apply to existing establishments which are presently engaged
ih the activities herein declared to be public nuisances.
Section 4234.1. DEFINITIONS.
(A) "Knowledge" or "knowledge of such nuisance" means
having knowledge of the contents and character of the patently
offensive sexual conduct which appears in the lewd matter.
(B) "Lewd" matter means any matter:
(1) which the average person, applying contemporary
community standards, would find, when considered as a
whole, appeals to the prurient interest: and
(2) which depicts or describes patently offensive
representations or descriptions of:
(a) ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted,
actual or simulated: or
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~ng nere~n contained is intended to include or proscribe
any matter which, when considered as a whole, and in the con-
text in which it is used, possesses serious literary, artistic,
political or scientific value.
(e) "Matter" shall mean a motion picture film or a pub-
lication, or both;
(D) "Motion picture film" shall include any:
(1) film or plate negative;
(2) film or plate positive;
(3) film designed to be projected on a screen for
exhibition;
~4) films, glass slides or transparencies, either
in negative or positive form, designed for exhibition
by projection on a screen;
(5) Video tape or any other medium used to elec-
tronically reproduce images on a screen.
(E) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm,
association, corporation, or other legal entity;
(F) .Place" includes, but is not limited to, any building,
structure or place, or any separate part or portion thereof,
whether permanent or not, or the ground itself. "Place" also
includes any money, slug or coin-operated vending machine,
or mechanical or electronically controlled vending machine,
which is located upon or is accessible from a public sidewalk
or thoroughfare.
(G) "Publication" shall include any book, magazine, news-
paper, article, pamphlet, writing, printing, illustration,
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(H) "Sale" means a passing of title or right of possession
from a seller to a buyer for valuable consideration, and shall
include, but is not limited to, any lease or rental arrangement
or other transaction wherein or whereby any valuable considera-
tion is received for the use of, or transfer of possession
of, lewd matter.
Section 4234.2. LEWD FILMS AND THEATERS EXHIBITING THE
SAME DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE PER SE; ADMISSION PRICE RECEIVED
AFTER SERVICE OF RESOLUTION TO BE REGARDED AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE
PER ACCIDENS.
The following are declared to be public nuisances per
se:
(A) Any and every place in the City of Arcadia where lewd
films are publicly exhibited as a regular course of business,
or possessed for the purpose of such exhibition;
(B) Any and every place in the City of Arcadia where a
lewd film is publicly and repeatedly exhibited, or possessed
for the purpose of such exhibition;
(C) Any and every lewd film which is publicly exhibited
or possessed for such purpose at a place which is a public nuisance
under this section;
From and after service on the theater, or its manager, or
acting manager, or person then in charge of such place, of a
certified copy of this ordinance and a certified copy of the
resolution provided for herein, all monies paid thereafter as
admission price to such exhibitions shall be regarded as being
a public nuisance per accidens, as personal property
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ceedings required herein.
Section 4234.3. PLACE OF BUSINESS IN WHICH LEWD PUBLI-
CATIONS CONSTITUTE A PRINCIPAL PART OF THE STOCK IN TRADE AND
LEWD PUBLICATIONS POSSESSED THEREIN DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE
PER SE; VALUABLE CONSIDERATION RECEIVED FOR SALE AFTER SERVICE
OF RESOLUTION TO BE REGARDED AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE PER ACCIDENS.
The following are declared to be public nuisances per se:
(A) Any and every place of business in the City of Arcadia
in which lewd publications constitute all of the stock in trade,
or a principal part thereof. Where such lewd publications
constitute only a part of the stock in trade and are located
in a place or places within such business which are capable of
demarcation, such place or places constitute the public nuisance
which requires abatement;
(B) Any and every lewd publication possessed at a place
which is a public nuisance under this Section;
From and after service on the place, or its manager, or
acting manager, or person then in charge of such place, of a
certified copy of this ordinance and a certified copy of the
resolution provided for herein, all valuable consideration re-
ceived for the sale of such lewd publications shall be regarded
as being a public nuisance per accidens, as personal property
used in conducting and maintaining a declared public nuisance.
as to which forfeiture will be requested in the judicial proceedings
required herein.
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~ATEMENT OF SUCH NUISANCES.
(A) Upon receiving notice through service of a certified
copy of this ordinance and of a certified copy of the resolution
provided for herein, any and every person who shall own, legally
or equitably, lease, maintain, manage, conduct, or operate
a place in the City of Arcadia which is declared to be a public
nuisance as set forth and stated in Section 4234.2 or Section
4234.3 of the Arcadia Municipal Code is deemed to be a person
who has knowledge of such nuisance for the purpose of this
ordinance and is, thereafter, responsible for its maintenance',
and shall be liable therefor.
(B) The places and subject matter declared to be public
nuisances under Section 4234.2 or Section 4234.3 of the Arcadia
Municipal Code shall be abated pursuant to Government Code
sections 38773 and 38773.5, Code of Civil Procedure Section
731, and Civil Code Sections 3491 and 3494, as provided for
herein.
Section 4234.5. ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY CITY COUNCIL.
Upon a specific finding that a public nuisance, as de-
fined in Section 4234.2 or Section 4234.3 of the Arcadia
Municipal Code, exists in the City of Arcadia, the city council,
in applying the provisions of this ordinance to such nuisance,
shall provide for the following by resolution:
(A) Declare the fact that such nuisance exists:
(B) Set forth the description or legal description and
street address of the real property which constitutes the nuisance:
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.
(D) Order the revocation of all licenses and permits
which have been issued as a part of the operation of such
business, subject to confirmation by the court in the judicial
proceedings required herein. Criminal proceedings for trans-
acting business without a license at such address shall not
be filed until the order of license revocation by the city
council has been confirmed by judicial order;
(E) Order the city attorney to give written notice under
Penal Cod'e section 373a to all persons named in section 4234.4 (A)
,
of the Arcadia Municipal Code to abate such public nuisances
immediately, by terminating the exhibitions of such lewd film
or films and sale or offering for sale of such publications,
or causing the same to be terminated;
(F) Order the city attorney to proceed as directed in
section 4234.6 of the Arcadia Municipal Code and do all things
necessary to abate such public nuisance through judicial pro-
ceedings and to conclude such proceedings as expeditiously
as is permissible under the law;
(G) Inform and give notice to persons named in Section
4234.4(A) of the Arcadia Municipal Code that:
(1) The city council has determined that a public
nuisance presently exists at such place and address, and
has revoked the licenses and permits at that place, sub-
ject to court confirmation, and that, under Section 4234.4
of the Arcadia Municipal Code, they are deemed to have
knowledge thereof and are responsible therefor;
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~ence ~ proceedings naming such persons
as defendants in a civil action to abate the same judicially
under Civil Code Section 3494 and Code of Civil Procedure
Section 731, and to seek compensatory and punitive damages,
. and recovery in said action of the costs of abatement,
including investigative costs, court costs, attorney fees,
and other expenses and that under Section 4234.7 of the
Arcadia Municipal Code, the costs of abatement are made
a special assessment against the parcel of land upon which
the nuisance is maintained, but only against the interest,
if any therein, of the person responsible for maintaining
such nuisance and, upon their determination by the city
council, will, by separate resolution, be made a lien
against the real property interest of the person responsible
for maintaining such nuisance;
(3) All lewd motion picture films or lewd publications
being used in conducting and maintaining such public nuisances
are considered to be contraband and the subject of forfeiture;
(4) The lewd motion picture film or films or lewd
publications which are being used in conducting and main-
taining such public nuisance will be needed at the hearing
in the court having jurisdiction of the legal proceedings
brought by the city attorney, pursuant to Evidence Code
section 1503; and
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of a certified copy of this ordinance and a certified copy
of such resolution, any and all moneys paid as admission
price to the exhibition or exhibitions of such lewd motion
picture films, and valuable consideration received for the
sale of such lewd publications, shall be regarded as being a
public nuisance per accidens, as personal property used
in conducting and maintaining such nuisance, and as gain
derived from a wrongful act, contrary to the provisions
of Civil Code section 2224, and that forfeiture of the same
will be requested in the' judicial proceedings required
herein;
(H) Order that a certified copy of said resolution and
a certified copy of this ordinance be delivered forthwith in
any manner normally used to effectuate personal service of process
as directed in Code of Civil Procedure Sections 415.10 through
416.90 to all persons of record having any legal or equitable
interest in the real property and to the regular or acting manager
or persons in charge of the place therein declared a public
nuisance.
Section 4234.6. ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY CITY ATTORNEY.
Upon a specific finding by resolution of the city council
of the fact that a public nuisance exists at a particular location,
the city attorney shall:
(A) forthwith, but not later than five (5) working days
after passage of said resolution, commence legal proceedings
under Civil Code sections 3491 and 3494 and Code of Civil
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~. an order that the subject matter identified by
the city council in said resolution is lewd, as defined
herein:
(2) an order that each place named by the city council
is a public nuisance and that the action taken by the city
council to revoke the licenses issued to that place of
business was lawful:
(3) an injunction enjoining and restraining all persons
maintaining said nuisance from possessing or publicly ex-
hibiting said lewd motion picture films, or from selling
or possessing for sale said lewd publications at any time
in the future in the City of Arcadia, and such other
injunctive relief as the court may order:
(4) an order that all positive prints of such lewd
films and all such lewd publications or copies or reproduc-
tions thereof be forfeited as contraband;
(5) an accounting of all moneys paid as admission
price to the exhibition or exhibitions of such lewd motion
picture films and valuable consideration received for the
sale of such lewd publications from and after the time the
person or persons maintaining said nuisance receive a copy
of the resolution of the city council finding that a public
nuisance exists, and a judgment that such moneys are gain
derived from a wrongful act under Civil Code section 2224,
and a public nuisance;
(6) an order that all admission price moneys or valu-
able consideration received and enumerated in the court
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and punitive damages and for all costs expended in abating
the public nuisance, including investigative costs, court
costs, reasonable attorney fees, and such other expenses
as are provided for herein; and
(8) all other relief as the court may deem proper.
(B) File a notice of the pendency of the action in the
office of the county recorder of the County of Los Angeles,
pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 409, giving the
names of the parties, the object of the action, and a description
of the property thereby affected.
Section 4234.7. COST OF ABATEMENT; ASSESSMENT; ASSESSMENT
REPORT; HEARING ON ASSESSMENT REPORT; ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION;
COLLECTION.
(A) The cost of abatement is hereby declared a special assess-
ment against the parcel of land upon which the public nuisance is
maintained, but only against the interest if any therein, of the
person or persons determined in the action to be responsible
for maintaining such nuisance. As used herein, the term "cost
of abatement" shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) investigative costs; (2) court costs; (3) reasonable attorney
fees; and (4) printing costs for any trial and appeal.
(B) Upon the filing of a Los Angeles County Superior Court
judgment adjudicating the existence of a public nuisance in
any proceedings instituted pursuant to these sections, the city
attorney shall file with the clerk of the council a written re-
port containing his account of the expenses of abatement,
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on which such abatement occurred, and the assessment against
each lot or parcel of land proposed to be levied to pay the
cost thereof. The clerk shall then set the report for hearing
by the city council and shall, not less than ten (10) days
prior to the date set for such hearing, serve notice of
assessment upon the owners, which notice shall specify the
day, hour and place when the city council shall hear and pass
upon the assessment report together with any objections or
protests thereto.
(e) Upon the date and hour fixed for the hearing, the
city council shall hear and pass upon the assessment report
together with any objections or protests which may be raised
by any of the owners of any property liable to be assessed
for the costs of abatement or any other interested persons.
The city council may make such revision, correction or modifi-
cations in the report as it may deem just, after which the
report as submitted, or as revised, corrected or modified,
shall be confirmed. The city council may adjourn the hearings
from time to time. The decisions of the city council on all
protests and objections which may be made shall be final and
conclusive.
(D) Upon confirmation of the assessment report, the city
council shall adopt a resolution specifying the amount assessed
against each respective parcel as shown on the last available
assessment roll in accordance with the assessment report.
Unless otherwise provided in such resolution, any such assessment
shall become due thirty (30) days after adoption of such resolution
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solution for payment to become due at any later date, in total
sum or in installments.
(E) All assessments may be paid by tender of the amount
due to the city controller. The city controller, prior to
August 10 of each year, shall determine if any assessment,
or portion thereof, is due and unpaid, and if he so deter-
mines, he shall file with the county auditor his statement
of the amount due, specifying the parcel on which such amount
is assessed, together with a certified copy of the assessment
resolution. Pursuant to S~ction 38773.5 of the Government
Code of the State of California, such assessment shall be
collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary
municipal taxes are collected and shall be subject to the same
penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency
as provided for ordinary municipal taxes. All laws applicable
to the levy, collection and enforcement of municipal taxes
shall be applicable to such special assessment.'1
Section 9: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause,
phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held
to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court
of competent juriSdiction, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The
city council of the City of Arcadia hereby declares that it
would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of
the fact that anyone or more sections, subsections, sentences,
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SECTION 10. The Clerk of the Council shall certify to the passage and adoption
of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published in the official newspaper
of the City of Arcadia within fifteen (15) days after its adoption.
PASSED AhTD ADOPTED BY THE CITY COuNCIL of the City of Arcadia at its regular meet-
ing held on the 21st day of October, 1980.
ATTEST:
~~
City Clerk of the City of Arcadia
",<!2~~&/~d
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of
the City Council of the City of Arcadia, California, held on the 21st day of October,
1980, by the affirmative vote of at least three Councilmen, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen Dring, Gilb, Haltom, Saelid & Pellegrino
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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City Clerk
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