| OCR Text |
Show Dim View Of Amusement Centers By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL City officials offi-cials are taking a dim view of amusement centers and a revised re-vised city ordinance is expected ex-pected soon that will place tighter controls on new arcades. CITY ATTORNEY Layne B. Forbes said that amusement centers are allowed only in the city's commercial zones, but that several centers have sprung up in recent months and several other establishments establish-ments have added machines to their businesses. "The city can place certain viously granted licenses and are not yet in operation. Established Estab-lished centers would be nonconforming non-conforming businesses. "HOWEVER, these centers must meet all city ordinances and remain operational to qualify as a non-conforming business," he told the council. "If they should be forced to close cr close on their own accord for a period of one year, they would no longer be classified classi-fied as non-conforming." Police chief Larry Higgins said there are 48 machines operational within the city and two arcades have been granted licenses for an addi-tional addi-tional 60 machines (30 machines each) which are not yet operational. HE TOLD the council that crime against coin machines has increased drastically in the few months since new arcades have been open. "1 have to contribute the increased crime rate to the amusement centers and machines located in other businesses." the chief said. He recommended a limitation limita-tion of four machines per business busi-ness establishment and discontinuation dis-continuation of any new amusement centers (arcades) within the city. AFTER considerable debate between the council and other city officials. Councilman Robert Linnell suggested that the (I) city increase its business busi-ness license and fee for machines: (2) limit the number of machines per business establishment: and (3) restrict the hours during which arcades located near schools could be open. The latter was questioned on its constitutionality, noting that other entertainment centers cen-ters (movies, recreation center, cen-ter, ice rink, roller rink, etc.) are not governed by curfew hours even though the v mav be frequented by persons under 18 years of age. BOUNTIFUL originally had a city ordinance allowing use of pinball and other similar games before video machines became popular but that these were limited to two per business establishment establish-ment and restricted to persons over 21 years of age. Then earlier this year the city council lowered the age limit to 18 and lilted its limitations limita-tions to the number of devices per business establishment. THAT OPENED the floodgate. restrictions and controls on the use of amusement machines, but the city can go only so far without the possibility of overstepping over-stepping legal bounds," the attorney told the city council. HE EXPLAINED that a revised re-vised city ordinance can limit the number of machines within an establishment and can also set business license fees on the use of these machines. "But these restrictions can go only so far," the attorney emphasized. "For example, the city can't place an excessive exces-sive fee on the machines just to restrict their useage." THE CITY Planning Commission Com-mission expressing their strong feelings against amusement amuse-ment centers recommended ' that the city council assess a $300 business fee plus $50 ptr machine for each machine iti an establishment whether or not the establishment is used exclusively for amusement. He said a spot check of other communities noted that cost per machine ranges from $20 to as much as $165. "BUT WE must keep the fee relative to the cost of administering adminis-tering and controlling the amusement centers or estab-lishments estab-lishments where these machines are located," he said. "Thus, we can assess fees only to the amount that we can justify under these guidelines." guide-lines." He noted that a revised ordinance ordi-nance would not affect existing amusement centers or those businesses that have been pre- |
