Goodman proposes licensing for all exotic dancers

Diana Sahagun

Friday, July 13, 2001 | 10:24 a.m.

To generate more money for the city, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman suggested Thursday that all dancers at Las Vegas clubs be licensed.

Currently, only club owners are required to get a business license. But Goodman said he sees the exotic dancers as "independent contractors" who should have to pay a fee to do business in the city.

During his weekly press conference, Goodman said he wants to charge $150, or "about two minutes work" for the permits.

"As far as I'm concerned it's strictly monetary," Goodman said of his reasons for seeking the $150 fee.

The fee would also be charged to dancers who fly in from out-of-state for weekend stints at Las Vegas clubs.

City officials said there are roughly 4,000 dancers in clubs throughout Clark County. An estimate of the number of dancers in clubs within the city's limits was not immediately available.

Goodman said he will introduce a bill on the licensing fees at a future City Council meeting.

Goodman also said he hopes a new proposal to revise the city's ethics codes will make the Las Vegas Ethics Commission stronger than the Nevada Ethics Commission.

The city's recommending committee Monday will discuss two proposed ordinances sponsored by Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald.

The first option would be to get rid of the city's ethics board and let all complaints be handled by the state. But Goodman said he would rather move forward with the second option, to strengthen the ethics codes, as long as the changes give officials more due process when a complaint is filed against them.

Goodman said the city's ethics board members should have subpoena power and that a screening process should be put in place so frivolous complaints are dismissed before heading to a full hearing.

"It's too easy for someone to file a complaint," Goodman said.

The ordinances are scheduled to be voted on by the City Council Aug. 1.

City Councilmen Michael Mack and Larry Brown are facing ethics complaints filed to the city's ethics board after they voted last month to deny a car dealership in the northwest.

Goodman said he did not know what would happen to the cases if the council voted to get rid of the ethics board before the complaints were heard.