City Council takes up lewd conduct ordinance | Politics

Federal Way’s bikini baristas might soon be forced to put on a few more layers of clothing.

The City Council is eyeing amendments to its lewd conduct ordinance that would limit the amount of skin baristas are legally able to show.

Among the potential changes, the council will consider adding language meant to prohibit women from showing more than half of their breasts in any public space. It would also stop women from "touch(ing), carress(ing) or fondl(ing)" their clothed or unclothed breasts. If the changes are accepted, owning or operating a business that facilitates lewd conduct would become a misdemeanor.

The city’s sole bikini barista business is The Pink Spot Café, which opened last May.

Lori Bowden owns the café and said she’s had no complaints or problems with the city.

“No, no, not at all,” she said. “In fact, when I went into the city when I opened it was, ‘Good luck and congratulations and welcome.’”

Despite owning the one business that could be affected by the new ordinance, Bowden said she's on board with any changes the city makes.

"They're passing these laws, but I support them 100 percent. There's a lot of competitors that have been out there in the last five or six years that have crossed the line," she said

Councilman Jack Dovey wants to keep lewd behavior out of the city, but said he isn’t sure changing the ordinance is the council's best strategy.

“I have not decided how I’m going to vote on it,” he said. “There’s a certain point where sometimes we have too many laws on the books.

The council took up the issue Tuesday night and could vote on the ordinance later this week. If the ordinance passes, offenders could face 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.