The Breezy Point City Council voted Monday to extend for 18 months a moratorium that will keep adult entertainment venues out of the city, but time is running out on how long they can keep them away.
The problem is that banning adult entertainment from any Minnesota city has been ruled unconstitutional and cities must allow for them, and can only restrict them to certain locations via zoning laws.
"We have to find somewhere where we can allow it," said Associate City Planner Jim Perry. "It's a free speech issue and there are some other problems - we can only keep them out for so long."
City Attorney Andy MacArthur said that, theoretically, cities must make 5 to 10 percent of their business district available to adult entertainment, but they can be zoned to keep them away from churches, schools and other locations.
About a half-dozen Breezy Point citizens approached the council and spoke in favor of the 18-month moratorium, some asking for a permanent ban.
