Dance the night away? Not in Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - July 13, 2009 An obscure city ordinance outlaws publicly shaking your groove
thing in Iowa's biggest city after 2 a.m.
Few even were aware of the ban until members of the nonprofit
Des Moines Social Club sought to hold an after-hours dance at their
downtown building. They were told no-go on the tango.
"It's a silly law that shouldn't exist and the law shows we
aren't keeping up with the times," said Zachary Mannheimer,
executive director of the club, which is made up largely of
artists.
Officials and boosters in the city of 200,000 who have fought
for years to liven up Des Moines' sleepy image agree the ordinance
should be repealed. A proposal to do just that is expected to go
before the City Council on Monday.
The ordinance, which dates to at least 1942, bans public dancing
between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Residents must
suppress the urge to Macarena in public until 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Any dance within the city that can be attended by the public,
whether or not they're paying, is subject to the rule. Even venues
that allow dancing before the wee hours of the morning must pay
$200 for an annual license or $75 to host a single event.
The law apparently was intended to coincide with last call at
bars and club, according to Assistant City Manager Chris Johansen,
but police said they've rarely enforced it for years.
"The Des Moines police are not against dancing," said Lt. Mike
Hoffman, commander of the department's vice and narcotics section.
Dance club owners said they'd welcome the change, but also
believe many Iowans are likely to prefer sleep over late-night
shimmying.
"I don't think it's going to change much of what I'm doing, but
it's something that would create some things that are needed for
entertainment and people," said Larry Smithson, owner of The Surf
Shack in downtown Des Moines.
Liar's Club owner Jeremy Mahler said he'd have to evaluate the
change. "It's something where we would have to weigh our options
after it's done," he said.
Susan Ramsey, a spokeswoman for the Greater Des Moines
Partnership - which promotes the city with the slogan "Whatever
you do, do more of it in Des Moines" - said the city's move to
repeal the ordinance is "indicative of the metropolitan area we
are becoming."
Mannheimer, with the Social Club, called it "a step forward
toward Des Moines becoming a 24-hours city.
Still, Des Moines is likely to remain a pretty peaceful place.
"I don't expect there will be an outpouring of events after 2
a.m.," Mannheimer said.