Pastor urges council to block downtown drag-show, cites adult-entertainment rules

Pastor Bill Tweed of Jubilee Family Church told the Oskaloosa City Council during public comment that a planned drag-show in the City Square would likely run afoul of the city’s adult-entertainment zoning provisions.

Tweed said the city’s zoning code regulates "adult entertainment business" and includes distance and visibility restrictions, and he argued a performance on the City Square bandstand could be visible to minors. "An obscene drag performance in the city square, a public park plaza in the downtown area would likely trigger multiple violations of zoning location," Tweed said during a roughly three-minute comment period.

The concern prompted questions from council members and staff about the event’s application. Council members and staff said they had received two applications: one described as "Pride on the Square" and a later application explicitly labeled a "drag show." City staff said they follow special-event procedures and had reviewed the materials submitted.

The city zoning administrator said he would prepare a zoning interpretation and circulate it to council members. "I'm the city zoning administrator... my plan is to go back and look at the adult use section of the code. I'm not sure that the statement that he made is correct... but I'm going to prepare zoning interpretation, and I'll send that out to you when that's ready," he said.

City officials also noted limits on local authority. Council members emphasized First Amendment protections for expressive events while saying that if a performance crossed the line and violated city ordinances, police would be expected to step in. One council member said if the activity violated city code, staff would seek to move it to another location.

The council did not take action at the meeting to approve or deny the event; staff said they would follow up with a formal zoning interpretation and any necessary next steps.