³ÉÈËXÕ¾

The owner of several infamous bikini barista stands in Everett has pleaded guilty this week to two felony charges, promotion of prostitution and money laundering, in the hopes of getting out of a lengthy jail sentence.

As part of her plea, 52-year-old Carmela Panica has 30 days to turn the “Java Juggs” and “Twin Peaks” establishments over to the city.

City spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said they have no intention of getting into the coffee business, but the city also doesn’t plan to dismantle the bikini barista stands.

“It’s likely that we will end up selling all or some of them, but we really want to give those locations a clean slate. So, our goal is that they not continue in their current operation at their current locations,” Pembroke said.

The stands might continue to feature bikini-clad baristas, but in different locations. Or, they might stay where they are, but no longer offer any “eye candy.”

No matter what plan city leaders choose, they might have little ability to decide what actually happens to the “Java Juggs” and “Twin Peaks” operations once they’re sold.

“I think we would have limited control once it’s bought,” Pembroke said. “We do want to keep that in mind, but make sure that we’re being cost effective. These are taxpayers goods at this point, so we want to make sure we’re being cost effective and reasonable with what we do with them.”

In light of the Carmelo case and several other recent chronic nuisance investigations at bikini barista stands in Everett, Pembroke said the city is taking a long, hard look at how they deal with these types of businesses in general.

“We really want to make sure that we have regulations in place that make it clear for the owners and for the baristas themselves, as well as for the police and the community, what’s expected at those stands. What’s going to be tolerated and what’s not,” Pembroke said.

City administrators have been working with the owners of regular coffee stands and some bikini barista stands to try to come up with reasonable regulations. They hope to have a plan ready to present to the Everett City Council by the end of this year.

So far, it doesn’t look like they’re planning to outlaw bikini barista stands altogether, just make sure they’re not a nuisance to the neighborhood.