12-17-2025 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 17, 2025 Miller stated that he is bothered by the investment that has been made into the building already and wondered if there is something they could do, perhaps under a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), to provide regulation that would allow the business to operate and protect the investment of the business owner. The Community Development Director stated that ultimately the ordinance regulates businesses proposed at this time, but also those who could come forward in the future that may operate very differently. Miller stated that he supports the ordinance on a larger scope, but also has thoughts about how this may impact businesses that are already here. Mayor Fischer commented that he empathizes with those who do great work and who are doing the best they can, but the challenge is to develop rules and guardrails in place to protect against the bad actors. He did not suspect that there was a bad actor present tonight, as there are many people in attendance tonight in support of that business. He also recognized that the City must establish rules to protect against those bad actors. He stated that if some of the criteria here limit businesses that are already in place, perhaps that is a hardship they can look at. He believed that they should adopt an ordinance now and work with people to address tweaks and changes as appropriate. Gutierrez reiterated that she finds the prohibition of beds to be unnecessary, as the most appropriate surface should be used to provide the service necessary for clients and practitioners. She stated that a bed is safer and appropriate for the therapy proposed, and did not understand how beds would be more susceptible to bad behavior than other surfaces. She referenced the hours of operation and prohibition on sleeping and stated that society is focused on daytime people, but as someone who worked nights for years, she does not see a problem with people receiving therapy at night. She stated that there are laws in place that prohibit inappropriate activities and did not feel it was the obligation of the City to impose regulations that are already addressed. Malone stated that hours of operation apply to anything. Gutierrez stated that this business has a legitimate explanation of why services may be needed during non -banking hours. Mayor Fischer commented that there is an urgent care down the street, so there are other alternatives. Kwapick stated that he has tried to look at this from a precedent standpoint, noting that there are reasons that cities work to license individual businesses, and almost every city in the metro handles massage licenses in the way they do to provide safety for practitioners and clients. He commented that if someone wants to open a business that focuses on alternative treatments for people, he supports that and wants that type of business to thrive. He stated that there can be guardrails put in place that would still allow a CAHC business to operate and thrive in the community. He stated that they want to make it easier for people to operate how they want to, while also ensuring that everything is aboveboard and safe. He appreciated that it seems that they are trying to prohibit a business but believes it to be the exact opposite.