Agenda Packets - 2010/09/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 6 Meeting Date: Sept 7, 2010 Type of Business: Work Session City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Review Proposed Revisions to Chapter 515 Regarding Tattoo Licensing Introduction: During the last legislative session, a new law was adopted to regulate body piercing and other body modification services (comprehensively referred to as “body art” establishments) in Minnesota. Mounds View has had provisions regulating these businesses since 2000, when the City Council adopted Ordinance 663. No such business ever located in the community, although there have been a few inquiries over the years. With the new state regulations, the League of MN Cities recommends cities examine their city codes and make any necessary amendments or revisions to maintain or achieve consistency. (The City’s code may be more restrictive but cannot be less restrictive than MN Statutes.) Staff asked the City Attorney’s office to review our City Code relating to Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments (Chapter 515) and to propose amendments to be compliant with the new legislation, which will be effective January 1, 2011. Discussion: The City Council adopted its licensing requirements for such businesses in 2000 in response to an inquiry to locate such a business in the City. While the business chose to locate elsewhere, the Council felt that having a strong framework of licensing requirements would be beneficial, since at that time, the state had no oversight in such businesses. The intent of the ordinance was as follows: The purpose of this Section is to regulate the business of tattooing, body piercing, body branding, body scarring or body painting in order to protect the health and welfare of the general public. The City Council finds that the experience of other cities indicates that there is a connection between tattooing and hepatitis and other health problems. The City Council finds that stringent regulations governing tattooing can minimize the hepatitis and disease risk and therefore protect the general health and welfare of the community. The original ordinance outlined the license requirements, locational requirements, operational requirements, health and sanitation requirements, license fees, investigation fees, temporary licenses, suspension and revocation standards and exemptions. While the ordinance was quite comprehensive, the adopted legislation addresses all of these issues and more, incorporating newer trends in body art and body modification. The attorney recommends that the much of the Chapter be deleted, in deference to the new legislation, as adopted or amended. Certain provisions will remain in place in the City Code.