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• MEMORANDUM <br /> DATE: 11/14/01 MEETING DATE: 11/20/01 <br /> TO: Planning Commission Members <br /> FROM: Susan Henry, Assistant City Manager j' <br /> SUBJECT: Proposed Massage Therapy Ordinance <br /> Requested Action: <br /> Review the attached proposed massage therapy ordinance and begin to discuss some <br /> of the issues on November 20. <br /> Background: <br /> Currently, therapeutic massage businesses are allowed in the Commercial zoning <br /> district in St. Anthony (Section 1635.02eee). A certificate of occupancy is required to <br /> have this type of business. This is obtained by displaying to the City Manager that the <br /> practitioners at the business all have a certificate from a massage school showing <br /> completion of courses. These requests are handled administratively. <br /> Recently, arrests were made at one massage operation for prostitution. Under the <br /> • present City Ordinance therapeutic massage is not a defined term and the City does not <br /> require a license, making it very difficult to stop the operation of a massage operation <br /> where prostitution may be occurring. By requiring massage operations to obtain a <br /> business license and providing certain clearly delineated standards for operation, the <br /> City may more effectively regulate these activities and ensure that only legitimate <br /> massage operations are in the City. <br /> The City Attorney's Office has drafted the attached ordinance. It is based on the City of <br /> Edina's massage parlor ordinance. The ordinance limits the number of businesses <br /> offering therapeutic massage. The ordinance speaks to investigation and <br /> approval/denial of application, including the suspension or revocation of the license and <br /> specifically provides that any conviction for prostitution or any other crime or violation <br /> involving moral turpitude results in a revocation of the license. If the City adopted this <br /> ordinance in December, the City could give existing businesses some period, like 40-60 <br /> days, to comply and get a license to operate in St. Anthony. <br /> Staff Recommendation: <br /> Staff recommends the Planning Commission set the public hearing for the new <br /> therapeutic massage ordinance for December 18. <br /> Attachments: <br /> • Proposed Massage Therapy Ordinance <br /> • City Attorney Correspondence <br />