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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 18, 2001 • Page 12 1 Fernandez stated that she feels that the $500 would be difficult for those businesses to 2 come up with. She added that she would happily volunteer her time to help the Planning 3 Commission with this issue. 4 5 Ralph Canton came forward and stated that he has been a massage therapist for seventeen 6 years. He stated that the origin of a license is based on the degree of harm that one can 7 do, and referred to medical doctors. He added that massage therapy really has the 8 potential to inflict very little harm on patients. 9 10 Canton concluded that there was very little benefit to licensing massage therapists. I l Canton also referred to historical roots of therapeutic massage. 12 13 Commissioner Thomas asked what the typical investment would be for a student to start 14 up there own business. Canton stated that he could not give a figure, as he suggests to his 15 students that they operate out of their own homes to eliminate any overhead. 16 17 Commissioner Hanson asked what was recommended from the Police Department. 18 Henry stated that the Police Department and the City Attorney both recommended the 19 ordinance, as it gives them teeth in order to shut down legitimate therapeutic massage 20 businesses. 21 • 22 Chair Melsha closed the public hearing at 9:52 p.m. 23 24 Commissioner Thomas stated that his initial reaction was that they are trying to deal with 25 a police issue through zoning. Henry stated that if they are a legitimate business,they 26 should not have trouble complying. 27 28 Chair Melsha indicated that he did not see the $5,000 investment as being too significant 29 in terms of a capital investment. 30 31 Smith sited a part of the ordinance that would not restrict a person to go to someone's 32 home for a massage. He also noted that the fees were for a business, not the individuals 33 that comprise an entire business. 34 35 Chair Melsha stated that the focus of the Commission should be on how a property is 36 used. 37 38 The Planning Commission discussed the possibility of changing the number of licenses 39 allowed for this type of business to more than five. They also discussed changing the 40 licensing fees. 41 42 Smith recommended that they put a specific number in the ordinance for cost of license. 43 44 Motion by Vice Chair Stille, second by Commissioner Steeves,to approve the City of St. 45 Anthony: Require business license for therapeutic massage parlors and-amend Zoning 46 Ordinance Section 3.1635.02. 47 48 Motion carried unanimously.