DULUTH, MN (CBS-3) – The Duluth City Council approved an amendment to an ordinance that would place stricter rules on licensed massage businesses.
The proposal comes after two people were arrested and charged last month in connection with alleged sex trafficking at several Twin Ports massage parlors.
Before the ordinance was even brought up in council chambers Monday, citizens and business owners wrote into councilors expressing their frustration with some of the rules listed in the proposal.
According to the language of the original ordinance, massage facilities’ hours of operation would be limited to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. They would also be required to have only one client entrance and the main entrance would have to be kept unlocked during business hours.
Those rules didn’t sit well with some small business owners who say they don’t have the revenue to keep the front desk staffed at all hours of the day and a lot the therapists work alone during some hours. They also say some licensed therapist would like to be able to practice during the earlier morning or late evening hours.
Councilor Gary Anderson proposed an amendment that would extend business hours for massage facilities to 6 a.m. through 11 p.m., allow businesses to lock their main entrance if they please, and also have more than one client entrance.
The council could vote on the revised proposal in May.
In related news, the council voted Monday night to approve regulating motorized foot-scooters and dock-less bikes within the city.
That new law would mean people can’t drive those devices on sidewalks in business areas.. and would have to follow regular traffic flow and bike lanes.
