HomeMy WebLinkAbout6227 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 1979/03/13f
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March 12, 1979
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RESOLUTION NO. 6227
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF
ANDERECK & JOHNSON INVESTMENT CORPORATION,
DOING BUSINESS AS "THE BODY SHOPPE",
FOR A RENEWAL OF A LICENSE
TO OPERATE A SAUNA
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
St. Louis Park, as follows:
Findings
1. An application for renewal of a license to operate
a sauna within St. Louis Park, Minnesota has been filed by
Andereck & Johnson Investment Corporation ("Applicant"), doing
business as "The Body Shoppe".
2. Full and fair opportunity for hearings before the
St. Louis Park City Council were afforded the Applicant; Ms.
Sandra Johnson did appear before the City Council on two
occasions, on February 5, 1979 and again on February 20, 1979,
on behalf of the Applicant, regarding the application, at which
times Ms. Johnson presented evidence in favor of the applica-
tion and responded to questions from members of the City Council.
3. The attorney for the Applicant appeared before the
City Council on February 20, 1979 to present evidence and argu-
ments in favor of his client's application.
4. The regulation of saunas within City limits, as
authorized by Ordinance § 13-1144 of the Code of St. Louis
Park, is vital to the preservation of the health and welfare
of the citizens of St. Louis Park. The City Council recognizes
that its regulation of saunas is necessitated by the special
problems of health and welfare presented by this form of busi-
ness, including but not limited to problems of cleanliness and
disease, prostitution, employee treatment, working conditions,
and the unauthorized practice of certain licensed professions.
It is the intent of the City Council to fairly regulate all
saunas so that legitimate services to the public may be pro-
vided and abuses of this form of business minimized.
5. The inquiry into the renewal of the license of The
Body Shoppe reflects the concern of the City Council for the
full, fair and proper enforcement of licensing requirements
generally, and has been undertaken without according special
treatment to any particular applicant.
6. During the past year, an employee of The Body Shoppe
was convicted of prostitution, a fact admitted by the Applicant
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during her two hearings before the City Council. That crime
was committed in connection with employment at The Body Shoppe.
7. The City Council notes, but does not use as a basis
of its conclusion regarding this license application, that
a second employee has been arrested for a separate act of
prostitution, with trial pending. Ms. Johnson indicates that
this employee has been suspended from employment.
8. The City Council finds that its licensees must take
active, firm and affirmative measures to safeguard their
establishments against abuses or problems which might arise
in operating a sauna, including but not limited to prostitution.
9. The City Council finds that the applicant has failed
to institute programs or rules to prevent such abuses, even
after the conviction of an employee for prostitution.
10. The City Council finds that the lawful and legitimate
purposes for the operation of a sauna within City limits are
further cast in doubt, while rendering this business more sus-
ceptible to prostitution, by the following facts:
a. The Applicant hires only female
masseuses;
b. The employees lack training in
massage and there is no responsible
program to afford legitimate and
competent instruction in massage
during work hours;
c. The employees earn only $2.50 to
$3.50 per day, based on Ms. Johnson's
estimates that the establishment em-
ploys six to eight masseuses per day,
averages ten customers per day, and
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pays its masseuses, only $2.00 of the
$15.00 charge for massage.
11. The inadequacy of supervision,', training, regulation
and compensation of employees by the Applicant indicates a
likelihood that abuses such as prostitution Will'cont1inue.
The renewal of this application pose's a real�and present threat
to the health and welfare ,of the citizens of St. Louis Park.
Conclusion
The application of Andereck
Corporation is denied. -
Attest:
& Johnson Investment
Adopted by the City Council on March 12, 1979.
""' City erk
Reviewed for Administration:
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Mayor
Reviewed as to form and
legality:
ity'Attorney