City Mulls Change to Address 'Inadequacies' of Massage Ordinance

Burnsville's massage ordinance could be in for a bit of a facelift: Tuesday night, the Burnsville Police Department will present a number of tweaks to the existing code, meant to put the clamp down on prostitutes masquerading as massage artists.

The city significantly tightened its Massage Ordinance in July 2011, after a number of south metro massage therapy businesses were implicated in prostitution scandals. At the time, the Burnsville Council made a number of changes:

• Prior to July 2011, only the license holder (presumably the business owner) had to submit to a criminal background check and provide proof of training. After the change, these requirements extended to all of their employees and contractors as well.
• Required training hours increased from 100 to 500.
  
• As per the updated ordinance, business owners could be penalized if they knowingly employed a therapist with a history of prostitution or sex-related convictions. 
• Business owners who have lost their license —in Burnsville or a neighboring city —are not be able to obtain a license at all.

• Regular inspections and a comprehensive set of standards as to "what conditions are acceptable."
• Adding in a requirement detailing "appropriate body coverings for employees and customers."
• Adding in "operational requirements," mandating appropriate advertising and visibility into the business from the street. 
• The city could also impose residency requirements.