Bloomington Council delays overhaul of massage-establishment rules after weeks of public comment
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Summary
After extensive public comment from licensed massage therapists and business owners, the Bloomington City Council voted to postpone action on a proposed ordinance regulating massage and bodywork establishments until June 23 to allow further stakeholder consultation and to split the draft into two ordinances.
The Bloomington City Council voted June 9 to postpone consideration of a proposed ordinance that would require licensing of massage and body‑work establishments and add enforcement tools intended to curb illicit massage businesses and human trafficking.
Council Member Ward moved to table the item to the June 23 meeting; Member Hendricks seconded. The motion passed; Council Member Lee and Council Member Montney voted no.
The proposal brought forward by city staff and legal counsel would: require all massage and body‑work establishments to hold a city license; remove the requirement that individually licensed massage therapists also hold a separate city permit; add inspection and emergency suspension authority for the city manager; and standardize application, appeals and fee language across city licenses. City staff said the changes are intended to close regulatory gaps that make illicit establishments difficult to shut down.
City Manager Jeff Jurgens, reviewing staff work on trafficking issues that began in 2023, said the ordinance "establish[es] that framework" intended to give the city enforcement tools against bad actors while protecting legitimate providers. City Clerk Lehi Yoakam told the council the draft updates language that dates to 1975, adds a clear definition separating massage therapists from establishments, and aligns processes with other city licenses.
Dozens of people spoke during the public comment period; many were licensed massage therapists and small business owners who urged the council to change wording and fees before adopting the ordinance. Tracy Myers, owner of a local store who said an illicit spa once operated next door, described seeing people who "you would see them carrying in groceries" and said she worried for young workers she believed were living on the premises. Several licensed therapists said the draft lumped legitimate health providers with illegal businesses and would impose unfair costs.
"I know human trafficking is real and I support your efforts to find the criminals who run these operations," said licensed massage therapist Erica Hartman. "But I fail to understand how charging my legitimate business an additional $3.50 plus a year will prevent human trafficking in our city."
City legal staff cited research and multi‑jurisdictional enforcement efforts suggesting local licensing and inspection authority helps investigators identify and close illicit massage businesses. Corporation Counsel (Chris) and others said municipalities including Peoria, Springfield, Decatur and Chatham have similar ordinances and that aligning local code with state law and modern enforcement practices can reduce opportunities for exploitation.
Council members expressed a mix of urgency and concern. Member Ward said stakeholders needed to be part of the drafting process; Member Montney said she opposed further delay without a firm date but ultimately voted against the motion to table. The clerk later confirmed the item will return to the council agenda on June 23; staff said they will split the current draft into two ordinances and engage licensed massage therapists for feedback before that meeting.
Clarifying details provided during the meeting included the staff recommendation to set application and annual license fees at levels comparable to other city permits (staff noted a prior $2.50 figure had been updated to $100 for some licenses and that the city can set fees as it chooses), and that background check and fingerprint costs would reflect the city's contracted vendor rates. City staff said the goal of the licensing scheme is to empower inspections, background checks, records review and coordinated enforcement with law enforcement, not to penalize legitimate licensed therapists.
The council’s action leaves the proposed regulatory changes open for revision and public input. Staff said they will return the split ordinances and a summary of fee‑and‑language changes on June 23 for further council action.
