Merriam council tightens language for massage‑therapy rules, moves closing hour earlier

The Merriam City Council on an evening vote approved changes to the city code governing massage‑therapy businesses, updating ordinance language to match recent state statutory wording, adding a ban on overnight sleeping at those establishments and moving the required closing hour from midnight to 10 p.m.

Chief McLaughlin explained the proposal as a language update rather than a substantive policy shift: “What we're requesting is an update to sections 14, 142, and 100 and fourteen‑one 79…we're just changing the language in those ordinances, not really changing the substance to reflect violations of the chapters and articles of the state statutes,” he said, and noted the city is adding language to prevent overnight sleeping.

Council moved first to waive the customary first reading of the ordinance and then to adopt the ordinance; both motions passed on voice votes with an overall tally reported as 6‑0. The adoption implements the revised closing hour and aligns local ordinance terminology with state law on prostitution‑related offenses as described by the chief.

The ordinance was presented as a public‑safety and regulatory housekeeping measure rather than a new restriction on licensed activity. Council did not debate amendments to the proposal during the meeting. The council clerk recorded the motions and roll calls for both the waiver and final adoption.

The council's action takes effect according to the city's standard ordinance publication procedures; staff indicated the city would proceed with the revised code language and enforcement consistent with the updated text.