Eagan council shifts massage-license appeals from council to in-house hearing officer

The Eagan City Council on April 7 unanimously approved an amendment to City Code Chapter 6 that changes how massage-license denials are appealed, moving hearings from the full council to an in-house hearing officer.

City Administrator Diane Miller told the council that current code requires applicants who appeal a license denial to have their appeal heard before the city council. "The ordinance amendment being proposed would shift to an in house hearing officer, to be consistent with our current administrative procedures for business licenses," Miller said. She noted City Clerk Beth Van Hoose was present if councilors had questions.

Council members offered no substantive questions or public comment before a motion to adopt the amendment was made and seconded. The council approved the change by voice vote.

The amendment is intended to align the city code with existing administrative practice for business licenses; the council did not discuss any separate transitional procedures for appeals already in progress. The council record does not list a roll-call tally by member name; the motion passed by voice vote and the mayor declared the motion carried.

Next steps: the ordinance amendment will be incorporated into City Code Chapter 6. The council did not specify an effective date during the meeting nor list transitional rules for pending appeals in the public record of the session.