Minutes 08/23/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

AUQust 23. 2005 4. REVOCATION OF PERMIT: Violation of any of the above conditions may serve as grounds for revocation of the use permit by the City Council." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None - Other Unfinished Business - 05-337 Adoption of an ordinance to establish a procedure for the issuance of health permits by the Health Department to body art establishments. Deferred from the August 9, 2005 City Council meeting. Vision Principle: Bo/d New Directions. Background: . Until recently, tattooing has been prohibited in Portsmouth. Council approved amendments to the zoning ordinance to permit "body art" (a term which includes both tattooing and body piercing) in certain zoning districts with a use permit. As such, multiple applications for use permits under the new ordinance can be expected. . In order to ensure that public health and public policy considerations are protected, it is necessary to adopt a "companion ordinance" which imposes various requirements on body art studios and body artists. Studios will have to obtain additional permits from the Health Director. . This ordinance will be enforced by the Health Director and was drafted with her full participation and approval. It has also been provided to an attorney representing a major chain of body art studios for comment. Discussion: . The proposed ordinance will eliminate the current criminal prohibition against tattooing. . The ordinance will also establish a procedure for issuance of health permits by the Health Department to operators of body art establishments. . Violations of the new ordinance will subject violators to criminal penalties, injunctive sanctions, and/or loss of the health permit, business license, and/or zoning clearance. . Financial Impact: There will be no material financial impact. Enforcement of the ordinance will be done by the Health Department, and fees generated by health permit applications and the like will go to the Health Department. Minimal additional tax revenue will be generated by these new businesses. Staff Recommends: Adoption of an ordinance to eliminate the current criminal prohibition against tattooing and to establish a procedure for the issuance of health permits by the Health Department to body art establishments. Vision Principle: Bold New Directions. Next Steps Following Council Action: . Upon approval of the ordinance, applicants for use permits for body art studios will be referred to the Health Department for the needed reviews and health permits. Motion by Mr. Whitehurst, and seconded by Ms. Randall, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL SECTION 24-3 AND ADOPT NEW SECTIONS 3-300 THROUGH 3-305 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, RELATED TO TATTOOING AND BODY ART." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None