Bloomington City Council

The Bloomington Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended designating the former Pantagraph building at 301 W. Washington St. as a historical landmark.

For the first time, the City of Bloomington is regulating an industry that it says has been a source for sex trafficking and other illicit behavior. Two massage therapists share their views on the new regulations.

Bloomington city leaders remain optimistic a modified plan to regulate massage businesses will still strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking, despite the removal of an annual fee intended to fund investigations.

Bloomington is dropping the proposed licensing fees that massage establishments would have to pay to operate in the city. City staff had proposed a $250 annual fee to cover the cost of investigating the businesses to address concerns about sex trafficking.

Bloomington city leaders plan to implement a multi-faceted strategy aimed at addressing vacant properties throughout the city over the next several years.

The mayor thinks there is a need for more regulation of massage businesses to prevent sex trafficking, and agrees the city council did the right thing in postponing consideration of an ordinance to do that.

As the branch president of Busey Bank, Fazzini catalyzed the Shoppes at College Hills, the Corn Crib and Coffee Hound, to name a few. He managed to support many others whose ideas never came to fruition.

The City of Bloomington’s proposal to place higher fees on massage establishments and adult-oriented businesses as a way to suppress human trafficking is on hold, at least for two weeks.

The City of Bloomington is proposing new regulations for massage parlors and adult entertainment venues amid reports that some operating in the city are not legitimate businesses.

The city will complete several projects, including replacing lead lines and some water mains, and upgrading the city’s filtration plant. Also at Tuesday's meeting, the city declined to extend a tax rebate for Green Top Grocery co-op.