Minutes - Council - 07/11/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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also that the resident’s history listed in the application is not coinciding with other licenses held by the applicant. Police Chief Katers reiterated his reasons for recommending denial. He noted that on the massage school’s website it states that it is not accredited by any regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. He stated that this is done because the massage industry has a history with human trafficking and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends checking all school credentials through the U.S. Department of Education. He added that the applicant also states that he holds a California massage license; however, the State of California does not issue massage licenses. He shared that because of these two reasons he cannot recommend approval of this license. Junjie Liu, the applicant, came forward with his translator who stated that according to the City’s website the massage school must be a U.S. accredited school and that it does not say anything about it having to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. She stated that this school was accredited in California. Police Chief Katers reiterated that on the massage school’s website, it states that it is not accredited by any regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. He stated that the recommendation from a professional organization is not the same as an accreditation. Mr. Liu’s translator stated that Mr. Liu finished the 550 hours of education by A&Z Massage School, which is accredited by AMTAS and CAMSAC, which is the California massage accreditation. Councilmember Woestehoff acknowledged that Mr. Liu took 550 hours’ worth of courses. He stated that the problem is that the organization where he took the courses is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is not an accredited school according to a government agency. He added that the list that Mr. Liu passed out to the Council did not list any government entities. He stated that the entities on the list do not meet the criteria that the City looks for. He noted that if Mr. Liu does wish to obtain a massage therapist license for Ramsey, going to a different accredited school would get him the license. Mr. Liu’s translator asked if Mr. Liu were to hire someone who meets the requirement if there could be a separate consideration to grant the license. Mayor Kuzma stated that the application would need to be resubmitted. Councilmember Woestehoff stated that he does not think that Mr. Liu has any ill will or any bad intentions in what he has done, unfortunately the path that he has taken is just not one that the City can recognize in an effort to be fair to all of those who are attempting to obtain a massage license in Ramsey. Motion by Councilmember Woestehoff, seconded by Councilmember Riley, to adopt Resolution #23-156 Denying Licenses for Therapeutic Massage Therapist and Therapeutic Massage City Council / July 11, 2023 Page 10 of 19