Downtown strip clubs that are forced to close or move aren't entitled to economic damages, the Minot City Council's Finance and Improvements Committee decided Tuesday.
The committee voted to remove the compensation section of a proposed zoning ordinance affecting strip clubs. The city council approved the ordinance on first reading last month. It will get the revised ordinance back on Monday for second reading. The council can amend or pass the ordinance with the change recommended by the committee.
The ordinance had included language providing for the city to reimburse businesses for reasonable financial expenditures made in conforming to the new ordinance and for documented loss of profits for up to two years.
The ordinance continues to give clubs three years to relocate or conform to the ordinance by eliminating the portion of the bar business known as a cabaret, or strip club. Adult entertainment centers and sexually oriented businesses would have to locate in heavy industrial districts.
Minot has two clubs and both are located downtown.
The committee also is recommending a rate increase for Taxi 9000, approval of a firm to conduct a compliance audit for the MAGIC Fund and an advance of funding to the Northwest Area Water Supply project.
The rate increase changes the starting fare at Taxi 9000 from $3 to $4 with a 30-cent increase for every one-sixth of a mile. The changes would take effect July 8, but the hike in the starting fare would be implemented in increments over a period of time.
The committee is recommending contracting with Brady Martz for one year to perform the compliance audit on businesses that have agreements with the MAGIC Fund. The city decided to hire an auditing firm rather than spend $45,000 to add an economic development analyst to its staff.
The advance to NAWS would provide $6 million from reserves in the NAWS sales tax fund to allow bidding to proceed on pipelines to Kenmare and Mohall and participation in an All Seasons Water Users project to bring water to Upham. Construction funding would come from future federal appropriations, but money is needed upfront to call for bids.
The committee also is recommending:
purchase of land near the Public Works Building for $110,000 for a sand and salt storage building to be constructed in 2008-09. The sale is part of a joint purchase with the Minot Area Development Corp., which is seeking additional land in the area to make available as commercial and industrial property.
award of bid on the Puppy Dog Sewer Improvement Phase II project to Robert Gibbs & Sons for $2.1 million. The project consists of a gravity sewer in First Larson Coulee from Puppy Dog Coulee west to 13th Street Southeast and a new lift station and force main.
cost sharing with the Ward County Water Resource Board on the Joint Drainage Puppy Dog Channel project. The city would provide $39,000, the county $351,000 and the state $210,000.