Three Rivers City Commission approves spa, orders review of city code language

The Three Rivers City Commission met Tuesday night for its first regular business meeting of February, approving a new massage spa, an airport easement acquisition, and dates for upcoming budget discussions. Much of the meeting’s discussion, however, centered on concerns about outdated and discriminatory language in the city code and how it should be revised.

During discussion of a special exception use permit for Eden Spa, a proposed massage establishment in Three Rivers, Mayor Angel Johnston raised concerns about language in the city’s ordinances governing massage establishments that she said is discriminatory.

At-Large Commissioner Torrey Brown interrupted Johnston with a point of order, urging her to refrain from sharing personal opinions until after the public had an opportunity to comment on the item. 

“Did you actually read your packet?” Johnston asked Brown.

“Yes,” Brown replied.

“Did you see the two things outlawed in your packet?” Johnston asked.

“No, I did not,” Brown replied.

“No, you didn’t, because you didn’t read it. So I’ll get to those and why we could not approve this as is,” Johnston said.

City Attorney T.J. Reed clarified that, under meeting procedure, commissioners should wait until commission discussion of an agenda item to express opinions.

Johnston responded she was not offering a personal opinion but was providing context by referencing language contained in the city’s existing ordinances.

Johnston then cited specific examples of language from the city code that she said was troubling.

“Of the prohibited things that you can and cannot do, homosexual and other deviant behaviors. Now that bothers me to my core. I don’t believe that homosexuality is deviant, and I hope that nobody in this room does either,” Johnston said, reading from the ordinance.

She also referenced other provisions in the city code that she characterized as outdated or nonsensical, including language stating a person cannot “begin” anywhere in the city and cannot “molest an animal without written permission from the city manager.”

Johnston then asked City Manager Joe Bippus to provide a timeline, on the record, for when the city’s codes could be comprehensively reviewed and revised. Bippus declined to give a specific timeline but said he would “have a memo for the next meeting.”

The only formal action taken following the discussion was a consensus direction for city staff to review and revise Chapter 5 of the city code, titled “Licensing and Registration,” which governs massage establishments and contains some of the language Johnston cited.

Commissioners later unanimously approved the special exception use permit for Eden Spa, allowing the business to move forward with preparations to open, pending required licensing.

Other business

Commissioners unanimously approved an airport easement acquisition agreement. Public Services Director Amy Roth said the acquisition primarily concerns protecting airport airspace.

The commission approved dates for two Fiscal Year 2027 budget-related meetings: a budget discussion meeting for commissioners scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, from 6 to 9 p.m., and a public budget hearing scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m.

All commissioners were present at Tuesday’s meeting.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 at 6 p.m.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.