New Port Richey City Council last night held a second reading for Ordinance #2016-2072 “Restricted Personal Service Uses,” an ordinance aimed at restricting business types in the downtown New Port Richey area. Restricted businesses include “blood plasma centers, body piercing establishments, check cashing stores, day labor establishments, pawn shops, tattoo parlors, and the cultivation, processing or dispensing of cannabis,” according to City Manager Debbie Manns.

The ordinance comes after Councilors approved a blanket stop on all permit approvals for those types of businesses in September 2015. This ordinance formally restricts those business types and prevents them from opening. The measure does not affect businesses already open, but may prevent a current business from re-opening after a temporary closure.

Councilman Chopper Davis made the motion to approve the ordinance, and the ordinance was passed unanimously.

Florida law and the City’s charter require that ordinance receive two public readings before they can be approved and enforced. Ordinance #2016-2072 was first read on February 16, 2016. Residents may offer public comment on the ordinance prior to Council members being allowed to vote. No residents spoke on this ordinance last night.

City councilors recently passed another ordinance prohibiting convenience stores from opening in the downtown area as well.