Anytime Fitness facing fines from St. Paul over city safety code

An administrative law judge on Friday recommended that the city of St. Paul fine two Anytime Fitness franchises because they violated city safety code by being open without having any staff members on the premises.

The City Council will now decide whether to follow that recommendation.

The franchise owners of the two 24-hour clubs -- in Highland Park and on the East Side -- argued that they met the city licensing standard, which requires a CPR-trained worker to be on duty during hours of operation. They say they have workers available by phone at all times, as well as panic buttons and cameras capable of being monitored remotely.

The judge agreed that on duty means on the premises, although St. Paul seems to be the only city in 45 states where Anytime has clubs with such a requirement.

The city's Department of Safety and Inspections is formulating language that would allow the no-frills clubs to operate. Draft language obtained by the Star Tribune shows requirements ranging from staffing gyms at least eight hours per day to offering free CPR certification to members to having panic buttons that notify a security company with video access to the gym.

Bob Hume, spokesman for Mayor Chris Coleman, said that if other cities across the country allow the gyms, so should St. Paul.

Mark Daly, national media director for Anytime's corporate operation, said the ruling is disappointing.

"We look forward to working with the city to come up with new language in the administrative code so that people in St. Paul can work out anytime they want -- just like people all over Minnesota can," he said.

CHRIS HAVENS