The City Council adopted more stringent rules on sexually-oriented businesses Monday night and then moved to restrict where medical marijuana can be sold.

The council voted 9-0 in favor of changes to the city's adult business ordinance.

The new rules more broadly define adult businesses and still allow such businesses in four zoning districts as long as they are a minimum distance from places like schools, churches and day-care centers. Those zoning districts are central business district, heavy industrial, controlled industrial and highway commercial.

Existing adult businesses won't be affected by the changes, which were spurred by the June 2008 opening of a nude dance club in downtown Billings. The club slipped through a loophole in the old ordinance because it didn't serve alcohol. The club has since closed, and the council closed the loophole Monday night.

Later in the meeting, Councilman Denis Pitman introduced a council initiative that would restrict where medical marijuana businesses could locate. Pitman asked that city staff prepare an emergency ordinance that could be voted on at the Nov. 9 council meeting.

Pitman said that, since the federal government is moving away from enforcing some marijuana laws, he wanted an ordinance similar to the adult business ordinance that restricts where such businesses can operate.

City Administrator Tina Volek said that the city's business office had received several recent inquiries from people who want to open a medical marijuana business.

Mark Higgins, the Billings man who plans to open a medical marijuana store, said he approached Pitman and asked for such an ordinance. Higgins said he didn't want medical marijuana stores operating near schools, churches and other public places.

It's still unclear exactly what is allowed under state and federal medical marijuana laws, so Pitman wanted an emergency ordinance that would give city staff time to research the issue. An emergency ordinance has a six-month life, but can be extended while working on a permanent ordinance.

"There will be things we will have to research," said City Attorney Brent Brooks.

In other business, the council approved the sale of a half-block of North 26th Street to Yellowstone County. The county will pay the city $80,000 for the street, which is between Second and Third Avenues North. The city's property is in the middle of the block that will be permanently closed for the new federal courthouse.

The council also approved a zone change and special review for an expanded wrecking yard on South Billings Boulevard.

Hanser's Towing owns a wrecking yard on the east side of the road and bought adjacent property to expand. The council's action allows Hanser's to expand its car yard by about 4.9 acres. Owner Ralph Hanser said his company would offer a "pick-a-part" yard, where customers can find spare parts on their own.

Contact Matt Hagengruber at mhagengruber@billingsgazette.com or 657-1261.