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41 of the Code to classify massage parlors and to determine where and under <br />what conditions such businesses should be permitted in the City. These <br />efforts have led to preparation of proposed amendments to Chapters 22 and <br />41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. At a meeting held on April 22, 2008, <br />these proposed amendments were shared with interested owners and <br />operators of massage establishments at a public meeting held in City Hall. <br />The City's Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on these <br />proposed changes to the Santa Ana Municipal Code on April 28, 2008; after <br />closing the public hearing and deliberating the Commission unanimously <br />continued consideration of these proposed amendments to its meeting of <br />June 23, 2008. <br />E. Without adoption of this ordinance, properties in the City would quickly <br />receive entitlements to establish massage parlors, expand existing massage <br />parlors or persons would obtain permits to operate as massage technicians, <br />despite the fact that the city council has determined that the Code is in need <br />of updating and has directed that a study be done to recommend new <br />standards and revise the Code to address concerns created by new and <br />expanded permits for massage related activities. <br />F. In all of calendar year 2006, the City received only seven applications for <br />massage related permits. <br />G. But in the month prior to the adoption of Ordinance No. NS-2744 alone, over <br />23 individuals sought applications for massage related permits from the City. <br />H. This upswing closely followed the March 2007 raid by the Orange County <br />District Attorney and the police departments of Orange and Anaheim of ten <br />facilities (massage parlors or acupuncture clinics) in Anaheim, Orange, Tustin <br />and Dana Point as being alleged fronts for prostitution. <br />I. While some massage parlors are beneficial to the community and offer <br />needed services, others in southern California have been associated with a <br />number of detrimental impacts such as prostitution, late hours of operation, <br />reduced property values and noise. <br />J. Chapter 22 of the Code, which regulates massage establishments and <br />massage technicians and is enforced by the Police Department, has been <br />substantially unchanged since 1976. For comparison, Anaheim, Orange and <br />Costa Mesa have all updated their massage regulations within the last four <br />years. <br />K. If massage parlors are permitted in the City and left as currently regulated, <br />they will pose a serious threat to the public interest, health, safety and welfare <br />for the reasons stated above. <br />Ordinance No. NS - XXXX <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />75C-4 <br />