75C - MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2008-01 Ordinance Amendment 2008-02 January 12, 2009 Page 4 require annual renewals. This permit, which will be administered by the Police Department, will require the applicant to submit several items of information including proof of identification, completion of a test administered by the Police Department and other items specified in Chapter 22 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. The new permitting process will also allow the Police Department to revoke massage permits in cases of misconduct. On April 28, 2008 staff presented the proposed amendments to the Planning Commission and testimony was taken from the public. Although the Planning Commission was generally in favor of the new regulations regarding the massage technician test, the required hours of training and the potential for over-regulating massage room design were expressed. Many of these concerns were also mirrored by members of the public who spoke during the meeting. In response to these concerns, the Planning Commission voted to continue the item to allow staff time to evaluate these concerns and amend the ordinance as necessary. Following the continuation by the Planning Commission, staff performed further research and reevaluated several of the proposed regulations to address the various concerns of the Planning Commission and the public. Attached as Exhibit 3 is a table identifying each of the concerns and the actions taken to address them. In July 2008, an ad-hoc meeting was held with Commissioners Mills and Gartner to review the proposed changes as well as provide further background on the methodology utilized by staff for reaching the proposed development standards. At the conclusion of the meeting both Commissioners confirmed that the revised standards adequately addressed the concerns of the Commission and the public. In August 2008, the State Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 731, which regulates massage technicians and massage establishments at the state level. Prior to the passage of this Bill massage technicians and massage establishments were subject to regulations imposed by individual cities. Senate Bill No. 731 has created a state-level reviewing body called the Massage Therapists Organization who will be responsible for reviewing and issuing massage technician licenses, although regulation and enforcement will remain primarily at the city level. Although the state certification is voluntary, applicants who receive this license will be exempt from any city regulations that do not overlap with state requirements regarding massage technicians and massage establishments. Any applicant who does not obtain a state license will remain subject to the development standards set forth in Chapters 22 and 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. 75C-5