The City Council considered a new ordinance that would establish several operational standards for the conduct of massage establishments at its Aug. 19 meeting.
Under the new ordinance, all massage practitioners would have to be certified by the state massage practitioner regulatory body, California Massage Therapy Council (CMTAC).
Code Enforcement Supervisor Charlene Durkin said the goal is to address prostitution and human trafficking in the industry.
Three massage practitioners and stakeholders voiced objections to the ordinance during the meeting.
Dan Hays, whose wife runs a massage parlor, stressed that he doesn’t oppose an ordinance, but the problem is that the city’s massage therapists were not engaged in the process.