REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Reintroduce Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.41 (Massage Establishments and Massage Therapists) and Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code and Adopt Revised Resolution Amending Fees, Rates and Charges Related to Massage Establishment Permits, Section 7.06 of the FY2015/16 Fee Schedule
Report
BACKGROUND
On September 29, 2015 City Council introduced an Ordinance Amending Chapters 9.41 (Massage Establishments and Massage Therapists) and Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC), which was in response to regulatory changes in California that took effect on January 1, 2015, with the passage of the Massage Therapy Act of 2014. At the same time, the Council also adopted a resolution amending fees, rates, and charges related to massage establishment permits to correspond to changes in the new ordinance.
Following the meeting on September 29, the City continued to receive numerous comments and questions about the new ordinance from Councilmembers, the public and local massage professionals. In responding to those comments and questions, staff determined that several modifications to the proposed ordinance, as well as a revision to the fee schedule to recognize the need for an additional, lower fee classification for massage businesses that provide outcall only massage services, should be recommended to Council.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.1.1 Fiscal - Long Range Goals and Financial Policies
7.1B.5.4 - User fees should be established at levels which reflect the full cost of providing those services
California Government Code Section 66016(a). Prior to levying a new fee or service charge, or prior to approving an increase in an existing fee or service charge, a local agency shall hold at least one open and public meeting, at which oral and written presentations can be made, as part of a regularly scheduled meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
At the meeting on September 29, Council found that this...
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