Massage ordinance changes, public safety matters on council agenda - Redding Record Searchlight

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By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight

Posted: Yesterday 5:21 p.m. 1

A packed agenda awaits the Redding City Council on Tuesday with public safety as a strong theme to the discussions.

City Attorney Barry DeWalt will ask the council to consider amending an ordinance passed earlier this month aimed at cracking down on illicit massage parlors and sex trafficking rings.

The City Council on June 7 passed the first reading on the ordinance requiring massage therapists to be fully clothed, go through background checks and operate regular business hours.

"Subsequent to the public consideration of the ordinance on that date, two concerns worthy of consideration have been brought by those who would be regulated by the ordinance," DeWalt said in a report to the council. "These concerns are significant enough to merit consideration."

Among those concerns is the ordinance's requirement for a doctor's referral to massage a client's buttocks.

"The requirement for a referral by a licensed health care practitioner for gluteal massage is not common," DeWalt said. "The vast majority of municipal ordinances on this subject do not have a health care provider referral requirement for gluteal massage."

The requirement also wouldn't help deter illicit massages and the ordinance still prohibits genital massage, DeWalt said.

The revised ordinance would also bar serving alcohol at spas. While most similar massage parlor ordinances in other areas have the same requirement, DeWalt said some allow serving alcohol at facilities that have obtained a license from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

"It appears highly unlikely that those seeking to use alcohol as a means to encourage illicit massage practices would bother to seek approval from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control," DeWalt said.

The council could either embrace the recommended changes, requiring a second reading of the ordinance at a later date, or reaffirm the original draft. A second reading of either version would happen July 19 and the ordinance would become city law 30 days later.

In other business, the council will:

Decide whether to establish a citizens committee to review all spending from revenue generated from a proposed half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot.

Though the election on the tax is still more than four months away, the city would seek to establish a five-member committee to annually review all money collected from the tax and how it's spent, report back to City Council and advise where to spend the funds, City Manager Kurt Starman said in a report to the council.

Revenue from the tax wouldn't carry specific requirements on how it's to be spent, though voters in November will also be asked to approve an advisory measure directing the money to public safety.

The city estimates as much as $11 million per year from the tax was proposed largely to fund public safety improvements after the Blueprint for Public Safety study. The money, as envisioned by a team of Redding and Shasta County officials who worked on the study and how to implement its recommendations, envision the funds will be used to build more jail space, hire more police officers and firefighters, and help establish a sobering center and mental health facility.

Respond to a Shasta County Grand Jury report that found not all police may have received crisis-intervention training beyond what's offered at academy training, that such training is important and the recommendation that the city adopt a requirement for ongoing training.

The city is set to enact such a requirement by the end of the year and is working in coordination with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office and Anderson Police Department, Redding Mayor Missy McArthur said in a proposed response to the grand jury.

Receive presentations from the Redding Police Department on problem motels in Redding, including those that receive the most calls for police service, and from the Redding Parks Department on efforts to conserve water and modernize irrigation in city parks.

IF YOU GO


What: Redding City Council meeting

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Council chambers, 777 Cypress Ave.

Agenda includes: Proposed changes to massage parlor ordinance, establishing citizens committee for Measures D and E, response to Shasta County Grand Jury report and more.

More information: cityofredding.org

About Sean Longoria


Senior Multimedia Journalist Sean Longoria began his journalism career at the Record Searchlight in 2010 and since then has been recognized multiple times for breaking news and watchdog journalism coverage. In his current role, he aids in day-to-day, local and national breaking news coverage in addition to creating a variety of digital content for Redding.com and covering public safety trends.


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