The City Council recently took the first step in massaging one of Solvang’s ordinances to give certain therapists a break on obtaining their business licenses.
On a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Neill Zimmerman dissenting, the council approved the first reading of amendments to the city ordinance that regulates massage therapy businesses.
The amendments will have to return to the council, likely at its July 11 meeting, for a second reading and final approval before becoming effective.
Under the amendments, the city manager will be given the authority to review the credentials of massage therapists with less than 500 hours of education and waive the need for them to hold a California Massage Therapy Council certificate in order to obtain a business license.
After the state approved Assembly Bill 1147 that restored local control over massage operations in 2015, the city amended its Municipal Code to match the state provisions, requiring massage therapists to secure the Massage Therapy Council certificate before a business license would be granted.
But in a report to the council June 27, the city’s planning and economic development director, Arleen Pelster, said the council requires 500 hours of relevant education to qualify for the certificate.
The problem is that longtime, established therapists fulfilled their educational requirements with 250 hours of schooling, which was the previous standard.
“It would be a financial and operational burden for these therapists to obtain an additional 250 hours of schooling,” she said in her report.
The ordinance amendments will give the city attorney the authority to review the credentials of massage therapists who are already established and grant them business licenses if they are qualified.
Councilwoman Joan Jamieson asked if the exemption would apply only to therapists who are currently practicing within the city or would include others just moving to the city.
“Both,” Pelster said. “This is not a blanket grandfathering in.”
Mayor Jim Richardson asked if city could tweak the amendments to apply just to existing businesses and require the 500 hours of education for those moving into the city.
“That would be problematical,” said City Attorney Roy Hanley, noting it would violate the individual’s right to equal treatment.
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On a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Neill Zimmerman dissenting, the council approved the first reading of amendments to the city ordinance that regulates massage therapy businesses.
The amendments will have to return to the council, likely at its July 11 meeting, for a second reading and final approval before becoming effective.
Under the amendments, the city manager will be given the authority to review the credentials of massage therapists with less than 500 hours of education and waive the need for them to hold a California Massage Therapy Council certificate in order to obtain a business license.
After the state approved Assembly Bill 1147 that restored local control over massage operations in 2015, the city amended its Municipal Code to match the state provisions, requiring massage therapists to secure the Massage Therapy Council certificate before a business license would be granted.
But in a report to the council June 27, the city’s planning and economic development director, Arleen Pelster, said the council requires 500 hours of relevant education to qualify for the certificate.
The problem is that longtime, established therapists fulfilled their educational requirements with 250 hours of schooling, which was the previous standard.
“It would be a financial and operational burden for these therapists to obtain an additional 250 hours of schooling,” she said in her report.
The ordinance amendments will give the city attorney the authority to review the credentials of massage therapists who are already established and grant them business licenses if they are qualified.
Councilwoman Joan Jamieson asked if the exemption would apply only to therapists who are currently practicing within the city or would include others just moving to the city.
“Both,” Pelster said. “This is not a blanket grandfathering in.”
Mayor Jim Richardson asked if city could tweak the amendments to apply just to existing businesses and require the 500 hours of education for those moving into the city.
“That would be problematical,” said City Attorney Roy Hanley, noting it would violate the individual’s right to equal treatment.
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