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California Massage Therapy Council names Santa Rosa 2025 City of the Year after ordinance collaboration
Summary
The California Massage Therapy Council presented Santa Rosa with a 'City of the Year' award, citing collaborative work between city staff, police, businesses and citizens to develop a local ordinance regulating massage establishments and protecting therapists and clients.
Representatives of the California Massage Therapy Council (CMTC) presented a City of the Year award to Santa Rosa on the council chamber dais, recognizing collaborative local work that resulted in an ordinance to regulate massage establishments.
Mark Dixon and Amos (last name not specified in the record), CMTC representatives, described grassroots organizing initiated by residents and local stakeholders — led in part by Curtis Bennett — which led to the city’s ordinance. Dixon said the project was a "perfect storm of collaboration" between residents, law enforcement, code enforcement, businesses and massage professionals. CMTC pointed to the California Massage Therapy Act (section 4600.5(c)) and its legislative intent that local governments work with industry and community stakeholders to develop model ordinances reflecting best practices.
Councilmember McDonald accepted the award on behalf of the city and thanked community organizers, the police department and code enforcement for their roles. The council opened the item for public comment and received none before a ceremonial photo opportunity.
Council did not take any regulatory action at this meeting: CMTC’s representatives noted an ordinance had been voted in previously and the award recognized the multi‑stakeholder process that produced it.
