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Board adopts massage-establishment ordinance; staff to review manager-certification requirement
Summary
The board approved an amendment to Title 4, Chapter 4.36 of the Sacramento County Code tightening regulation of massage establishments. The ordinance requires CAMTC certification for new managers and providers; existing licensees are grandfathered. Business owners and massage professionals urged staff to revisit the manager-certification element.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 adopted an ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 4.36 of the Sacramento County Code that governs massage establishments and providers.
County staff told the board the ordinance would grandfather existing licensed managers and providers but require new applicants — both providers and massage managers — to hold a CAMTC (California Massage Therapy Council) certificate. A county staff member summarized the change: the current requirement for a manager includes a special business license and massage education; the new ordinance will allow current managers to be grandfathered but will require CAMTC certification for new managers and providers.
Several massage therapists and business owners addressed the board during the meeting’s public comment period to raise concerns about the manager-certification requirement. BJ Pitts (CMT) said the county’s proposed requirement would place a substantial burden on establishments because ‘‘massage therapists go to school to be massage therapists, not managers’’ and many managers do not hold CAMTC certificates. Tony Psychotis, a therapist of more than 30 years, said the manager requirement could have the unintended effect of disrupting legitimate businesses and argued that disciplinary accountability for managers should match owners so problem managers cannot simply move between establishments. Aaron Myers, owner of multiple local locations, said his conversations with CAMTC indicated the credential is not intended for managers and cautioned that large national franchise operations already maintain strict internal controls.
County staff told the board they could re-examine manager requirements at the board’s direction and proposed returning with options to address concerns raised by larger establishments; staff emphasized that the grandfather clause prevents an immediate operational disruption for current lawfully operating businesses.
Supervisor Rich Desmond moved approval of the consent calendar, including the ordinance; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. Desmond also asked staff to report back with possible tweaks addressing the concerns raised by larger operators.
No vote tallies beyond the unanimous consent vote were recorded in the meeting minutes for the item.
The ordinance was waived for reading on Dec. 10 and adopted Jan. 7 as part of the consent calendar.
