Council introduces and advances multiple public‑safety and consumer‑protection ordinances — building code, palmistry permitting and massage regulations

The Tracy City Council on Nov. 18 moved forward on several local regulatory updates covering building standards, consumer protection and public safety.

Building codes: Dennis Kenwright, the city’s building official, presented the staff recommendation to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) with local amendments, including the new 2025 Wildland‑Urban Interface code and revised grading guidance (Appendix J). Council waived first reading and introduced the ordinance; staff and council also adopted a resolution finding the action exempt from CEQA under the common‑sense exemption and ministerial permit exemptions.

Palmistry/palmistry permitting: Code enforcement officer Lacey Starling told council the proposed ordinance modernizes an outdated ordinance to require anyone practicing commercial palmistry or fortune‑telling to obtain a permit from the Tracy Police Department, submit fingerprints and a criminal‑history background check, post rates and provide receipts, and maintain permits annually. Starling said the permit program is designed for consumer protection and that background checks and a fee structure recover processing costs; staff presented an application fee of $86.17 and a background‑investigation fee of $312.70. Council introduced the ordinance as amended (including permitted hours of 8 a.m.–10 p.m.) and adopted accompanying resolutions establishing fees and authorizing the Police Department to access criminal‑history information for permit processing under Penal Code provisions cited in staff materials.

Massage establishments: Sergeant Nestor Mejia and the city attorney presented amendments to Chapter 4.2 to require massage‑establishment permits vetted by the Tracy Police Department, mandate California Massage Therapy Council certification for therapists (or background checks if not certified), require owner/operator documentation and lease/owner authorization, and establish enforcement remedies including administrative fines and permit revocation. Staff proposed identical fee amounts to the palmistry program for application and background checks and a 120‑day transition period for existing businesses to comply. Council introduced the ordinance and adopted related resolutions authorizing criminal‑history access and establishing fees.

Master fee schedule: Council adopted an updated master fee schedule (effective Jan. 2, 2026) so the new permit and background‑check fees are reflected in the city’s fee schedule.

Council members emphasized balancing consumer protection with First Amendment and religious‑practice safeguards (staff clarified purely religious, unpaid practices remain protected). The ordinances were introduced and the fee and authorization resolutions passed by roll call.