Council adopts business‑licensing updates and new massage/reflexology rules

City staff presented two related ordinances on Aug. 5. Staff described Ordinance 790 as a rewrite of business‑license denial and revocation procedures that adds explicit notice and appeal steps, establishes what must be included in a notice and creates an appeal hearing process with authority for a hearing examiner. The staff presentation said outreach included roughly 50 mailed notices to businesses in city limits and a staff topic page with proposed language. Staff also said a state model ordinance will change the out‑of‑city revenue exemption threshold from $2,000 to $4,000 effective Jan. 1, 2026, with a required escalator applied every three years; the city will adopt that mandated change.

Staff then presented Ordinance 791, which replaces the city’s chapter on massage practice with a new chapter covering massage and reflexology services. The ordinance requires therapists to hold a valid massage‑therapist license or reflexology certificate issued by the Washington State Department of Health, to be at least 18 years old, and to conspicuously display credentials. It broadens applicability to include mobile providers, authorizes law‑enforcement inspection of common areas for licensing compliance, restricts certain body‑contact areas consistent with state law, and sets penalties (first violation a misdemeanor; subsequent violations a gross misdemeanor). Staff said they incorporated recommendations from the Washington State Massage Therapy Association.

Council adopted Ordinance 790 and Ordinance 791 by roll call vote; both motions passed unanimously. After adoption a representative of the Washington State Massage Therapy Association thanked the council and staff for incorporating the association’s suggestions and offered to provide feedback after implementation.