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7.A. - Page 5 state certified massage businesses and practitioners unless the rule is uniformly applicable to all other professional services The City would have to be willing to equally limit the business of doctors, lawyers, chiropractors, and the like. But, the City has the authority to enact regulations and limitations against City - permitted establishments, provided there are facts that justify such an action. There is some work to be done to ensure massage establishments are viewed the same way in particular zones in Redwood City. In the commercial districts, massage businesses are viewed as akin to medical, which is consistent with the general trend in the state. These commercial districts allow medical uses, either as permitted or conditional uses: • Mixed Use Corridor: Conditional use • General Commercial (CG), Professional Office (PO), Central Business (CB), Industrial Park (IP): Permitted use for building floor area less than 2,500 square feet; conditional use for building floor area equal or greater than 2,500 square feet • Commercial Park: Permitted use • Neighborhood Commercial: Permitted use with certain limitations On the other hand, the Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) specifically recognizes massage services as personal services, along with tanning salons, waxing and other similar personal service /salon uses that involve disrobing. These uses are conditional uses. As new zoning for the General Plan is implemented, consistency on this issue should be one of the goals. Options for Regulating Currently, the City regulates non -state certified workers and establishments through its existing process. The City's regulations need to be updated to comply with the voluntary process authorized by state law. The City has several options on how it may regulate massage establishments: 1. Allow state certified workers and businesses only The benefits of this approach are that it would create consistency among workers and businesses as to rules and regulations; provide a stream -lined review process; require greater educational standards; and achieve compliance with state law. The City may also enact reasonable health and safety regulations. As more workers are getting state certificates, this approach makes sense. However, the City would need to recognize that it would be unable to regulate such workers and businesses differently than other professional services. Under state law, City permit holders have until January 1, 2012, to demonstrate that they have equivalent experience and education to justify certification without meeting the 250 hour requirement from an approved school. The City could also consider extending the time for compliance for current city permit holders. Santa Rosa, San Rafael, and San Carlos among many other cities, adopted ordinances embracing this approach. 5