For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed to have the meanings set forth in this section, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
"CAMTC certificate"means a massage therapist certificate or massage practitioner certificate issued by CAMTC.
"Certificate of operation"means the certificate issued by the chief of police entitling a business to operate as a massage establishment.
"Chief of police"means the chief of police of the city of Gardena, or his/her designee.
"City"means the city of Gardena.
"City manager"means the city manager of the city of Gardena, or his/her designee.
"Compensation"means the payment, loan, advance, donation, contribution, deposit, exchange, or gift of money or anything of value.
"Conviction" or "convicted"means a guilty plea or verdict, or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere, where the time for appeal has elapsed or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, irrespective of an order granting probation following that conviction, suspending the imposition of sentence, or of a subsequent order under Section
1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the applicant to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or dismissing the accusation or information.
means any person who renders any service, with or without compensation, to a massage establishment relating to the day-to-day operation of the massage establishment, including a person who provides such services as an independent contractor.
"Main entry door"means a door from the outside of the establishment leading into the reception area.
"Manager"means the person(s) designated by the owner of the massage establishment to act as the representative and agent of the owner in managing day-to-day operations with corresponding liabilities and responsibilities. Evidence of management includes, but is not limited to, evidence that the individual has the power to direct or hire and dismiss employees, control hours of operation, create policy or rules or purchase supplies. A manager may also be an owner. A manager must have a valid operator permit.
"Massage"means any method of treating the external parts of the body for remedial, health, hygienic, or relaxation purpose. "Massage" includes, but is not limited to, treatment by means of manual pressure, acupressure, friction, stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or any other manner of touching, with or without the aid of or by means of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliance, or with rubbing alcohol, liniments, aromatics, antiseptics, oils, powders, creams, lotions, ointments, or other similar preparations. Massage specifically includes the application of any of these methods to the scalp, neck, or feet of any individual.
"Massage establishment"means any enterprise or establishment having a fixed place of business where any person engages in, conducts, carries on, or permits to be engaged in, conducted, or carried on, any of the activities set forth in the definition of "massage" in this section.
"Massage practitioner"means a person who is certified by the CAMTC in accordance with the Massage Therapy Act.
"Massage therapist"means a person who is certified by the CAMTC in accordance with the Massage Therapy Act.
"Massage Therapy Act"means Chapter 406 of the 2013-2014 Legislative Session, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"Operator"means all persons who own or manage a massage establishment.
"Operator permit"means the permit issued by the chief of police allowing a person to own or manage a massage establishment.
"Owner"means all of the following:
A. The sole proprietor of a massage establishment, i.e., where the owner is the only person employed by that establishment to provide massage services;
In the case of a general business, each owner of the business;
In the case of a corporation, each stockholder holding more than ten percent of the corporation and each officer and director of the corporation;
In the case of a partnership or limited liability corporation, each partner, excluding limited partners and owners, and where a partner or owner is a corporation, the provisions on owners pertaining to a corporate applicant in subsection
C of this definition apply.
"Patron"means a person receiving the services of a massage establishment, a parent or guardian accompanying a minor receiving the services of a massage establishment, or a person helping an elderly or infirm person receiving the services of a massage establishment.
"Permit"includes an operator permit, work permit, or certificate of operation, unless the context indicates otherwise.
"Permittee"means any person who has obtained a certificate of operation, operator permit, or work permit from the city of Gardena.
"Person who has engaged in disqualifying conduct"means a person who:
A. Within ten years preceding the date of filing of the application in question or, in the case of revocation proceedings, within ten years preceding the date of the revocation notice, has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of any of the following:
1. A violation of any provision of law pursuant to which a person is required to register under the provisions of Penal Code Section
290; or
An attempt to commit or conspiracy to commit any of the above mentioned offenses; or
Any other crime involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit; or
When the prosecution accepted a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a charge of a violation of Penal Code Section
415 or
602 or any lesser included or related offense, in satisfaction of, or as a substitute for, any of the previously listed crimes; or
Any crime committed while engaged in the management or ownership of a massage establishment or the practice of massage; or
A violation of Health and Safety Code Section
11550 or any offense involving the illegal sale, distribution or possession of a controlled substance specified in Health and Safety Code Section
11054,
11055,
11056,
11057 or
11058; or
Any offense under a statute of any state or ordinance of any city or county, which is the equivalent of any of the aforementioned offenses, including Business and Professions Code Section
4609(a); or
Within ten years preceding the date of the filing of the application in question or, in the case of revocation proceedings, within ten years preceding the date of the revocation notice, has had any massage establishment, operator, technician, practitioner, therapist or trainee certificate, license or permit issued by any state, local agency or other licensing authority denied, revoked or suspended, or has had to surrender such a license or permit as a result of pending criminal charges or in lieu of said license or permit being suspended or revoked; or
Has been subjected to a permanent injunction against the conducting or maintaining of a nuisance pursuant to Sections
11225 through
11235 of the Penal Code as the same may be amended from time to time, or any similar provisions of law in a jurisdiction outside the state of California; or
Within five years preceding the date of filing of the application in question or, in the case of revocation proceedings, within five years preceding the date of the revocation notice, has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of any of the following:
1. Any crime, other than an infraction or those listed above, involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit with the intent to substantially benefit himself or another, or substantially injure another; or
Any crime, other than an infraction or crimes relating to those offenses listed above, where the crime or act is substantially related to the management or ownership of a massage establishment or the practice of massage, including a violation of the Massage Therapy Act; or
Has been found to be maintaining a nuisance in connection with the same or similar type of business; or
Within five years preceding the date of filing of the application in question or, in the case of revocation proceedings, within five years preceding the date of the revocation notice, has engaged in the exposing of specified anatomical areas of oneself or of another person to view, or in touching the specified anatomical areas of oneself or of another person, while providing massage services or while within view of a customer or patron of the massage establishment; or
Within five years preceding the date of filing of the application in question or, in the case of revocation proceedings, within five years preceding the date of the revocation notice, has been the owner, manager, or other similar position in an establishment where there is substantial evidence that disqualifying conduct described above has occurred by others on the premises, regardless of whether there was a conviction of such persons;
Disqualifying conduct does not include the failure to obtain a certificate of operation, operator permit or work permit without any prior oral or written notification by the city that such was required; provided, that the business and/or person cease operations immediately upon notification.
"Proof of bona fide employment"means proof of an employer-employee relationship between the operator of the massage establishment and any person working at the massage establishment. Satisfactory proof of bona fide employment must be shown by written payroll documentation evidencing the employer's compliance with California Employment Development Department (EDD) requirements for the withholding of California income tax, unemployment insurance contributions and disability contributions from the employee and written payroll documentation of the employer's compliance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements for the withholding of federal income taxes, Social Security (FICA) and Medicare contributions from the employee. Such written documentation can include, but is not limited to, W-2 wage and tax statements.
"Reception area"means an area immediately inside the main entry door of the massage establishment dedicated to the reception and waiting of patrons and visitors of the massage establishment and which is not a massage room or otherwise used for the provision of massage services.
"Residence address"means the actual physical home address and shall not include a P.O. box, mailbox service, or other similar location.
"Sole provider"means a massage business where the owner owns one hundred percent of the business, is the only person who provides massage services for compensation for that business pursuant to a valid and active CAMTC certificate, and has no other employees or independent contractors.
"Specified anatomical areas"means any of the following human anatomical areas: genitals, pubic area, buttocks, anus, or female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areolae, without a health care referral and written consent of the patron.
"Visitor"means a nonemployee who has entered the massage establishment, for purposes other than receiving massage services.
"Work permit"means the permit issued by the chief of police allowing a person to work in a massage establishment in a capacity other than as an operator or massage technician.
(Ord. 1714 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 1758 § 1 (part), 2015)