Agenda Item Wording:
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Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 5.68 “Massage Establishments” and Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02, amending Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.04 Definitions and Chapter 17.25 Uses in the Mixed Use, Office and Industrial Zones.
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Prepared by:
Tracy Robertshaw, Neighborhood Preservation Manager, (559) 713-4187, tracy.robertshaw@visalia.city; Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-03 amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 5.68 “Massage Establishments” and adoption of Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02, amending Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.04 Definitions and Chapter 17.25 Uses in the Mixed Use, Office and Industrial Zones designating Massage Establishments as a conditionally permitted use in the Regional Commercial (C-R) zone.
Summary:
On July 21, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing to introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 5.68 “Massage Establishments” and Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02, amending Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.04 Definitions and Chapter 17.25 Uses in the Mixed Use, Office and Industrial Zones designating Massage Establishments as a conditionally permitted use in the Regional Commercial (C-R) zone.
Background Discussion:
On May 19, 2025, a work session was held with the City Council to conduct a review of the current ordinance related to massage establishments. During the presentation, the City Council received a staff report, and a staff presentation on a number of changes necessary to the Massage Establishment Ordinance as well as the Zoning Ordinance that governs where massage establishments are permitted.
On July 21, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Section 5.68 Massage Establishments and Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02 amending Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.04 Definitions and Chapter 17.25 Uses in the Mised Use, Office and Industrial Zones to reflect the changes discussed during the work session.
During the First Reading, the proposed revisions were presented and the City Council voted (5-0) to introduce the first reading of Ordinance 2025-03 amending Visalia Municipal Code Section 5.68, and Title 17, Chapter 17.04 and Chapter 17.25.
The second reading of the Ordinance is the final action the City Council takes in order for the amendment of the Visalia Municipal Code to take effect. Following the second reading and Council adoption, the ordinance will go into effect 30 days following adoption of the second reading.
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Prior Council Action:
On July 21, 2025, Council introduced Ordinance 2025-03 and Zoning Text Amendment 2025-02.
May 19, 2025, the City Council directed staff to move forward with revising Visalia Municipal Code 5.58 Massage Establishments and Visalia Municipal Code Zoning Title 17, Chapter 17.04 and Chapter 17.25.
Other:
On July 14, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended approval of Zoning Text Amendment 2025-02, to the City Council by a 4-0 vote.
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Visalia Municipal Code.
Environmental Assessment Status: The requested action is considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Notice of Exemption has been prepared for the project because Section 15061(b)(3) which states that the project is exempted from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
CEQA Review: The requested action is considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Deadline for Action: N/A
Attachments: Ordinance No. 2025-03, amending Section 5.68 Massage Establishments, and Title 17 Zoning, Chapter 17.04 Definitions, and Chapter 17.25 Uses in Commercial, Mixed Use, Office and Industrial Zones.