NEWPORT BEACH : New Massage Parlor Regulations Advance

The City Council this week gave initial approval to tough new regulations for massage parlor operators as the second part of the city’s yearlong effort to devise new rules for those businesses, which often front for prostitution.

The new regulations are changes to the existing ordinance and include holding workers responsible for activities at the parlors when owners are away. They also require in-depth background checks for operators and employees before city business permits are issued.

The city staff said further changes, which were not included in the current proposal, needed additional study and would be brought to the City Council for approval in two to three months.

A number of independent massage parlor operators attended the council meeting Monday but withheld comment on the proposal until the final changes are brought to council. The council plans to approve the initial amendments in two weeks and may add additional changes in coming months.

William J. Kopeny, an attorney representing 10 of the estimated 35 independent massage parlor operators said his clients were generally supportive of the changes but were still concerned about some amendments that have not yet been included.

Still at issue, Kopeny said, is a change that would require businesses to keep doors unlocked. He said the businesses would prefer to be able to lock doors to unwanted customers and passersby, and would keep keys on file with police.

Another outstanding issue, he said, is an amendment that would specify violations for the ordinance and revocation of the permit, which operators say they would like to review further.

The amendments come just two weeks after the city implemented sweeping changes that regulate where the shops can operate and set aside particular locations in the city where the shops would be allowed and forbidden.

Together, the new rules are aimed at the city’s 45 massage parlors, which came under scrutiny last year when the Police Department learned that about half of those operations were fronts for prostitution.

City officials said they hope the changes will better regulate those businesses and separate illegal operators from legitimate massage technicians.

Some shop owners, however, have been critical of the changes, saying they do little to prevent prostitution and give their businesses a bad reputation.