In enacting this chapter, the city council recognizes that commercial massage therapy is a professional pursuit that can offer the public valuable health and therapeutic services. The city council further recognizes that, unless properly regulated, the practice of massage therapy and the operation of massage therapy establishments may be associated with unlawful activity and pose a threat to the health and quality of life in the local community. Accordingly, it is the purpose and intent of this chapter to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by providing for the orderly regulation of massage therapy establishments, discouraging prostitution and other related illegal activities carried on under the guise of massage therapy, and establishing certain operational standards for massage therapy establishments. Furthermore, it is the purpose and intent of this chapter to address the negative impacts of illicit massage therapy establishments to reduce or prevent neighborhood blight, to protect and preserve the quality of the city neighborhoods and commercial districts, and to enhance enforcement of criminal statutes relating to the conduct of operators and employees of massage therapy establishments. (Ord. 2021-0016 § 26)