For City Council Meeting April 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request the City Council to Conduct the Public Hearing and Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 1713 Entitled, “AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIALTO, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS OF URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 1712, ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXPANSION, OR INTENSIFICATION OF MASSAGE PARLORS WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF RIALTO, FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN (10) MONTHS AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS PENDING STUDY AND ADOPTION OF REGULATORY AND ZONING STANDARDS AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE TO EXEMPT FROM CEQA”.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt the Urgency Ordinance.
BACKGROUND
On March 24, 2026, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1712, imposing a 45-day moratorium on the establishment, expansion, or intensification of massage parlors. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the 45-day moratorium will expire on May 8, 2026. However, Government Code Section 65858(a) allows the City to extend the moratorium for an additional 10 months and 15 days if the City needs additional time to study and adopt regulatory and zoning standards for massage parlors.
Based on the need for staff to further study and propose further regulations, staff recommends the City Council adopt the ordinance to extend the moratorium for 10 months and 15 days.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
In recent years, Rialto Police Department personnel have discovered evidence of illicit sexual activity occurring at massage establishments, which are referenced as “massage parlors” under the Rialto Municipal Code, in the City of Rialto (“City”). There have been documented cases of massage parlors that have (1) operated without a valid business license, (2) failed to comply with City zoning and operational requirements, and (3) engaged in illicit activities, including prostitution. These activities create significant impacts to public health, safety, and welfare. Among other things, these impacts include the potential for (1) injury and abuse to patrons being solicited for unlawful services, and (2) increased opportunities for prostitution activity and human trafficking of workers by virtue of the secretive nature associated with offering unauthorized and undisclosed services.
Based on recent identification of criminal sexual activity at massage parlors within the City and at other massage establishments within the immediate vicinity of the City, coupled with several recent new massage parlor business applications, City staff has legitimate concerns that the City’s regulations concerning massage parlors are insufficient. There are currently two licensed massage parlors operating in the City of Rialto. Over the past six months, the City received several business license applications from prospective massage parlor businesses.
In response to these concerns, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 1712 to temporarily prohibit the processing of use permits for new, expanded, or intensified massage parlors throughout the City. The ordinance prohibits new massage parlor applicants from obtaining the required licenses to open a new business within the City, and existing massage parlors are prohibited from expanding or otherwise intensifying their existing use. The urgency ordinance is necessary to provide the City with sufficient time to (1) conduct a comprehensive review of existing massage parlor regulations, (2) evaluate best practices from other jurisdictions, (3) assess state legislation impacting the regulation of massage parlors, and (4) draft and present updated zoning and regulatory standards for Council consideration.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858(a), extension of the moratorium requires a noticed public hearing in accordance with Section 65090, and adoption of an urgency ordinance by a four-fifths vote of the City Council. If adopted, the urgency ordinance will remain in effect through March 23, 2027.
In accordance with Government Code Section 65858, the moratorium may be extended one final time for a period of one year, following the current proposed extension. If the City Council elects to exercise this option, the moratorium would remain in effect through March 23, 2028. This final extension would provide additional time, if needed, to complete the adoption and implementation of comprehensive zoning and regulatory standards for massage parlors. As with the current extension, a noticed public hearing and a four-fifths vote of the City Council would be required for adoption.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is not a project within the meaning of Section 15378 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA") Guidelines, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change in the environment, directly or indirectly. Further, under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, section 15061(b)(3), this Ordinance is nonetheless exempt from the requirements of CEQA. 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.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City’s General Plan has outlined guiding principles and goals relating to public safety. This action is consistent with the City’s General Plan Guiding Principle 1, “Rialto is a Family First Community.”
Our neighborhoods will be a safe place to call home.
Approval of this action is also consistent with the City General Plan Goal and Policy below:
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
Policy 5-8.4: Initiate proactive crime suppression and prevention strategies throughout the community.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the staff report and prepared the ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Massage Urgency Ordinance
2. 10-Day Progress Report
3. Public Notice Extending Moratorium