O2326City Council Meeting: October 26, 2010 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2326 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
REGARDING MATCHMAKING AND ESCORT SERVICES
WHEREAS, since 1954, the Santa Monica Municipal Code has prohibited the
operation of any "escort service, personal introductory service, marriage bureau, lonely
hearts club, or other business of a like nature"; and
WHEREAS, with the advent of computer. technology, personal introduction and
dating services have expanded and become a common and reputable way to meet
others for social interaction; and
WHEREAS, the business model of these services differs from escort services
because persons using dating services are not compensated for their participation; and
WHEREAS, permitting bona fide matchmaking and dating services to operate
within the City will benefit City residents and also benefit the City's economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 3.36.060 of Chapter 3.36 of the Santa Monica Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
No person shall operate, in the City of Santa Monica, an
escort service or similar business that furnishes or offers to
furnish persons who escort others for compensation.
SECTION 2. Section 6.14.060 of Chapter 6.14 of the Santa Monica Municipal
Code is hereby amended to add subdivision (q) as follows:
(q) Matchmaking, dating, or personal introductory services.
(1) Matchmaking, dating, or personal introductory
("matchmaking services") are services which are offered or
performed primarily to assist persons in becoming socially
acquainted or meeting for social purposes.
(2) Application for police permit. Any applicant for a
matchmaking service police permit must furnish the
following:
(a) The name of the business and the address
where it is to be conducted.
(b) The full name of the applicant.
(c) The residence and business address(es) and
telephone number(s) of the applicant for the last three (3)
years.
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(d) A California driver's license or identification
number and social security number of the applicant.
(e) Any criminal convictions of the applicant,
excluding minor traffic offenses, stating the date, jurisdiction,
nature, and sentence of each conviction.
(f) Ariy other information reasonably required by
the Chief of Police to determine the truth of the matters set
forth in the application. Such information may include, but is
not limited to, fingerprints and, if the applicant is a
corporation, information about officers, directors, or board
members.
(3) The following conditions shall apply to any police
permit for a matchmaking service:
(a) No matchmaking service may operate in the
City without first obtaining a police permit.
(b) No person or entity granted a .police permit
may use any name or conduct business under any
designation other than that specified in the police permit.
(c) When any change occurs regarding the
information required on the application for a police permit,
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the permittee must give written notification of the change to
the Chief of Police within ten days after such change.
SECTION 3. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional. by adecision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause,
or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of this Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage
of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the
official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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MAR A JON S OUTRIE ~ L
City Attorney
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Approved and adopted this 26th day o~OctobgF, 2010.
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Bobby Shr ver, Mayor
State of Caiifornia }
County of Los Angeles ) ss.
City of Santa Monica )
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Ordinance No. 2326 (CCS) had its introduction on October 12th,
2010, and was adopted at the Santa Monica City Council meeting held on
October 26th, 2010, by the following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Bloom; Davis, Holbrook, McKeown, O'Day
Mayor Shriver
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: -None
Absent: Council members: Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor
A summary of Ordinance No. 2326 (CCS) was duly published pursuant to
California Government Code Section 40806.
ATTEST:
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Maria M. Stewa ,City Clerk