Fortune-telling regulations dropped in Apache Junction

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

Fortune-telling businesses probably saw it in the cards, but they will no longer be required to pay a $1,200 annual fee and have a special permit to operate in Apache Junction.

The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously May 20 to approve the change with a text amendment of the city code. The council considered a plan to charge a $100 permit fee but did not vote on it.

The city code defines a fortune teller as anyone claiming to have the ability to predict a person’s future by palmistry, cards or anything like that, Planner Nick Leftwich told council prior to the vote.

“(F)ortune-telling business receive approval from our police department and ... they will also pay an annual $1,200 fee,” he said.

City staff prepared two options for the council to consider May 20: One, removing regulations pertaining to fortune telling; or two, reducing the $1,200 annual business permit fees for fortune telling to $100.

“Having reviewed comparable cities and also (speaking) with our police department itself, we found that $100 would be a reasonable fee if they are required to perform background checks or anything that has been noted,” Leftwich said.

Council discussion

City code doesn’t now state that a background check is required, Councilmember Bambi Johnson said.

“You didn’t say, ‘Well, we’re going to do $100 and a background check.’ You’re just changing it to $100 every year just because they are still in existence. Is that correct?” she said.

“Right now it is written that fortune-telling businesses require the approval of the director of public safety,” Leftwich said.

Councilmember Darryl Cross asked if in addition to the $100 there would be a $55 business license fee.

Leftwich said yes, this would be an additional permit.

“Option one seems more like a reasonable way of pursuing this and just dropping it all together,” Cross said.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.