City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/24/2016
TITLE:
Title
Amendments to Chapter 9 Regulating Cannabis Distribution, Transportation and Testing Businesses
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
Body
BACKGROUND:
At a recent Council meeting staff was asked to begin preparing ordinances to amend the code regulating medical cannabis businesses to specifically address distribution, transportation and testing businesses, which are not currently addressed in the code. The City's special counsel, Vicente Sederberg has prepared an ordinance amending Chapter 5, which establishes local licensing requirements for distribution, transportation and testing businesses including operational requirements, background checks and other regulations similar to those put into place for other types of cannabis businesses. That new ordinance is under review by the City Attorney's staff and will come to Council for consideration at a future meeting. Vicente Sederberg attorneys have also begun drafting amendments to Chapter 9, which will establish land use regulations related to distribution, transportation and testing businesses.
DISCUSSION:
As they began working on the Chapter 9 Land Use revisions, Vicente Sederberg asked if the City might want to consider allowing the transportation, distribution and testing businesses as allowed uses in certain zoning districts. Arguably the effect of those businesses on surrounding uses would be less significant than either the retail or manufacturing uses. The result would be potentially a less onerous review and approval process and a reduced work load for the planning commission.
Alternatively, the City may wish to have a uniform process for all medical cannabis business license types and retain the CUP process for all license types.
Staff is seeking direction from the Council on how to proceed so we can advise Vicente Sederberg as they work on the code amendments. A memo from Shawn Hauser describing the considerations in more detail is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
Memorandum from Vicente Sederberg