CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council approved the draft of a “zero-grow” ordinance for marijuana cultivation within city limits during its regular meeting on Thursday.
Despite having an ordinance in place, the issue was brought to the council because of the costs associated with noncompliance.
According to Clearlake City Manager Joan Phillipe, the decision will not affect dispensaries, as they operate under a different ordinance.
Clearlake Finance Director Chris Becnel told the council that approximately $113,000 had been spent by the city in seven months dealing with issues related to cultivation, which includes expenses associated with police, investigation, court and administration.
According to Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen, compliance checks found all cultivations to be in violation of the city’s current ordinance.
Property size determines the number of plants allowed for cultivation, under the current ordinance.
“It is a sliding scale based on parcel size,” Phillipe said. “With the amount of plants ranging between six and 48.”
Additionally, Clausen said crimes such as homicide, assault and kidnapping have resulted from marijuana-related calls.
Clausen said a direct cost to the city is associated with cultivation, because “officers spend two to five hours per day (on marijuana-related issues) either conducting compliance checks or through calls for service.”
The council reached a consensus of 4-1. Councilman Bruno Sabatier dissented, saying that he thought working with the existing ordinance to make it work for effectively would be better.
A draft of the ordinance is expected to be presented to the council during its Feb. 12 meeting.
If the ordinance is accepted for its first reading at that meeting, the second reading would be heard during the council’s Feb. 26 meeting, according to Phillipe.
“If it is approved during the second reading, then it will go into affect 30 days after,” Phillipe said.
