CLEARLAKE >> A petition challenging the newly approved no grow marijuana ordinance in Clearlake was submitted Thursday. The petition asks that a referendum be placed on a ballot, allowing voters to decide on the no grow measure.
The signatures will be counted and brought to the Clearlake City Council for discussion. The council can potentially approve the referendum or place it on a ballot for voters to decide.
“We feel confident that we have achieved the 638 verified signatures needed,” Terri Larsen, the local representative for the Emerald Growing Association and the Patients Rights Committee, said during the public comment portion of the Clearlake City Council meeting Thursday night.
In total, Larson says a little more than 1,200 signatures were collected.
The council began discussing zero tolerance for marijuana cultivation in January, with a final approval of the ordinance taking place during its Feb. 26 meeting. Of the councilmembers present at the time, three approved the ordinance, Councilman Bruno Sabatier was the only dissenting vote. Councilwoman Joyce Overton was absent.
Sabatier cited multiple times throughout the drafting of the no grow ordinance that a compromise could be made between the city’s prior marijuana ordinance.
The issue was brought to the council because of the costs associated with noncompliance. 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. The city must now go through the process of verifying signatures. The process may require two or three weeks. If the petition meets the number of signatures needed, and the council decides on the ballot method, they have the option of the November 2016 general election or a special election.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
