LAKEPORT >> After just one public meeting, the Lakeport Planning Commission reached consensus on a few ideas for the city’s marijuana ordinance.
The commission unanimously agreed to ban outdoors grows as part the commercial ordinance, to tax product intended for recreational use and to amend the ordinance so it is less complicated.
Still under consideration are a series of recommendations gleaned from the first of a planned series of meetings. These include expanding or adding commercial zones, determining regulations on dispensaries near churches and to keep an open mind on all options.
Already dispensaries are barred from close proximity to parks. With Library Park and Museum Park at the center of downtown, it will be difficult for any operations to be open in the area due to the 600 feet distance regulation.
Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said he hopes to have this draft ordinance complete by the October 11 Planning Commission and get this approved by December 5 at the latest so they have something in place before the next year.
“The current provisions relayed down to us by the state required that were that if we want to have this process in place to work with the state licensing we need to have it adopted by the end of this year,” Ingram said.
He added that, like any ordinance, if the city finds that certain aspects of it are not working they could always go back and change it or update it to fit better with the community.
When looking at this ordinance, the commission took into consideration some regulations that are currently in place for alcohol sales and consumption. They also questioned if people had to go through a similar process when Prohibition ended in the early 1930s.
Planning Commissioner Michael Green said although he really likes what he sees in reference to what was brought to the commission, he would encourage more public input.
“We form these working groups with the best of intentions and we know it relieves the city of having additional public meetings but I think it erodes the public’s trust in what’s happening. Even though we’re going to remedy that to some extent, you are asking us to review the recommendations of a working group that is solely city staff,” Green said.
Ingram said no official draft of an ordinance has been made yet, but the city will start developing one after receiving input from the Planning Commission and any other details they get from the joint meeting.
The city will be holding their joint meeting workshop between the City Council and the Planning on October 3 at 5 p.m. at City Hall to discuss further recommendations between the two entities and the public. A link to the drafts of cannabis regulations and updates has also been put on the city website under the Community Development Department tab.
