LAKEPORT >> After the Lakeport Planning Commission and the City Council held a joint meeting, the two boards narrowed down goals for the city’s Commercial Marijuana Ordinance.
But the process is not over. Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said he and his staff will continue to gather information and public input to further define requirements for dispensaries and retail in Lakeport.
“It is staff’s intent to take the information from tonight’s meeting and formulate them into a draft ordinance for further review,” Ingram said.
City staff will be looking to develop include rules regarding deliveries and limits on how many operations are allowed in the community.
Additional recommendations cover taxation and fees, evaluations, regulation in the unincorporated areas, the prohibition of outdoor cultivation limits on commercial uses.
At this point these are only recommendations from the Planning Commission and the working group that was formed, Ingram said. Topics that seemed less controversial involve processing and testing of the product.
Planning Commissioner Michael Green said within the city there will be more interest in a manufacturing, testing and retail license rather than a cultivation because there is less opportunity for commercial-size grows within city limits. He added that commercial hubs where each of the different operations could take place would be beneficial to the city.
He encouraged more discussion of the possibilities.
“We would like to learn more about the exclusion zone just so we can assure ourselves as a city that we’re not going to hose our great plans for South Main Street much less hose any commercial hubs concepts that might get in the annexation area. Like we discussed at the Planning Commission, who knows where this industry is going to go,” Green said.
He added that there is a critical need for testing labs, distribution centers and manufacturing and creating a hub with these incorporated would be worth looking into for the city.
Both boards agreed that to effectively pull the ordinance together they would need more public input. However, with the deadline coming up to have something in place and to provide information to the state, they are starting to move forward on possible options.
It would be possible, he indicated, to pass an ordinance with recommendations already in place then taking further public comment and revisiting the ordinance. The city could also place a moratorium and then lift it once enough information is gathered. Aspects of both ideas could also be combined.
Lakeport Mayor Pro Tem Mireya Turner said she would rather move forward with what they have and have it be revisited, but to do so with caution.
“Instead of setting things aside, I would encourage staff to move forward with these ideas as presented,” Turner said. “I am not willing to stop all the progress we’ve achieved so far to wait and see if the public will show up.”
She added she would want to advertise meetings as much as possible and get as much input as they can. At that point she would feel more comfortable moving forward with the ordinance.
“Not so much that we are not moving forward but rather inviting the public. We are actually encouraging you to come participate; we want to hear what you have to say. If you don’t want to come email this email or call this phone number,” Turner said. “That’ll give me a greater comfort level, that the public has been invited.”
She also said it is important to leave everything on the table with this ordinance and not leave anything out at this point to allow for discussion to be done on that topic rather than have none at all, whether that be between the city staff or the city and the public.
If a moratorium is in place and there is a temporary prohibition of the product after the first, businesses that want to start up in the city will not be able to or will be trying to catch up with those that had the chance to do so when the legalization of commercial use took place.
Other ways to bring input he added would be to send a letter to the city, call the Planning Department or go to the City Hall and let their staff know. The Planning Commission has also put the item on their next meeting’s agenda to get more input there potentially. This will be held on October 11.
With this in mind, Ingram said they may potentially be bringing a draft ordinance of what they have to the Planning Commission by the end of October.
