LAKEPORT >> After nearly three years of collaboration among diverse professionals and following many proposals, the work of the Lake County Cannabis Task Force has substantially ended, but a new draft ordinance should see passage by next month.
Community Development Department Director Mireya Turner, who has overseen the Task Forces’ operations since its inception in June 2022, informed the Board chambers’ audience on Tuesday she will take input received from the Board’s Task Force activities to date, for further consideration. “And we will use any changes made, to be a part of how the new draft ordinance will be written,” Turner said. “We want to thank all the members of the Task Force and the public for their input. No Action from the board is required at this time. We will just go ahead and consider the Task Forces’ tasks, to be concluded.”
District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier inquired if there would be more public ability to comment on the issue. “I believe it’s mentioned in a memo of the Planning Commission prior to coming here for approval,” Sabatier said. “We heard of some update, will there be an open session, some dialogue, prior to finalizing what will be brought to the Planning Commission? … or do we talk you into this?” He asked Turner.
The new draft ordinance will get one more review at a public hearing at the Planning Commissions’ April meeting, Turner explained, adding that at this point she has no new open houses scheduled regarding cannabis. “We’ve had multiple open houses during the last two years and nine months of public hearings,” she said.
Sabatier replied. “I’m trying to see the most efficient way to get our input (considered) prior to the April meeting.”
Turner explained that if Sabatier wanted to make a review of the process or notice for intent to see the new draft ordinance before it was forwarded on to the Planning Commission, she could do it that way. “I don’t want to finalize the ordinance here, I don’t want to do huge changes” he said. Turner replied that she would be happy to prepare a summary to bring before the board: what’s updating, what’s new policy what is streamlining. When asked if he preferred a draft or just a summary, Sabatier said, “I want to make sure I have ability to provide my feedback. We could shape a revision prior to going to the review (Planning Commission), but a summary, not an actual, here’s the ordinance document. “Right, so, your input would be reflected in the draft ordinance,” Turner said. Chair E. J. Crandell asked for those and allowed the public comment to respond.
Margaux Kambara said she agreed with the decision to disband the Task Force and applauded the members of the Task Force who have served to produce an ordinance that would serve all of Lake County. She asked that they cover topics that need in depth discussion such as odor control, as well as following environmental regulations and other concerns.
Rebecca Harper, executive director of the Lake County Farm Bureau thanked Mireya Turner for facilitating the Task Force for the past three years. “It’s been a really good example of people from multiple industries coming together to work efficiently and productively on things that we may not have generally agreed upon.” she said.
Nara Dahlbacka, outgoing president of the Lake County Cannabis Alliance noted it was an informative and an credible process to watch the community come together to put their recommendations before the Board. “The cannabis industry is vital for Lake County as the county faces potential threats of cuts to federal funding as we move forward,” she said. “Cannabis will be even more vital for the (beneficial) economic impacts it brings.” She thanked the BOS for entrusting the Task Force to make the industry successful.
Jennifer Smith noted the Task Forces’ formation compelled the community to educate themselves about the crop, as well as to look at revising the regulations affecting the farming of this product. “I look forward to seeing the future draft ordinance and we worked really hard to add in zoning for this crop and the bulk of what we’ve been doing, we hope to see in alignment with state regulations as we update the current policy.”
Erin McCarrick said their efforts were an excellent example of balancing the Task Force with the 2050 Community Planning project. She also hoped to get news of some of the items the Task Force did not get to, such as retail venues. “I’m involved with a distribution company in Clearlake, a different jurisdiction, but deals with retail all across Lake County,” she said. “We invite the Board to visit any of the facilities in the county to see how they contribute to the budget, how they’re employing people. And if there are any industry people outside of cultivation who would like to contribute to the conversation of drafting the ordinance, please let us know.”
Sabatier motioned the Board dissolve the Task Force and the motion passed by a unanimous vote. The new draft ordinance is expected to be finalized after a public hearing in April.
