Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
In what Rio Dell Mayor Frank Wilson called a "rare move," the City Council will consider an amended cannabis land use ordinance on Tuesday after it rejected the original last month in a 3-2 vote. The ordinance would put a regulatory framework for commercial cannabis growing within city limits before voters in the November general election.
One significant change made to the proposed ordinance would limit cannabis business activity to north of the Eel River in the Eel River Sawmills Annexation Area.
The city's existing cannabis ordinance already allows personal indoor grow operations up to 50 square feet. Wilson said the proposed ordinance would have allowed for not only dispensaries, but grows and processing centers to be set up all over Rio Dell, including its city center.
"It would have been scattered everywhere. It was thought out to a certain extent, but it became clear the more we got into it that it needed more review when it came to where things would be going," Wilson said.
If the council approves the amended ordinance city staff recommended in its meeting agenda that the council call a special meeting for July 26 to revisit the tax proposal from the July 5 meeting. The tax proposal was tied to the land use ordinance and would compliment it in establishing a cannabis tax system for the city. Such a schedule would allow the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to place the tax on its Aug. 9 agenda, three days before the Aug. 12 deadline for it to reach the November general election ballot, according to the meeting agenda.
According to July 5 meeting minutes, Knopp distributed an estimate on the revenue such regulations could bring to the city.
"He noted that staff could go into a tremendous amount of detail but to break it down, the first year could potentially generate $100,000 and at full build out has potential to generate $2.7 million," the July 5 minutes read.
Tuesday's reconsideration comes after the initial June 21 rejection generated public outcry.
According to July 5 meeting minutes, Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Johnson said community members came up to him and said they really wished they had a chance to vote on the matter.
Councilman Tim Marks said in the council's July 5 meeting that he experienced the opposite, that dozens of residents had stopped him in stores thanking him for his vote, according to the July 5 meeting minutes.
"It'll be a lively discussion," Wilson said of Tuesday's meeting.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Rio Dell To Revisit Pot Land Use Ordinance
Author: Marc Vartabedian
Contact: Times Standard
Photo Credit: Times Standard
Website: Times Standard
One significant change made to the proposed ordinance would limit cannabis business activity to north of the Eel River in the Eel River Sawmills Annexation Area.
The city's existing cannabis ordinance already allows personal indoor grow operations up to 50 square feet. Wilson said the proposed ordinance would have allowed for not only dispensaries, but grows and processing centers to be set up all over Rio Dell, including its city center.
"It would have been scattered everywhere. It was thought out to a certain extent, but it became clear the more we got into it that it needed more review when it came to where things would be going," Wilson said.
If the council approves the amended ordinance city staff recommended in its meeting agenda that the council call a special meeting for July 26 to revisit the tax proposal from the July 5 meeting. The tax proposal was tied to the land use ordinance and would compliment it in establishing a cannabis tax system for the city. Such a schedule would allow the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to place the tax on its Aug. 9 agenda, three days before the Aug. 12 deadline for it to reach the November general election ballot, according to the meeting agenda.
According to July 5 meeting minutes, Knopp distributed an estimate on the revenue such regulations could bring to the city.
"He noted that staff could go into a tremendous amount of detail but to break it down, the first year could potentially generate $100,000 and at full build out has potential to generate $2.7 million," the July 5 minutes read.
Tuesday's reconsideration comes after the initial June 21 rejection generated public outcry.
According to July 5 meeting minutes, Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Johnson said community members came up to him and said they really wished they had a chance to vote on the matter.
Councilman Tim Marks said in the council's July 5 meeting that he experienced the opposite, that dozens of residents had stopped him in stores thanking him for his vote, according to the July 5 meeting minutes.
"It'll be a lively discussion," Wilson said of Tuesday's meeting.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Rio Dell To Revisit Pot Land Use Ordinance
Author: Marc Vartabedian
Contact: Times Standard
Photo Credit: Times Standard
Website: Times Standard
