420 Warrior
Well-Known Member
City Moves to Comply With Federal Law
The city of Shasta Lake has moved ahead with its new medical marijuana proposal, which would bring it into compliance with federal laws, officials said.
"We're removing six pages from our code," Councilman Greg Watkins said. "If there's any opposition, they need to come forward, give people one more chance to see something we missed."
The medical marijuana proposal, which would limit city officials' oversight to setting restrictions on the city's two dispensaries, will be finalized at the next meeting, Watkins said.
By removing the permit process, city employees wouldn't be approving of the operation and thus wouldn't be breaking federal law, said John Kenny, the city attorney.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the council also appointed two members to a medical marijuana committee, modified its check register policy after complaints from tea party members, and decided to hold off on changes to residents' access to the agenda.
The medical marijuana committee, under the planning commission, would handle complaints and suggest regulations specific to medical marijuana, Watkins said.
He said council members Larry Farr and Rod Lindsay will serve on the new body.
The council also changed who signs off on the weekly check registers to ensure that the checks have been paid appropriately, Kenny said.
That came about after a meeting with Tim Pappas, who had accused the council of violating the Brown Act by having two members of the finance committee sign off on the checks.
He argued that was an open meeting and it wasn't being handled as such.
Kenny said the council voted to modify the policy, having the mayor appoint two council members check the register.
The council also decided to table a change that Kenny proposed, Watkins said.
It would have altered the municipal code to require someone to ask the council for permission to place something on the agenda for a later meeting.
The council would also describe the supporting documents expected at the meeting.
Kenny said that the current system, in which any resident can place something on the agenda for the next meeting, is open to abuse, as people could flood the agenda with pointless items or subjects the council couldn't address, such as resolutions about international events.
He said that hasn't been a problem yet, and the city clerk is supposed to ensure the items have the appropriate supporting documents.
Watkins said he agreed to table it after audience comments convinced him that the current system addresses the problem.
"The existing code was strong enough if we just properly applied it," Watkins said.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Redding, CA
Source: Record Searchlight
Author: Joe Szydlowski
Contact: letters@redding.com
Copyright: 2012 Record Searchlight
Website: www.redding.com
The city of Shasta Lake has moved ahead with its new medical marijuana proposal, which would bring it into compliance with federal laws, officials said.
"We're removing six pages from our code," Councilman Greg Watkins said. "If there's any opposition, they need to come forward, give people one more chance to see something we missed."
The medical marijuana proposal, which would limit city officials' oversight to setting restrictions on the city's two dispensaries, will be finalized at the next meeting, Watkins said.
By removing the permit process, city employees wouldn't be approving of the operation and thus wouldn't be breaking federal law, said John Kenny, the city attorney.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the council also appointed two members to a medical marijuana committee, modified its check register policy after complaints from tea party members, and decided to hold off on changes to residents' access to the agenda.
The medical marijuana committee, under the planning commission, would handle complaints and suggest regulations specific to medical marijuana, Watkins said.
He said council members Larry Farr and Rod Lindsay will serve on the new body.
The council also changed who signs off on the weekly check registers to ensure that the checks have been paid appropriately, Kenny said.
That came about after a meeting with Tim Pappas, who had accused the council of violating the Brown Act by having two members of the finance committee sign off on the checks.
He argued that was an open meeting and it wasn't being handled as such.
Kenny said the council voted to modify the policy, having the mayor appoint two council members check the register.
The council also decided to table a change that Kenny proposed, Watkins said.
It would have altered the municipal code to require someone to ask the council for permission to place something on the agenda for a later meeting.
The council would also describe the supporting documents expected at the meeting.
Kenny said that the current system, in which any resident can place something on the agenda for the next meeting, is open to abuse, as people could flood the agenda with pointless items or subjects the council couldn't address, such as resolutions about international events.
He said that hasn't been a problem yet, and the city clerk is supposed to ensure the items have the appropriate supporting documents.
Watkins said he agreed to table it after audience comments convinced him that the current system addresses the problem.
"The existing code was strong enough if we just properly applied it," Watkins said.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Redding, CA
Source: Record Searchlight
Author: Joe Szydlowski
Contact: letters@redding.com
Copyright: 2012 Record Searchlight
Website: www.redding.com
