A packed room sat in on Tuesday's City Council and Planning Commission joint study session for a marijuana ordinance being considered, with many people upset at not being allowed to speak.
There will be no public comment tonight, said Mayor Gary Strack. This is a study matter. There will be no decision out of tonight, we're just giving staff direction.
A 45-day temporary ordinance banning medical marijuana collectives was passed at the Aug. 11 City Council meeting.
It will expire Sept. 24.
Prior to approval, a permanent ordinance, which is in the draft stage, would appear before the Planning Commission and then be sent to the council for approval. It is set to be discussed at the Sept. 22 council meeting.
Despite saying there would be no public comment and asking for those wishing to comment on the proposed ordinance to submit letters, some comments were allowed.
Redding attorney Eric Berg and his client Ken Prather, who with his wife Kathy applied for a business license for Tehama Herbal Collective on Aug. 6, were allowed to speak briefly.
The proposed ordinance would exceed your authority and deny qualified patients the right to cultivate under the Compassionate Use Act, Berg said.
Planning Director John Stoufer who is drafting the ordinance asked for council and commission members' input on several factors within the boundaries of cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, including where the cultivation of marijuana should be done and what restrictions or requirements would be needed for either indoor or outdoor cultivation.
Indoor cultivation could present a safety hazard, health issues and potentially increase greenhouse gases, Stoufer said.
He cited a recent fire caused when a growing light was hit by a fan that had been knocked over.
Indoor growing is also more likely to having a smell from chemicals that could be a nuisance to neighbors, he said. Corning Police Chief Tony Cardenas was in favor of indoor operations, but recommended requiring some kind of security and a system to deal with odor.
Outdoors cultivation also involves odor and security risk, because it would be more visible and accessible, Stoufer said.
Recommendations from council and commission members included prohibiting cultivation within 500 to 1,000 feet of schools, parks, places of worship and youth facilities and not allowing it in front or side yards.
Commissioner Jesse Lopez asked about having a buffer between property lines, but Councilwoman Becky Hill said that would be difficult because of some smaller properties in Corning.
Outdoors security should be heavy, said Councilman John Leach who said there could be unauthorized individuals trying to access plants.
Other suggestions were the need for cultivators to have written consent from a property owner to cultivate, only growing in detached structures and a requirement to register with the police department.
Strack asked that staff check into whether or not a limit could be placed on the number of people a primary caregiver can grow for.
Safety of firefighters, who would respond if to fires in cultivating operations, was brought up by Hill and Councilmen Ross Turner.
The problem with indoor cultivation is we're sending volunteer (firefighters) into an area that's hazardous for them, Hill said.
Turner suggested having growers put up placards for emergency responders similar to those on buildings with chemicals.
Officials also discussed rules for distribution of marijuana.
Stoufer listed a variety of options ranging from an outright ban on dispensaries or collectives to establishing zoning requirements.
Stoufer said 39 cities in two counties had banned dispensaries while 24 cities in seven counties had allowed them with regulations.
Officials suggested that collectives not be allowed in residential areas and be 500 feet from schools.
Ken Prather assured the council that his location in downtown Corning was 960 feet from the school.
Kathy Prather said the collective already had a code of conduct in place that would ban any member found using marijuana within 150 feet of the collective.
Staff was asked to limit the number of dispensaries to one, since that is an adequate number for Corning's population, and to have security measures in place.
Commissioner Diana Robertson asked staff to look for additional operating standards other cities are using.
The council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 794 Third St. Minutes and agendas for meetings can be found at Official City of Corning, Tehama County, California Online Information Center.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Red Bluff Daily News
Author: JULIE ZEEB
Contact: Red Bluff Daily News
Copyright: 2009 Red Bluff Daily News
Website: Corning Weighs Pot Dispensary Options
There will be no public comment tonight, said Mayor Gary Strack. This is a study matter. There will be no decision out of tonight, we're just giving staff direction.
A 45-day temporary ordinance banning medical marijuana collectives was passed at the Aug. 11 City Council meeting.
It will expire Sept. 24.
Prior to approval, a permanent ordinance, which is in the draft stage, would appear before the Planning Commission and then be sent to the council for approval. It is set to be discussed at the Sept. 22 council meeting.
Despite saying there would be no public comment and asking for those wishing to comment on the proposed ordinance to submit letters, some comments were allowed.
Redding attorney Eric Berg and his client Ken Prather, who with his wife Kathy applied for a business license for Tehama Herbal Collective on Aug. 6, were allowed to speak briefly.
The proposed ordinance would exceed your authority and deny qualified patients the right to cultivate under the Compassionate Use Act, Berg said.
Planning Director John Stoufer who is drafting the ordinance asked for council and commission members' input on several factors within the boundaries of cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, including where the cultivation of marijuana should be done and what restrictions or requirements would be needed for either indoor or outdoor cultivation.
Indoor cultivation could present a safety hazard, health issues and potentially increase greenhouse gases, Stoufer said.
He cited a recent fire caused when a growing light was hit by a fan that had been knocked over.
Indoor growing is also more likely to having a smell from chemicals that could be a nuisance to neighbors, he said. Corning Police Chief Tony Cardenas was in favor of indoor operations, but recommended requiring some kind of security and a system to deal with odor.
Outdoors cultivation also involves odor and security risk, because it would be more visible and accessible, Stoufer said.
Recommendations from council and commission members included prohibiting cultivation within 500 to 1,000 feet of schools, parks, places of worship and youth facilities and not allowing it in front or side yards.
Commissioner Jesse Lopez asked about having a buffer between property lines, but Councilwoman Becky Hill said that would be difficult because of some smaller properties in Corning.
Outdoors security should be heavy, said Councilman John Leach who said there could be unauthorized individuals trying to access plants.
Other suggestions were the need for cultivators to have written consent from a property owner to cultivate, only growing in detached structures and a requirement to register with the police department.
Strack asked that staff check into whether or not a limit could be placed on the number of people a primary caregiver can grow for.
Safety of firefighters, who would respond if to fires in cultivating operations, was brought up by Hill and Councilmen Ross Turner.
The problem with indoor cultivation is we're sending volunteer (firefighters) into an area that's hazardous for them, Hill said.
Turner suggested having growers put up placards for emergency responders similar to those on buildings with chemicals.
Officials also discussed rules for distribution of marijuana.
Stoufer listed a variety of options ranging from an outright ban on dispensaries or collectives to establishing zoning requirements.
Stoufer said 39 cities in two counties had banned dispensaries while 24 cities in seven counties had allowed them with regulations.
Officials suggested that collectives not be allowed in residential areas and be 500 feet from schools.
Ken Prather assured the council that his location in downtown Corning was 960 feet from the school.
Kathy Prather said the collective already had a code of conduct in place that would ban any member found using marijuana within 150 feet of the collective.
Staff was asked to limit the number of dispensaries to one, since that is an adequate number for Corning's population, and to have security measures in place.
Commissioner Diana Robertson asked staff to look for additional operating standards other cities are using.
The council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 794 Third St. Minutes and agendas for meetings can be found at Official City of Corning, Tehama County, California Online Information Center.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Red Bluff Daily News
Author: JULIE ZEEB
Contact: Red Bluff Daily News
Copyright: 2009 Red Bluff Daily News
Website: Corning Weighs Pot Dispensary Options
