OR: Council To Look At Pot Tax For November Ballot

[Katelyn Baker]

The Corvallis City Council will discuss placing a recreational marijuana tax on the November ballot when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the downtown fire station, 400 N.W. Harrison Blvd.

Cities have the power to levy a tax of up to 3 percent on recreational marijuana. No rate is mentioned in the ordinance councilors will consider. Staff will set the tax rate if the measure is approved by the voters.

Councilors also will deliberate on a comprehensive plan amendment change that would rezone approximately 50 acres of property on Highway 99W south of downtown Corvallis from industrial to residential.

Councilors held a public hearing July 5 but did not deliberate because of requests to hold the record open. The Planning Commission already has approved the requests, but the council must act because a comp plan change is in the application.

No development plans have been submitted for the site.

In another land-use case councilors will discuss next steps in the Kings Boulevard extension. The council and Planning Commission both rejected the extended plan proposed by GPA1, but the state Land Use Board of Appeals remanded one piece of the case back to the city.

The council session will include a "community comments" segment in which the public can testify on any subject. Residents also can submit testimony in advance at City of Corvallis, OR : Input Form.

Monday

• The Corvallis City Legislative Committee meets at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 501 S.W. Madison Avenue

Tuesday

• The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 9 a.m. in the county boardrooms, 205 N.W. Fifth St. Discussion items will include a public health modernization proposal and a possible amendment to the county code section on animal control.
• The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a meeting at noon in the county boardrooms, 205 N.W. Fifth St. The board will consider the sale of a piece of county property, the county's natural hazards mitigation plan, accepting a road into the county road system and approving two new deputy positions for the Sheriff's Office.
• The Corvallis City Council will hold 3:30 p.m. work session at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 S.W. Madison Ave. On the agenda are an update on council goals and a discussion of the impact of "needed housing" statutes on recent land-use cases.

The council cannot make a decision at a work session, but public testimony will be taken at the end of the meeting on the agenda items. Residents can submit testimony in advance at City of Corvallis, OR : Input Form.

• The Corvallis Transportation System Plan Steering Committee meets at 5 p.m. at the downtown fire station. The committee will discuss the project's status and schedule, an overview of transportation and transit funding assumptions and outreach activities planned for this fall.

Wednesday

• The task force working on the Corvallis City Council goal of a sustainable budget meets at 8 a.m. at the Madison Avenue room and will discuss a public outreach plan for its initiatives.
• The Corvallis Arts and Culture Advisory Board meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department, 1310 S.W. Avery Park Drive.
• The Corvallis Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the downtown fire station, No public hearings are scheduled, with commissioners slated to discuss parliamentary procedures and the public hearing process and Planning Commission roles and responsibilities. Commissioners also will receive an update on the Imagine Corvallis 2040 vision and action plan work

Thursday

• The Imagine Corvallis 2040 Steering Committee meets at 4 p.m. at the downtown fire station.
• The task force working on a Climate Action plan for Corvallis meets at 5 p.m. at the Madison Avenue room.

News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Council To Look At Pot Tax For November Ballot
Author: James Day
Contact: 541-753-2641
Photo Credit: James Day
Website: Corvallis Gazette-Times