Joint Special Council/BFPD
06/3/24 06:00 PM
City Clerk / Records
Maribel Hernandez
Presentation
Doc ID: 5669
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM WORKSHOP DISCUSSION APPLICATION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City is hosting a workshop and encourages public engagement in the decision-making process. This includes identifying and prioritizing community needs and benefits, and choosing appropriate projects for funding by the Community Benefits Program.
DISCUSSION:
On November 8, 2016, the Control, Regulate, & Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (“AUMA”) was approved by California voters via Proposition 64. The AUMA permits local jurisdictions to regulate and/or ban adultuse cannabis cultivation, distribution and delivery, transportation, manufacturing, testing laboratories, dispensaries, and microbusiness facilities.
In June 2021, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 974-2021 which added Chapter 19.27 to the Barstow Municipal Code to permit commercial cannabis activities in the City. The ordinance went into effect on July 7, 2021. On October 4, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 977-2021, amending the City’s cannabis regulatory program ordinance.
All cannabis businesses must enter into a development agreement with the City that will be subject to Council approval through the adoption of an ordinance under Government Code Section 65865. One of the terms of the development agreement requires the operator to coordinate and cooperate with the City, Operator, and/or any other Operators of commercial cannabis facilities located within the City in the establishment, implementation, and funding of a community benefits program which could include such items as senior citizen programs, City beautification efforts, funding for enforcement against illegal cannabis operations, public safety, housing programs, economic development, infrastructure, capital improvements, including expansion and/or improvement to existing facilities or other physical improvements that provide a benefit to the community, support of holiday and special community events, and support of local public service, public safety, litigation defense, and special social and community organizations. This community benefits program will be implemented by the City.
To engage the public in the decision-making process, the City is organizing a workshop to prioritize community needs and projects to be funded through this program. All projects under the community benefits program require approval from the City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact regarding this discussion of this item.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council receives input and provides direction to staff.