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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting Resolution No. 26-30 – A Resolution creating a one-time exception to the Cannabis Business Permit application process established by Resolution No. 26-05 and allowing applications submitted during the previous solicitation to be reconsidered for an available dispensary Cannabis Business Permit.
DATE: August 10, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the July 13, 2026, City Council Meeting, staff was directed to return with an item for the City Council’s consideration regarding the creation of a one-time exception to the Cannabis Business Permit (“CBP”) application process outlined in Resolution No. 26-05.
The one-time exception would allow the City Council to reconsider CBP applications from the recent application process that were previously determined to comply with the City's cannabis regulations.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Open a public hearing, take documentary and testimonial evidence, and after considering the evidence, and adopt Resolution No. 26-30; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of Resolution No. 26-30 is expected to require less staff time and lower administrative costs than initiating a new CBP application process. Granting this one-time exception would also enable the City to start collecting its cannabis dispensary tax sooner than would be possible under a new solicitation process.
DISCUSSION
On February 17, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-05, implementing Title 14 of the Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”) by establishing policies and procedures for obtaining, modifying, and maintaining CBPs. In accordance with that process, the City’s commercial cannabis regulations, and at the direction of City Council in March 2026, the City Manager solicited applications for CBPs to fill a vacancy.
1 Staff Report – Resolution No. 26-30
August 10, 2026
DISCUSSION – Continued
The solicitation produced two CBP applicants for cannabis dispensaries: 9535 Artesia Ave., Inc. dba Herb’s Diner and OTC Bellflower LLC. Both applications were reviewed and determined to be compliant with the minimum requirements outlined in Resolution No. 26-05 and the City’s commercial cannabis regulations. On June 22, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing to consider issuance of a CBP to one of the two applicants; however, the City Council continued the public hearing to July 13, 2026. On July 13, 2026, the City Council re-opened the public hearing and took action to grant the CBP to OTC Bellflower LLC.
Since considering the initial CBP, a second dispensary CBP is now available. The attached resolution allows for the reconsideration of CBP applications from the most recent solicitation process for the now available CBP. If adopted, Resolution No. 26-30 will create a one-time exception to the CBP application process established by Resolution No. 26-05, which would allow the City Council to reconsider CBP applications from the previous process, thereby expediting the process and time required to fill the vacant permit.
Alternatively, the City Council could allow the existing process to proceed and the City Manager will begin a new application process to consider issuing a new CBP. Based on the previous solicitation, it is estimated that this process will likely take between three and six months. It is recommended that City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-30.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution No. 26-30 .................................................................................................. 3 B. Resolution No. 26-05 .................................................................................................. 6
2 CITY OF BELLFLOWER
RESOLUTION NO. 26-30
A RESOLUTION CREATING A ONE-TIME EXCEPTION TO THE
CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS
ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 26-05 AND ALLOWING
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED DURING THE PREVIOUS SOLICITATION
TO BE RECONSIDERED FOR AN AVAILABLE DISPENSARY
CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT
THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. On February 17, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-05, implementing Title 14 of the BMC by establishing policies and procedures for obtaining, modifying, and maintaining cannabis business permits (“CBPs”);
B. In accordance with Resolution No. 26-05, the City opened the application window for CBP applications in March 2026 for one available dispensary Cannabis Business Permit;
C. Two applicants, 9535 Artesia Ave., Inc. dba Herb’s Diner and OTC Bellflower LLC, submitted CBP applications for cannabis dispensaries before the application window closed on March 31, 2026;
D. Both applications were reviewed and determined to be complete and to meet all minimum requirements outlined in Resolution No. 26-05 and Title 14 of BMC;
E. As of August 10, 2026, there are three cannabis dispensaries with valid CBPs in the City;
F. The City Council finds that facilitating the timely selection of a new dispensary permittee fulfills its responsibilities under Article II and Article V(D) of the City Charter. Further, it fulfills the purpose under BMC § 3.37.010 to raise revenue – as contemplated by the voters - in as timely a manner as possible while ensuring CBP applicants adhere to all relevant guidelines and regulations as outlined in Title 14 of the BMC and Resolution No. 26-05;
G. The last CBP application process, carried out in accordance with Resolution No. 26-05, required four months before a CBP was awarded to one of the applicants, and staff estimates that issuing another CBP using this application process will take between three and six months.
3 City of Bellflower
Resolution No. 26-30
SECTION 2. The City Council temporarily suspends the application process established in Resolution No. 26-05 to consider applications submitted during the March, 2026 solicitation for the available dispensary CBP. Other than the temporary suspension in this Resolution, Resolution No. 26-05 remains unamended and in full affect for all future CBP applications.
SECTION 3. Severability. If any part of this Resolution or its Application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are severable.
SECTION 4. Electronic Signatures. This Resolution may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 5. The Mayor, or presiding officer, is authorized to affix its signature to this Resolution signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City of Bellflower, and the City Clerk, or her duly appointed deputy, is directed to attest.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption and will remain effective unless repealed or superseded.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER THIS 10TH DAY OF AUGUST 2026.
________________________________
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
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