FEBRUARY 14, 2022
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
ITEM 5.3
APPROVE THE SELECTION PROCESS AND THE
ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS,
REVISED MERIT BASED SELECTION CRITERIA, AND
APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR A COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN THE CITY OF LATHROP
Cannabis Dispensary Application Process- RFP
The selection process starts with all interested applicants submitting a response to a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) issued by the City. This item allows Council to approve the issuance of the RFP and provides that responses are due by March 16, 2022.
Applicants do not need to have secured ownership or physical control over a location to submit an RFP Response, but must include a proposed location, site plan, and floor plan in the RFP Response. Responses are due by 6pm, March 16, 2022.
City staff will review each RFP response and provide a summary of each proposal as well as each proposal in its entirety to Council for its evaluation at a future public meeting.
Summary
Revised Merit Based Selection Criteria
The Selection Criteria, as approved by Resolution on November 8, 2021, included five questions relating to full-time local residency and prior business ownership within San Joaquin County as selection criteria. Recent court cases in other states have suggested that such criteria should not be used in the selection process. Therefore, Council is provided this opportunity to remove those items by approving the revised criteria.
Commercial Cannabis Appeal Procedures
City appeal procedures can provide unsuccessful applicants an opportunity for an independent hearing officer to evaluate any appeal of the City’s selection process. The intent of this appeal procedure is to provide due process of law to anyone who is directly affected by an administrative action of the City under LMC Chapter 5.26.