December 13, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Item:
Minutes for:
Adopted :
Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Madera City Council B-1
12/13/2023s
12/20/2023
Council Chambers
City Hall
The Madera City Council meetings are open to the public. This meeting will also be available for public viewing and participation through Zoom. Members of the public may also observe the live streamed meeting on the City's website at www.madera.gov/live. Members of the public may comment on agenda items at the meeting or remotely through an electronic meeting via phone by dialing (669) 900-6833 enter ID: 838 2155 7852#. Comments will also be accepted via email at [email protected] or by regular mail at 205 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637.
CALL TO ORDER: Due to technical difficulties, the meeting was called to order at 6:48 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Santos Garcia
Mayor Pro Tern Cece Gallegos, District 1
Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, District 2
Councilmember Steve Montes, District 3
Councilmember Anita Evans, District 4
Council member Elsa Mejia, District 5
Councilmember Artemio Villegas, District 6
Others present were City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez (Zoom), City Clerk Alicia Gonzales, City Attorney Shannon L. Chaffin and Community Development Director Will Tackett.
INVOCATION: Councilmember Evans
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Garcia announced that on the advice of City Attorney Shannon Chaffin, Council could skip approval of the agenda unless a member of the Council objects. Councilmembers did not object.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the City Council regarding matters on this Agenda at the time the agenda item is called. Speakers should limit their comments to three {3} minutes.
City Attorney Shannon Chaffin clarified that this is public comment for items not on the agenda and not related to Cannabis at this time.
Joanna Torres stated it is unethical if they received donations from any of the applicants and asked they reconsider participating on this item. City Attorney Shannon Chaffin advised Mayor Garcia that he can respond to this once public comment is closed.
City Clerk Alicia Gonzales stated that written public comment was received and a copy of those items were emailed to Council, printed and provided to Council, and copies are available at the podium for public viewing.
No further Public Comment was presented. Public Comment was closed.
City Attorney Shannon Chaffin stated that state legislature has set rules on if campaign donations require recusal. So long as it has been disclosed and is properly booked for campaigns (which was done in the present situation), there is not a conflict based on timing. Per state legislature, it is not present in this matter.
A.
A-1
PETITIONS. BIDS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES, AND AGREEMENTS:
City Council Interviews for Phase IV of the Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB) Permit Application Process and Consideration of a Resolution Adopting a Notice of Award of CCB Permits to Standard Retail or Microbusiness Applicants
Recommendation: Conduct a Special Meeting of the City Council (Council) of the City of Madera to conduct interviews of the top Standard Retail or Microbusiness CCB Permit Applicants and consider awards of CCB Permits:
APPLICANTS
1. Conduct interviews of top applicants;
2. Invite and receive public comment; and then,
3. Adopt a Resolution to determine the award of up to six Standard Retail or Microbusiness CCB Permits; or, continue the item to the Regular Meeting of the City Council scheduled for December 20, 2023, for further consideration. (Report by Will Tackett)
1. Hazy Bulldog Farms (Hazy Bulldog Farms 2, Inc.)
2. Herbz (Herbz, LLC}
3. BaM Body and Mind (NMG CA 1, LLC)
4. Jiva (Jiva MAE, LLC}
5. E7 LA (E7 LA, LLC)
6. Off the Charts (OTC Madera, LLC} - Withdrawn
7. East of Eden (GFC Central, LLC}
8. Nectar (Retail NM, LLC} - No Show
9. Zen Garden (Zen Garden of Madera, Inc.)
10. DISPO (DSPO-Madera, LLC}
11. Sugarpine 559 (Sugarpine 559, LLC}
12. Haven (Haven Madera, LLC}
13. Mainstream (Mainstream Madera, LLC}
14. Lavis (Lavish West Coast Madera)
15. Cali Oz (Cali Oz Madera, LLC}
16. HerbNJoy (Madera Erudite Ventures)
17. Cannable (GBH Retail, LLC)
18. Embarc (Responsible and Compliant Retail Madera, LLC)
19. Stiizy (Shryne Madera, LLC}
20. Culture Cannabis Club (Madera Has Culture, Inc.)
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mayor Garcia announced that members of the public would now have an opportunity to address the City Council regarding matters on this agenda. Speakers should limit their comments to three (3) minutes. Speakers will be asked, but are not required, to identify City of Madera City Council Minutes
December 13, 2023
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
themselves and state the subject of their comments. Members of the public who are participating in the meeting remotely via phone should press *9 to raise their hand to speak; and press *6 to unmute themselves when called on to speak. Remote attendees will be called by the last four digits of their dial-in telephone number.
City Attorney Shannon Chaffin reminded the audience that the applicants already had an opportunity to address the City Council and make their presentations. This portion is for members of the public and community who did not have an opportunity to speak yet and for any applicants who did not make it to the final round.
Michael Minnetti spoke in favor of Rochelle Noblett.
Johanna Torres spoke in favor of Embarc and reiterated her statement that Councilmembers should recuse themselves if they've received donations from any of the applicants.
Daniela Parra spoke on behalf of Monica Rodriguez of First 5 who spoke in favor of Embarc.
Cynthia Ramos spoke in favor of Embarc.
Carmina Ramos spoke in favor of Lavish.
Yolanda Williams spoke in favor of Rochelle Noblett.
Lex Bufford spoke in favor of Rochelle Noblett.
Ro spoke in favor of Embarc.
Tina Rodriguez spoke in favor of Lavish.
Gabriel spoke in favor of Embarc.
Clint Noblett spoke in favor of Rochelle Noblett.
O'kane spoke in favor of Embarc.
Mella spoke in favor of Embarc.
Giovanni spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Geoff spoke in favor of Cannable.
Haley spoke in favor of Cannable.
Baldwin Moy spoke in favor of Embarc.
Ramon Gonzalez spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Jim Glenn spoke in favor of Rochelle Noblett.
Mike spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Dan Riley spoke in favor of Embarc and Mainstream.
Chris Arias spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Mattie Mendez spoke in favor of Stiizy and Mainstream.
Balwinder Sing spoke in favor of Grupo Flor.
Alex Salazar spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Raziel spoke in favor of Lavish.
A member of the public spoke in favor of Lavish.
Yulisa Torres spoke in favor of Grupo Flor.
Kristen Hodelback spoke in favor of Embarc.
Patrick Orozco spoke in favor of Jiva MAE.
Nick Salinas spoke in favor of Grupo Flor.
Alicia Brown spoke in favor of Lavish.
Raj Padavakin spoke in favor of Jiva Madera.
Gabriela Angeles spoke in favor of Mainstream.
Lucy Ruiz spoke in favor of Embarc.
Annie Patrozian spoke in favor of Alamari.
City of Madera
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
City Council Minutes
December 13, 2023
Stephanie Brown spoke in favor of Embarc.
Naric Verdonian spoke in favor of HERBZ LLC and Zadiq Alamari.
Rose Patrojian spoke in favor of Zadiq Alamari
Member of the public spoke in favor of Zadiq Alamari.
Christian Moreno spoke in favor of E7.
Carlee spoke in favor of Lavish.
No further Public Comment was presented. Public Comment was closed.
After discussion by Council, the following applicants were chosen.
1. Cannable (GBH Retail, LLC) - 313 E. Yosemite Avenue
2. Embarc (Responsible and Compliant Retail Madera, LLC) - 530 E. Yosemite Avenue
3. Stiiizy (Shryne Madera, LLC) - 1105 Country Club Drive
4. Culture Cannabis Club (Madera Has Culture, Inc.) - 233 E. Yosemite Avenue
5. Mainstream (Mainstream Madera, LLC) - 300 E. Yosemite Avenue
6. Lavish (Lavish West Coast Madera)- 520 N Gateway Drive ON MOTION BY MAYOR GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER EVANS, ITEM A-1 WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 7/0 VOTE. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE.
RES 23-206 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
ADOPTING A NOTICE TO PREVAILING APPLICANTS OF CONDITIONAL
AWARD OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESS (CCB) PERMITS TO
STANDARD RETAIL OR MICROBUSINESS APPLICANTS
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
UPCOMING MEETING DATES:
• Wednesday, December 20, 2023
■ Wednesday, January 17, 2024
lJTESPREPARDY
ZELDA LEON, Deputy City Clerk
City of Madera
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
City Council Minutes
December 13, 2023