Agenda Report
TO:
March 14, 2022
Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Planning & Community Development Department
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
AUTHORIZING STATE OF CALIFORNIA CANNABIS EQUITY ACT
GRANT FUNDING
RECOMMENDATION:
lt is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (General Rule); and
2. Authorize the Director of Planning & Community Development to execute by electronic signature on behalf of the City of Pasadena an agreement with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development for a $75,000 grant to conduct a cannabis equity assessment and assist the development of a local equity program.
BACKGROUND:
On February 7, 2022, the City of Pasadena was announced as one of five recipient jurisdictions of a $75,000 grant via the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to conduct a cannabis social equity assessment and/or program development.
In October 2021 , GO-Biz announced the availability of $35 million in grant funding through the Cannabis Equity Grants (CEG) Program for Local Jurisdictions. The purpose of the program is to advance economic justice for populations and communities harmed by cannabis prohibition by providing support to local jurisdictions as they promote equity and eliminate barriers to entry in the regulated cannabis industry for their equity program applicants and licensees. Jurisdictions that receive the funding can use this funding to either develop their cannabis equity programs or assist their equity program applicants and licensees by providing low/no-interest loans or grants, reduced licensing fees or waived fees, and technical assistance, including one-on-one consulting MEETING OF _ 03/14/2022 AGENDA ITEM NO. __ 3 __ _
Cannabis Equity Grant Agreement
March 14, 2022
and training, and navigation assistance with cannabis licensing and regulatory requirements.
As a result of recent interest in implementing a local cannabis social equity program, in December 2021 the Planning and Community Development Department submitted an application for a $75,000 grant via the CEG Program to conduct its cannabis social equity assessment and for program development. On January 28, 2022, the City received notification that its application was eligible for award. In order to proceed with the grant, an agreement must be executed no later than March 15, 2022 between the City of Pasadena and GO-Biz. The attached resolution designates the Director of Planning and Community Development as authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the City.
The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in January 2022 soliciting a consultant to complete the cannabis social equity study and received one responsive proposal.
The selected consultant is Botec Analysis, whose staff have completed cannabis social equity assessments for various other jursidictions throughout the state. Staff anticipates to return to the City Council with findings of the assessment by late Spring.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This project is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (General Rule). The contract award is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to the provisions of CEQA.
Cannabis Equity Grant Agreement
March 14, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT:
Execution of the attached agreement will result in a $75,000 grant, of which not more than $40,000 can be used for the purpose of a cannabis social equity assessment and the balance can be used to cover staff time on program development.
Prepared by:
Management Analyst IV
Approved by:
Attachments: (1)
Attachment A: Resolution
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID M. REYES
Director of Planning & Community
Development Department