Written Public Comments
Submitted by the 3pm deadline
(Instructions for Public Comment are provided on the first page of the meeting agenda.) From: Nicholas LoBasso
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 12:01 PM
To: City Clerk
Cc: Dan Zaharoni; Kintu Patel; Nicholas LoBasso
Subject: Public Comment in Support of Proposed Cannabis License Cap Ordinance
Members of the City of Port Hueneme Council,
We submit this public comment on behalf of From the Earth – Port Hueneme in support of the proposed ordinance to reduce the maximum number of commercial cannabis businesses permitted to operate within the City.
As licensed cannabis operators, we have observed that market oversaturation places significant strain on both businesses and municipalities. When the number of operators exceeds sustainable demand, businesses struggle to remain financially viable; compliance becomes more difficult to maintain, and tax remittances become less consistent. Oversaturation does not expand consumer demand—it undermines market stability.
From a fiscal perspective, consumer demand in cannabis retail is relatively fixed.
Increasing the number of licenses does not increase total market demand but instead distributes the same revenue across more operators. This dynamic increases business failures, reduces compliance capacity, and introduces volatility into tax collection. Aligning the number of authorized licenses with sustainable demand supports stronger operators and more consistent municipal revenue.
Port Hueneme has the advantage of being an established cannabis market with licensed operators that have already made substantial long-term investments in compliance, infrastructure, and community presence. Maintaining a reasonable cap on licenses helps preserve market stability, reduce unnecessary business turnover, and discourage shortterm speculative entrants.
From the City’s perspective, this approach enhances regulatory oversight, improves compliance outcomes, and stabilizes municipal revenue. For these reasons, we believe the proposed ordinance reflects a thoughtful, data-driven policy decision aligned with the City’s long-term fiscal and regulatory objectives.
We also want to acknowledge Deputy City Manager Charles Peretz for his professionalism, clear communication, and thoughtful engagement with licensed operators throughout this process. His outreach helped ensure the City’s approach is informed, transparent, and grounded in real-world operating conditions.
We appreciate the City’s outreach and engagement with licensed operators during this process and thank the Council for its consideration.
Respectfully,
Dan Zaharoni
Kintu Patel
Nicholas LoBasso
From The Earth
www.fromtheearth.com
From: Joan Tharp
Sent: Monday, February 2, 2026 7:22 AM
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Meeng Public Comment-Support for Business Item 7 – Sea Level Rise Adaptaon Planning Grant
Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Councilmembers, and Staff, I am writing to encourage you to vote yes on Business Item 7 to adopt the Resolution entitled:
“A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme, California, Authorizing the City’s Participation in the Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program (Track 1), Ratifying Submittal of a Grant Application, Authorizing Execution of Grant Documents, and Authorizing Submittal of Future Related Grant Applications.”
As a resident of Port Hueneme for over 30 years and a volunteer with Surfrider Foundation Ventura County, I understand the importance of ensuring that our coastal city is well prepared for the increasing risks of infrastructure damage caused by sea level rise, coastal erosion, storm surge, and more frequent and intense rainfall events.
Portions of the city have already experienced flooding during heavy rain events.
Additionally, much of Port Hueneme lies in areas that were historically coastal wetlands and continue to have a very high water table. These realities should inform future planning efforts, and access to grant funding for this critical work is imperative.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to our community.
Best regards,
Joan Tharp