BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
N.1 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE DRAFT CANNABIS REGULATORY
ORDINANCE AND APPLICATION GUIDELINES
CONTACT: ELIZABETH HAUSE, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
• DRAFT ORDINANCE
• PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
1 CHAPTER 6 COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY FOR RETAIL STOREFRONT AND
RETAIL DELIVERY
xxxx Title. This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as “The Redondo Beach Commercial Cannabis Activity for Retail Storefront and Retail Delivery Ordinance” (the “Ordinance”).
xxxxx. Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of this Ordinance is to accommodate the needs of medically-ill persons in need of cannabis for medicinal purposes, as advised and recommended by their health care provider(s), and adults over the age of twenty-one (21), and to implement State of California (“State”) law, which includes, but is not limited to the provisions of the Medicinal & Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation & Safety Act (hereinafter, “MAUCRSA”), as may be amended and augmented under State law, while imposing regulations on the conduct of business and use of land to protect the City of Redondo Beach (the “City”) neighborhoods, residents, and businesses from negative impacts. It is a further purpose and intent of this Ordinance to regulate the commercial cannabis activity for retail storefront and retail delivery in a manner which is responsible, which protects the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City, and which enforces rules and regulations consistent with State law. In part to meet these objectives, a retail cannabis business permit shall be required to own or to operate a cannabis retailer within the City. Further, this Ordinance’s requirement for a cannabis retailer to possess a retail cannabis business permit is in addition to any other permits, licenses, and approvals which may be required to conduct business in the City, and is in addition to any permits, licenses, and approvals required under State or County of Los Angeles (“County”) law.
XXXXX. Legal Authority. Pursuant to Section 7 of Article XI of the State Constitution, and the provisions of the MAUCRSA, as may be amended and augmented under State law and any subsequent State legislation regarding the same, the City is authorized to adopt ordinances that establish standards, requirements, and regulations for local licenses and permits for commercial cannabis activity for retail storefront and retail delivery. Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, any standards, requirements, and regulations regarding health and safety, security, and worker protections established by the State, or any of its departments or divisions, shall be the minimum standards applicable to the retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products in the City.
xxxxx. Commercial Cannabis Activities Prohibited Unless Specifically Authorized by this Chapter. Except as specifically authorized by this Chapter, microbusinesses, commercial cultivation, manufacturing, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, delivery, distribution, or transportation, of cannabis or cannabis products is expressly prohibited in the City.
xxxxxxx. Chapter 6 (Licensing and Business Regulations) of the City Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Chapter 6 (Commercial Cannabis Activity for Retail Storefront and Retail Delivery) to read as follows:
§ 6-6.01. Definitions.
The technical terms and phrases used in this chapter are defined in Redondo Beach Municipal Code Section 102.1626. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 ) and are restated as follows:
"A-license" means a State license issued under this section for cannabis or cannabis products that are intended for adults 21 years of age and over and who do not possess physician's 2 recommendations.
"A-licensee" means any person holding a license under this section for cannabis or cannabis products that are intended for adults 21 years of age and over and who do not possess physician's recommendations.
"Act" shall mean the California Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act ("MAUCRSA"), as in Business and Professions Code Section 26000 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"Applicant" shall mean and refer to a person applying for a permit pursuant to this section. “Business License” means the required City Business License to operate in the City of Redondo Beach.
“Cannabis” means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis. "Cannabis" does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For the purpose of this section, "cannabis" does not mean "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code. Ffor the purpose of this section "cannabis" and "marijuana" shall have the same meaning.
"Cannabis accessories" means any equipment, products or materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, smoking, vaporizing, or containing cannabis, or for ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cannabis or cannabis products into the human body.
"Cannabis product" means cannabis that has undergone a process whereby the plant material has been transformed into a concentrate, including, but not limited to, concentrated cannabis, or an edible or topical product containing cannabis or concentrated cannabis and other ingredients.
"Cannabis retailer" means a commercial cannabis business where cannabis, cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis or cannabis products are offered, either individually or in any combination, for retail sale, including an establishment that delivers, pursuant to express authorization, cannabis and cannabis products as part of a retail sale, and where the operator holds a valid commercial cannabis business permit from the City of Redondo Beach authorizing the operation of a retailer, and a valid State license as required by State law to operate as a retailer.
"Caregiver" or "primary caregiver" has the same meaning as the term is defined in Section 11362.7 of the State Health and Safety Code.
"City" means the City of Redondo Beach.
"City Council " or "Council" means the City Council of the City of Redondo Beach. "City Manager" means the City Manager of the City of Redondo Beach or designee(s). 3 "Commercial cannabis activity" includes only storefront retail sale of cannabis and retail delivery of cannabis products; and excludes the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, transportation, distribution, and all activities that are not explicitly expressed in this Section 6.xxx
"Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit" means the permit issued by the City under RBMC Chapter 6-2. Note: RBMC Titles to be updated when Finalized "Conditional Use Permit" means the permit issued by the City under RBMC Section 10-5.2506. "Cultivation" means any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis.
"Cultivation site" means a location where cannabis is planted, grown, harvested, dried, cured, graded or trimmed, or a location where any combination of those activities occurs. "Customer" means a natural person 21 years of age or over or a natural person 18 years of age or older who possesses a physician's recommendation.
“Day Care Center” or “Childcare Facility” means a facility, other than a family day care home, serving infant, toddler, preschool, and school age children, licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1596.951 of the State Health & Safety Code. Pursuant to the authority delegated by the State to the City under Section 26054(b) of the State Business & Professions Code, this definition of “Day Care Center” under this Chapter 6xx shall override the definition of “Day Care Center” in MAUCRSA at Section 26001 of the State Business & Professions Code.
"Delivery" means the commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabis products to a customer. "Delivery" also includes the use by a retailer of any technology platform owned and controlled by the retailer, or independently licensed under this section that enables customers to arrange for or facilitate the commercial transfer by a licensed retailer of cannabis or cannabis products also includes the use by a retailer of any technology platform owned and controlled by the retailer (or a microbusiness engaging in retail sales). "Department" means the Department of Cannabis Control within the Department of Consumer Affairs, formerly named the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, and the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation. "Dispensary" or "storefront retailer" means a location where cannabis, cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis or cannabis products are offered, either individually or in any combination, for retail sale, including an establishment that delivers cannabis and cannabis products.
"Distribution" means the procurement, sale, and transport of cannabis and cannabis products between licensees.
"Edible cannabis product" means cannabis product that is intended to be used, in whole or in part, for human consumption, including, but not limited to, chewing gum, but excluding products set forth in Section 15 (commencing with Section 32501) of the Food and Agricultural Code. An edible cannabis product is not considered food, as defined by Section 109935 of the Health and Safety Code.
"Gross receipts" means, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, whether designated as a sales price, royalty, rent, commission, dividend, or other designation, the total amount (including all receipts, cash, credits, and property of any kind or nature) received or payable for sales of goods, wares, or merchandise without any deduction therefrom on account of
5 means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis. "Cannabis" does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For the purpose of this section, "cannabis" does not mean "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
"Medicinal cannabis" means cannabis or a cannabis product, respectively, intended to be sold for use pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5, by a medicinal cannabis patient in California who possesses a physician's recommendation.
"Medicinal delivery" means the commercial transfer of medicinal cannabis to a customer that possesses a physician's recommendation. "Medicinal dDelivery" also includes the use by a retailer of any technology platform owned and controlled by the retailer, or independently licensed under this section that enables customers to arrange for or facilitate the commercial transfer by a licensed retailer of cannabis or cannabis products. "Nursery" means a license that produces only clones, immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the propagation and cultivation of cannabis. "Operation" means any act for which any State or local licensure is required under the provisions of this section or any commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabis products. "Owner" means any of the following:
(a) All persons identified as an "owner" on any permit, license, or other authorization issued by a state agency or local government which authorizes the persons to establish and operate the cannabis facility.
(b) Any person identified or required to be identified as an "owner" on an application filed with any state agency and any local government, wherein the application requests the privilege to operate the cannabis facility.
(c) An Owner is further defined as follows:
(1) A person who has any ownership interest in the corporate entity, partnership, or other business entity applying for a permit or a permittee, regardless of percentage of ownership; unless the interest is solely a security, lien, or encumbrance.
(2) The chief executive officer of a nonprofit or other entity. (3) A member of the board of directors of a nonprofit.
(4) An individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management of the person applying for a permit. A member of the board of directors of a nonprofit. (5) An individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management of the person applying for a permit.
"Package" means any container or receptacle used for holding cannabis or cannabis products. "Permit administrator" means the City Manager or his/her designee. "Permittee" means a person who has obtained a Commercial Cannabis Permit from the City to operate a cannabis business.
"Person" includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, limited 6 liability company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as well as the singular. "Physician's recommendation" means a recommendation by a physician and surgeon that a patient use cannabis provided in accordance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found at Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code. "Premises" means the designated structure or structures and land specified in the application that is owned, leased, or otherwise held under the control of the applicant or licensee where the commercial cannabis activity will be or is conducted. "Private residence" means a house, an apartment unit, a mobile home, or other similar dwelling. “Public Park” means an outdoor premises containing existing or proposed parks, including community parks, neighborhood parks, mini-parks, and urban parks that are currently or proposed to be owned or operated by the City or other governmental agency. “Public Park” shall not include any youth center.
"Purchaser" means the customer who is engaged in a transaction for purposes of obtaining cannabis or cannabis products.
"Qualified delivery service" is one that has been licensed pursuant to the requirements of California Business and Professions Code Section 26050, maintains at all times while operating in the City of Redondo Beach all necessary State licenses, and operates in compliance with State and local law.
“School” means as evidenced and licensed by the State Department of Education school directory, a public school instructing children in grades kindergarten through 12, as authorized by the State Department of Education, or a private school instructing children in grades kindergarten through 12 that has filed a verification of private school affidavit with the State Department of Education pursuant to Section 33190 of the State Education Code; excluding any private school in which education is primarily conducted in a private home. Pursuant to the authority delegated by the State to the City under Section 26054(b) of the State Business & Professions Code, this definition of “school” under this Chapter 6- xx shall override the definition of “school” used in MAUCRSA or Section 11362.768 of the Health & Safety Code.
"Sell," "sale," and "to sell" includes any transaction whereby, for any consideration, title to cannabis is transferred from one person to another, and includes the delivery of cannabis or cannabis products pursuant to an order placed for the purchase of the same and soliciting or receiving an order for the same, but does not include the return of cannabis or cannabis products by a licensee to the licensee from whom such cannabis or cannabis product was purchased.
"State license" means a State license issued under this section, and includes both an A-license and an M-license, as well as a testing laboratory license. "State licensee" means any person holding a license under this section, regardless of whether the license held is an A-license or an M-license, and includes the holder of a testing laboratory license.
"State licensing authority" means the State agency responsible for the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of the license, or the State agency authorized to take disciplinary action against the licensee.
"Testing laboratory" means a laboratory, facility, or entity in the State that offers or performs 7 tests of cannabis or cannabis products and that is both of the following:
(a) Accredited by an accrediting body that is independent from all other persons involved in commercial cannabis activity in the State.
(b) Licensed by the Department.
"Testing service" means a laboratory, facility, or entity in the State, that offers or performs tests of cannabis or cannabis products, including the equipment provided by such laboratory, facility, or entity, and that is both of the following:
(a) Accredited by an accrediting body that is independent from all other persons involved in commercial cannabis activity in the State.
(b) Registered with the State Department of Public Health. “Youth Center” means any facility that is operated by a public agency or nonprofit entity with the sole purpose of providing educational and/or recreational services to minors. “Youth Center” shall not include any a) private martial arts, yoga, ballet, music, or similar studio of this nature, or (b) any private athletic training facility, pizza parlor, restaurant, video arcade, dentist office, or doctor’s office primarily serving children. Pursuant to the authority delegated by the State to the City under Section 26054(b) of the State Business & Professions Code, this definition of “Youth Center” under this Chapter 6-xx shall override the definition of “Youth Center” in MAUCRSA at Section 26001 of the State Business & Professions Code.
§ 6-6.02. Commercial cannabis permit required to engage in commercial cannabis activity for retail storefront and retail delivery
No person may operate a commercial cannabis business or engage in commercial cannabis activity within the City of Redondo Beach, including retail storefront sales and retail delivery, unless the person (1) has a valid commercial cannabis retailer permit from the City of Redondo Beach; (2) has any and all valid State or local permits and licenses; and 3) is currently in compliance with all applicable State and local laws and regulations pertaining to the commercial cannabis business and the commercial cannabis activity, including holding the necessary State licenses to engage in commercial cannabis activity. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff.
October 6, 2022 )
Section 6.xxxx Commercial cannabis retailer regulation
(a) Commercial Cannabis Retailer Permit required. A cannabis retailer must obtain and maintain at all times a valid Commercial Cannabis Permit as required pursuant to Redondo Beach Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 6.
(b) Conditional Use Permit and Zoning.
(1) A Conditional Use Permit is required to establish a cannabis business or operate as a cannabis retailer subject to the standards contained in Municipal Code Section 10-2.2506.. Cannabis retailers shall be required to comply with all zoning, land use, and development regulations applicable to the zoning district in which they are permitted to establish and operate such business as set forth in the Redondo Beach Municipal Code.
(2) The cannabis retailer is not required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit prior to 8 applying for a Commercial Cannabis Permit.
(3) If a cannabis retailer is authorized by Conditional Use Permit to operate a cannabis business on a particular site and such operation is discontinued for a continuous period of 12 months, the Conditional Use Permit expires for discontinuance of use and thereafter is void.
(c) Number of retailers. No more than two (2) sites may be used for storefront commercial cannabis retailers at any time. Those sites may be concurrently licensed to provide commercial retail delivery.
Section 6..xxxx Location Zoning Requirements.
(a) Cannabis retailers shall be permitted only in commercial and industrial zones, specifically limited to the C-1, C-2, C-2A, C-2B, C-2PD, C-3, C-3A, C-3B, C3PD, C-4, C-4A, C-4B, C-4PD, C-5A, CR, I-1, I-1A, I-1B, I-2, I-2A, and IC-1 zones. Cannabis retailers are prohibited in Coastal Commercial zones.
Cannabis retailers are prohibited in any public-institutional zones and zones where residential is permitted.
(b) No retailer shall be established or located, at the time of application submittal, within 1,000 feet, measured from the nearest property lines of each of the affected parcels, of any other cannabis retailer.
(c) No retailer shall be established or located, at the time of application submittal, within 1,500 feet of any public or private high school or middle school, measured from the nearest property lines of each of the affected parcels. However, once a Permittee has been granted a valid commercial cannabis retailer permit by the City of Redondo Beach and is also in full compliance with the requirements of 6-6.02, the fact that any public or private high school or middle school opens within 1,500 feet of that Permittee’s existing commercial cannabis business will not require Permittee’s business to relocate as a result.
(d) No retailer shall be established or located, at the time of application submittal, within 650 600 feet from California State Licensed public or private elementary schools, day care centers, and youth centers, measured from the nearest property lines of each of the affected parcels. However, once a Permittee has been granted a valid commercial cannabis retailer permit by the City of Redondo Beach and is also in full compliance with the requirements of 6-6.02, the fact that any California State Licensed public or private elementary schools, day care centers, or youth centers open within 1,500 feet of that Permittee’s existing commercial cannabis business will not require Permittee’s business to relocate as a result.
(e) The distances specified in this Section 6-xxx shall be the horizontal distance measured in a straight line from the parcel line of the sensitive use to the closest parcel line of the lot on which the cannabis retailer is to be located without regard to intervening structures.
(f) Each Council District shall only have one (1) cannabis retail site. (g) No permitted cannabis retailer may operate from a location that has previously been enforced upon for illegal cannabis activities, for a minimum of five (5) years from the passing of this ordinance or from the date of the violation, whichever is later.
10 information specified in the regulations for a license from the Department, the City's application review, vetting, and approval processes; the review and scoring criteria that will be utilized by the City in distinguishing among applicants; applicant background checks and verification requirements; conditions of approval; security features and requirements; operating guidelines, standards, limitations, and requirements; site improvement obligations; maintenance requirements; book, accounting, and record keeping requirements; and/or a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit for Retail Cannabis.
c. A Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit for Retail Cannabis approved by the City Council is required before any person operates a retail site or retail delivery in the City. Said Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit shall set forth the terms and conditions under which the commercial cannabis activities may be undertaken, in addition to the terms and conditions otherwise set forth in this chapter. Subject to the agreement of any State permittee and approval of the City Council, such additional terms and conditions of the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit may include, but are not limited to, public outreach and education requirements, community service requirements, the payment of mutually agreeable fees and charges, development and operating plans (including site plan, floor plan, and elevations), security measures, operating standards and procedures, site location and design standards, and such other terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by a permittee and the City Council, as well as those that the City Council deems necessary to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
d. No person or entity shall operate a retail site until a Conditional Use Permit has been approved by the Planning Commission or City Council. The application process for the Conditional Use Permit shall be the same as is generally applicable to Conditional Use Permits in the City. provided that a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit between the permittee and the City shall be a condition precedent to approving a Conditional Use Permit.
e. Nothing in this chapter is intended or shall be construed as requiring the City Council to approve any commercial cannabis activities in the City. No application will be accepted except during the times specified by the City Council in a solicitation for applications. The City Council's solicitation for, review of, and approval of any application for a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit is discretionary, and nothing in this chapter is intended or shall be interpreted as rendering commercial cannabis activities a "by-right" land use in the City. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022.
f. The Permit Administrator, pursuant to Section 6.xx, shall, as a ministerial duty, make available the necessary forms, adopt any necessary application rules for the submission, intake, review, and approval of retail cannabis business permit applications for retailers 11 up to the number of retail cannabis business permits authorized in Section 6-xx.
g. The Permit Administrator shall, as a ministerial duty, cease acceptance of retail cannabis business permit applications sixty (60) days after making available the necessary forms and adopting any necessary application rules for the submission, intake, review, and approval of retail cannabis business permit applications for retailers. h. The Permit Administrator shall, as a ministerial duty, review timely submitted retailer applications for the following minimum requirements:
i. Payment of a non-refundable application fee established by resolution of the City Council;
ii. Sufficient evidence of the legal right to use the proposed property for the proposed use, to include ownership, a lease, sublease, purchase agreement, assignment of purchase agreement, or lease or purchase option, in the name of the applicant, which may include nominal consideration and be contingent upon issuance of a retail cannabis business permit or other approvals. The City shall only consider one applicant per County Assessor’s Identification Number. In the event that more than one applicant applies for a retail cannabis business permit application at a given property address or a given County Assessor’s Identification Number, the Permit Administrator shall, as a ministerial duty, only accept the retail cannabis business permit application with the legal ability to control the site, including written approval by the fee owner of the land and building, landlord, and any lien holders of record on the property, that cannabis retail sales and retail delivery are permitted.
iii. Sufficient evidence to demonstrateDemonstration that the proposed property complies with location and zoning requirements described in the Application Guidelines and the Zoning Verification letter required as part of the Application, evidenced with a report created and produced by a licensed surveyor;
iv. Proof of funds showing that the Applicant has access and control of over $2,000,000.00 in liquid assets (which such liquid assets having been under possession for at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the application submission under this Section), which may be shown via a binding legal agreement in the name of the Applicant such as a promissory note so long as said legal agreement is accompanied by a proof of funds in the name of a party to the agreement so long as that demonstrates access and control of over $2,000,000.00 in liquid assets under possession for at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the application submission under this Section. Applicants and Permittees shall not be required to show that the Applicant or Permittee has access and control of over $2,000,000.00 in liquid assets except on initial application pursuant to this Section 6xxxxxxx.7, a change in location application pursuant to Section 6xxx, or an ownership
13 per store.
b. Up to 50 points - demonstrates business operations and ownership in California providing services with annual gross revenue of $5,000,000/year.
c. Up to 50 points - A description of the Applicant’s owner(s) and manager(s) qualifications detailing any experience operating cannabis retailers in any jurisdiction where cannabis retailers are permitted or special business or professional qualifications or licenses of the applicant’s owner(s) and manager(s) that would add to the quality of services that the cannabis retailer would provide, including in areas related to cannabis, such as legal, finance, business ownership/administration, waste management, real estate development, scientific, or healthcare or wellness fields. (2) Plans, renderings, and overall location – 150 points The City Council finds that the further a cannabis retailer is located away from youth centers, the better a cannabis retailer will carry out the purpose and intent of the Ordinance (in particular the use of land to protect the City’s neighborhoods, residents, and businesses from negative impacts) and that the sensitive use buffer for youth centers contained in Section 6.xxx is a minimum rather than an ideal distance to carry out the purpose and intent of the Ordinance. Accordingly, 75 of the 150 points available under this Subsection 2 will be awarded, as a ministerial duty, if the Applicant’s proposed cannabis retailer is located more than 1,500 feet from any youth centers, as identified and measured in accordance with the Location Zoning Requirements in Section 6-xxx and Section xx of the Ordinance, and confirmed by a report from a licensed surveyor included in the application.
The remaining 75 of the 150 points awardable under this Subsection 2 shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
a. Up to 10 points – A premise diagram in accordance with Section 5006 of Division 42 of Title 16 of the State Code of Regulations. b. Up to 10 points – A site development plan that provides information on existing conditions and proposed improvements to the site and how it meets or will meet the development standards outlined in Chapter xx of the City Municipal Code, including adequate parking. Information on existing conditions shall include:
1. Exterior photographs showing all sides of any existing structure(s);
2. Photographs of existing parking areas, landscaping, trash enclosure, and signage;
3. Information on existing use on the site, including the addresses, uses, and square footages.
4. Photographs of the existing site if the site is vacant; and 14 5. Photographs of adjacent properties for context.
c. Up to 15 points – A floor plan showing information on the existing layout and proposed layout of the building interior.
d. Up to 20 points – Building elevations that provide information on existing conditions and proposed improvements.
e. Up to 10 points – A conceptual landscape plan with the percentage of landscaping in the parking lot, setback areas, and tree size and species. f. Up to 10 points – Colored interior renderings and exterior elevation renderings (for both existing and/or proposed improvements). (303) Business and operations plan – 100 points
The 100 points awardable under this Subsection 3. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
a. Up to 5 points – A written description of the total square footage of the facility with estimated square footage of proposed uses. b. Up to 10 points – A schedule for beginning operations, including a narrative outlining any proposed construction improvements and a timeline for completion.
c. Up to 15 points – A budget for construction, operation, maintenance, compensation of employees, equipment costs, utility costs, and other operating costs.
d. Up to 10 points – A description of the sources(s) of capital and use(s) of capital.
e. Up to 10 points – Pro forma financial statements for at least three (3) years of operation.
f. Up to 10 points – A description of the type of products to be sold and the estimated quantity and value of product(s) to be sold.
g. Up to 15 points – A description of marketing procedures and tactics. h. Up to 5 points – A description of day-to-day operations that should acknowledge both state and local laws and should be consistent with industry best practices.
i. Up to 5 points – A description of hours of operation and opening procedures.
j. Up to 5 points – A description of cash handling procedures. k. Up to 5 points – A description of inventory control procedures to include identification of point-of-sale systems, and track and trace software. 15 l. Up to 5 points – A description of transportation, loading and unloading, distribution, or delivery procedures.
(4) Security plan – 150 points
The 100 points awardable under this Subsection 4. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
a. Up to 30 points – The security plan shall be prepared by a professional security consultant.
b. Up to 20 points – A premises security diagram.
c. Up to 50 points – A description of access control, inventory control, cash handling, and other security procedures and security equipment demonstrating compliance with the security requirements under this Chapter 6xxx. d. Up to 25 points – A description of the intrusion alarm and monitoring system including the name and contact information for the monitoring company. e. Up to 25 points – A description of the services of on-site security guards to include the (1) number of security guards; (2) the hours security guards will be on-site; (3) locations where security will be positioned; and (4) security guard responsibilities.
(5) Safety plan – 100 points
The 100 points awardable under this Subsection 5. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
a. Up to 20 points – The safety plan shall be prepared by a professional fire prevention and suppression consultant.
b. Up to 10 points – A premises safety diagram to include (1) a description/illustration of evacuation routes and (2) location of fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment.
c. Up to 50 points – A description of safety procedures, training for emergency situations, and safety equipment demonstrating compliance with the safety requirements under this Chapter 6xxx.
d. Up to 10 points – Identify all gases, pesticides, and chemicals to be used and their storage locations.
e. Up to 10 points – A description of the firm alarm and monitoring system including the name and contact information for the monitoring company. (6) Neighborhood compatibility plan – 150 points
The 150 points awardable under this Subsection 6. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
16 (a) Up to 75 points – A “Good Neighbor Policy” that (1) includes policies and measures in place to protect adjacent uses from any potential impacts (e.g., noise, light, odor, traffic, etc.) related to the proposed cannabis retailer, including addressing parking and traffic impacts and (2) describes how the cannabis retailer and its operating characteristics will be proactively managed so the business is not detrimental to the public health, safety, convenience, or welfare of persons residing, working, visiting, or recreating in the surrounding area and will not result in the creation of a nuisance. (b) Up to 25 points – A description of odor mitigation practices to include: (1) identifying potential sources of odor; (2) a description of odor control devices and techniques employed to ensure that odors from cannabis are not detectable beyond the permitted premises; and (3) all proposed staff odor training and system maintenance.
(c) Up to 25 points – A description of a waste management plan that includes waste disposal locations within the proposed premises and the applicant’s security measures and methods of rendering waste unusable and unrecognizable.
(d) Up to 25 points – A description of efforts at sustainability/environmental impact mitigation.
7. Community Benefit Plan – 50 Points
The 50 points awardable under this Subsection 7. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
(a) Up to 25 points – A description of a social responsibility plan to include identification of a community liaison and plans to aide and participate in the work of local non-profits, community-based organizations, civic organizations, or social service organizations.
(b) Up to 25 points – A description of a plan to develop a public health outreach and educational program that outlines the risks of youth use of cannabis and that identifies resources available to youth related to drugs and drug addiction.
8. Labor and employment plan – 100 points
The 100 points awardable under this Subsection 8. shall be awarded, as a ministerial duty, pursuant to the following objective criteria:
(a) Up to 10 points – An organizational chart of showing owners, managers, and employees.
(b) Up to 10 points – A description of the owner’s and manager’s roles in day-to-day operations and decisions.
(c) Up to 10 points – A description of the number of employees, title/position, and their respective responsibilities
18 the application was submitted.
o In the event that the City Council is ordered to increase the number of retail cannabis business permits issued for retailers by a court of competent jurisdiction as a judicial remedy, the Permit Administrator shall, as a ministerial duty, reinstitute the application procedure under this Section 6-xxx, subject to the number of retail cannabis business permits for retailers authorized and available (not allocated to an active, lawfully operating retailer) for issuance. In the event that the number of active, operating retailers and issued retail cannabis business permits falls below the number of retail cannabis business permits for retailers authorized in Section 6.xxx, the City Council may, at its sole discretion, require the Permit Administrator, as a ministerial duty, to reinstitute the application procedure under this Section 6-xxx, subject to the number of retail cannabis business permits for retailers authorized and available (not allocated to an active, lawfully operating retailer) for issuance. For the purpose of this Section, a retailer shall be considered operating if (1) upon initial issuance of retail cannabis business permit (or approval of a change in location pursuant to Section 6.xxx), the retailer commences lawful operations within twelve (12) months (subject to the Permit Administrator providing extensions in his or her reasonable discretion if the permittee can demonstrate that the delay was due to situations beyond its control and/or that significant progress towards establishing the use has been made) or (2) following initial commencement of lawful operations, the retailer does not cease or abandon operations for one-hundred twenty (120) consecutive or cumulative days in any one (1) year period. A retailer’s failure to commence lawful operations within twelve (12) months or following initial commencement of lawful operations, the retailer abandons operations for one-hundred twenty (120) consecutive or cumulative days in any one (1) year period shall be considered a material violation of this Chapter 6.xxx and terminated.
6.xxx: Retail Cannabis Business Permit Term.
a. Subject to this Section 6.xxx and Section 6.xxx, the term of each retail cannabis business permit shall be five (5) years, unless the permit is revoked by the City for any reason authorized by this Chapter 6.xx. Each permit may be extended for two (2) additional two-year terms twice administratively by the Permit Administrator. Permits that are extended twice administratively may request an extension of up to five (5) years by application to the City Council. The process for requesting such extensions shall be approved by the City Council by resolution prior to the expiration of the initial five (5) year term.
b. Upon the one (1) year anniversary of the date of issuance for each retail cannabis business permits and each year thereafter, the Permit Administrator shall conduct a performance review of the permittee to assess compliance with the requirements of this Chapter 6.xx. Within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the annual performance review of the permittee, the Permit Administrator shall issue a letter of compliance or noncompliance outlining all items to be corrected to ensure full compliance. In the event of any noncompliance, the permittee shall have sixty (60) days to remedy such noncompliance. However, in the event such noncompliance items cannot be remedied within sixty (60) days, such noncompliance items shall not constitute a material violation of any law and/or any rule, regulation, and/or standard adopted pursuant to this Chapter 6.xxx subject to suspension or revocation under Section 6.xx if the permittee commences correction of such noncompliance items within sixty (60) days and thereafter diligently prosecutes correction of such
20 e. If the State of California or its respective department or division reinstates or reissues the state license, the cannabis business may seek reinstatement of its cannabis business permit if the business can demonstrate that the grounds for revocation of the license by the state no longer exist or that the underlying deficiency has otherwise been cured. f. Abandonment of permit. If the cannabis business has not been in regular and continuous operation in the preceding four months at the permitted location, the cannabis business permit shall be considered abandoned, unless mitigating circumstance occur which was beyond the control of the permittee and an extension has been authorized by the Permit Administrator.
g. Suspension or revocation of a State license issued by the State or by any of its departments or divisions, corresponding to the retail cannabis business permit shall immediately result in the suspension of the associated retail cannabis business permit until the State, or its applicable department or division, reinstates the State license or otherwise lifts such suspension.
h. A permittee shall inform the Permit Administrator or designee(s) of any suspension, revocation, or termination of a State license corresponding to its retail cannabis business permit within five (5) business days of the suspension, revocation, or termination of the State license.
6.XXX Reapplying for a cannabis business permit.
If an applicant is denied a permit due to a disqualifying factor including, but not limited to, failing a background check or not complying with any state, or local jurisdictions regulatory requirements in which legal or administrative action has been taken, a new application may not be filed by the applicant for one year from the date of the denial.
This xxxxx shall not apply to an approved applicant that is not awarded a permit resulting from the City not selecting them in an application process with a finite number of available permits.
6XXXX Building permits and inspection.
Prior to commencing operations, a cannabis business permittee shall be subject to a mandatory building inspection and must obtain all required permits and approvals which would otherwise be required for any business of the same size and intensity operating in that zone. This includes but is not limited to obtaining any required building permit(s), Fire Department approvals, Police Department approval, Code Enforcement, Planning, and County Health Department approvals, and any other applicable zoning and land use permit(s) and approvals.
§ 6-6.04. Fees and charges.
(a) Each applicant or permittee shall timely and fully pay all fees set forth in this chapter. Failure of an applicant to pay the requisite fees is grounds for denial, and the failure of a permittee to pay the requisite fees shall constitute a breach and default of the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit , and is grounds for revocation of the Conditional Use Permit. Except as otherwise provided herein, the amount of each fee shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
(1) Application fee to cover the City's costs incurred in the initial acceptance and review of an application for a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit, due and payable in full at the time an application is submitted. 21 (a) Processing fee(s) to cover the costs incurred in the review, investigation, scoring, and/or selection of an applicant for the award of a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit shall be due and payable in full at the time an application is submitted. The City may charge a separate processing fee for each round of the application review and selection process. Such Agreement shall be granted in accordance with evaluation criteria specified by the City Council in a notice inviting applications, a request for proposal ("RFP"), or similar solicitation. (b) In addition to the fees specified in subsection (a), applicants and permittees shall timely pay all other applicable fees, including, but not limited to, fees associated with processing applications for Conditional Use Permits, Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit , building permits, and plan checks. (c) In addition to the fees set forth in this chapter, a Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit requires for a permittee to pay the City a fair share contribution towards the City's costs incurred. Such costs may include, without limitation, enforcing the provisions of this chapter, inspecting for and remediating any direct or secondary negative impacts of the commercial cannabis activities, and mitigating impacts to the City's existing public facilities caused by the commercial cannabis facility. If applicable, the remediation payments described in this chapter shall be memorialized in an agreement, and paid by a permittee to the City in strict accordance with the terms thereof. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
(d) No person may commence or continue any cannabis retail sales in the City without timely paying in full all fees and charges required for the operation of a cannabis retail sales. Fees and charges associated with the operation of such activity shall be established by resolution of the City Council which may be amended from time to time.
(e) All cannabis retailers authorized to operate under this Chapter 6xxxxxxx shall pay all sales, use, business and other applicable taxes, and all license, registration, and other fees required under federal, State, and local law.
Each cannabis retailer shall cooperate with City with respect to any reasonable request to audit the cannabis retailer’ books and records for the purpose of verifying compliance with this Section 6.xx, including, but not limited to, a verification of the amount of taxes required to be paid during any period.
(f) A fee tax of 3% of gross receipts is required of each Permit. Such a fee tax may be increased up to 9% subject to by City Council actiondetermination at any time. 6XXXXX City business license certificate.
A. Prior to commencing operations, a cannabis business shall obtain a City of Redondo Beach business license certificate.
§ 6-6.05. Operating standards.
(a) Permittees, and the premises upon which commercial cannabis activities are operated, shall strictly comply with this chapter, the Development Agreement, the Conditional Use Permit, the Act, and anything else required by the Department or the State licensing authority. To the extent of a conflict among any of the foregoing, the more restrictive provision shall control unless a different intent is clear from
23 the Act, to record the chain of supply of cannabis or cannabis products from "seed- to-sale." Each cannabis retailer shall have in place a point-ofsale or management inventory tracking system to track and report on all aspects of the cannabis retailer including, but not limited to, such matters as cannabis tracking, inventory data, gross sales (by weight and by sale), and other information which may be deemed necessary by the City. The cannabis retailer shall ensure that such information is compatible with the City’s record-keeping systems as well as the State Mandated Track and Trace requirements and systems. In addition, the system must have the capability to produce historical transactional data for review. Furthermore, any system selected must be approved and authorized by the Permit Administrator prior to being used by a permittee.
(9) The exterior appearance of the premises, including, but not limited to, the design, color, landscaping, screening, architectural treatments, signage, and other such aesthetic features of the premises shall comply with the standards applicable to the underlying zoning district, as may be modified or supplemented through the Agreement and/or Conditional Use Permit.
Except as modified herein, or in a Agreement or Conditional Use Permit, the premises shall comply with the development standards applicable to the underlying zoning district.
(10) Signage
All exterior signage on the premises shall comply with city standards and Conditional Use Permit.
In addition to the requirements otherwise set forth in this Section 6.xx, business identification signage for a cannabis retailer shall conform to the requirements of the City Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, seeking the issuance of a City sign permit.
No signs placed on the premises of a cannabis retailer shall obstruct any entrance or exit to the building or any window.
Each entrance to a cannabis retailer shall be visibly posted with a clear and legible notice indicating that smoking, ingesting, or otherwise consuming cannabis on the premises, or in the areas adjacent to the premises, is prohibited.
The entrance to the cannabis retailer shall be clearly and legibly posted with a notice that no person under the age of twenty-one (21) years of age is permitted to enter upon the premises of the cannabis retailer, other than as lawful customers permitted under State law.
No cannabis or cannabis products or graphics depicting cannabis or cannabis products shall be visible from the exterior of any property issued a retail cannabis business permit or on any of the vehicles owned or used as part of the cannabis retailer. No outdoor storage of cannabis or cannabis products is permitted at any time.
(11) The exterior of the premises shall comply with the City's generally applicable lighting standards including, without limitation, fixture type, wattage, illumination levels, shielding; and associated approvals and permits. The exterior appearance of the premises, including, but not 24 limited to, the design, color, landscaping, screening, architectural treatments, signage, and other such aesthetic features of the premises shall comply with the standards applicable to the underlying zoning district, as may be modified or supplemented through the Conditional Use Permit. Except as modified herein, or by the Conditional Use Permit, the premises shall comply with the development standards applicable to the underlying zoning district.
(12) All waste generated by or resulting from commercial cannabis activities shall be disposed of as required by law, and pending disposal such waste shall be stored in a locked and secure area that is under the control of and accessible only to the permittee's authorized personnel. (13) On-site sales of alcohol or tobacco products, and consumption of food, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or cannabis products on the premises is strictly prohibited except that employees may eat in an area separate from the sales floor on their breaks.
(14) The premises shall provide an odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust system so that odor generated inside the structure where commercial cannabis activities are taking place cannot be detected outside the structure, anywhere on adjacent property, public rights-of-way, or within any other unit or structure on the premises where commercial cannabis activities are not taking place. Odor control devices and techniques shall be incorporated in all cannabis retailers to ensure that odors from cannabis are not detectable off-site. Cannabis retailers shall provide a sufficient odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust system so that odor generated inside the cannabis retailer that is distinctive to its operation is not detected outside of the facility, anywhere on adjacent property or public rights-of-way, on or about the exterior or interior common area walkways, hallways, breezeways, foyers, lobby areas, or any other areas available for use by common tenants or the visiting public, or within any other unit located inside the same building as the cannabis retailer. (15) Be provided with adequate electricity, sewerage, disposal, water, fire protection, and storm drainage facilities for the intended purpose. (16) Whether or not applicants have obtained a property for the purposes of their commercial cannabis business prior to their selection, shall have no bearing on their selection.
(17) The Permit Administrator shall have the power and authority to promulgate rules, regulations, and requirements consistent with the provisions of this chapter and other law in connection with the issuance of a registration certificate. The Permit Administrator may designate an employee of his or her department to make decisions and investigate and act pursuant to this chapter.
(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
Permittees, and the premises upon which commercial cannabis activities are operated, shall strictly comply with this chapter, the Conditional Use Permit, the Act, and anything else required by the Department or the State licensing authority. To the extent of a conflict among any of the foregoing, the more restrictive provision shall control unless a different intent is clear from context. 25 Cannabis retailers may operate only during the hours specified in the retail cannabis business permit issued by the City and must comply with State law at all times.
There shall not be a physician located in any cannabis retailer at any time for the purpose of evaluating patients for the issuance of a medicinal cannabis recommendations.
A premises shall notify patrons of the following through the posting of a sign outside the premises posted in a conspicuous location near the entrance of the building:
a) That loitering on and around the premises is prohibited by California Penal Code Section 647(e).
b)a) That patrons must immediately leave the site upon
concluding the reason for their visit, and may not consume cannabis or cannabis products on the premises.
c)b) That patrons may be subject to prosecution under Federal law.
d)c) That the use of cannabis or cannabis products may impair a person's ability to drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery. Permittees shall provide the name and phone number of an on-site staff person who shall be responsible for notification of any operational problems or emergencies associated with the premises or the operation thereof to the Police Department and Permit Administrator. All commercial cannabis businesses shall be operated within the specific part of the premises specified in the Conditional Use Permit.
No commercial cannabis activities shall take place in an area exceeding the square footage authorized in the Conditional Use Permit, or the licensee's Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit; whichever is most restrictive.
All exterior windows, doors, loading and unloading docks or bays, and any points of ingress or egress to the premises where the commercial cannabis business will be operated, shall be secured from unauthorized entry by commercial grade, nonresidential locks, and in a manner specifically approved by the Police Department. The exterior of each of the foregoing areas shall be illuminated during twilight hours.
A cannabis retailer shall notify the Permit Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours after discovering any of the following:
1. Significant discrepancies identified during inventory. The level of significance shall be determined by the regulations promulgated by the Permit Administrator.
2. Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the cannabis retailer or any agent or employee of the cannabis retailer. 26 3. The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis and cannabis products or registering customers or employees and/or agents of the cannabis retailer.
4. Any other breach of security.
All cannabis and cannabis products sold and/or distributed shall be cultivated, manufactured, and distributed by licensed facilities that maintain operations in full conformance with the State and local regulations. The packaging and labeling of cannabis and cannabis products shall comply at all times with State law.
Other than as lawful customers permitted under State law in the case of retailers, individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall not be allowed on the premises of a cannabis retailer and shall not be allowed to serve as a driver for a cannabis retailer. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Chapter 6.xx for any person to employ any person at a cannabis retailer who is not at least twenty-one (21) years of age.
The original copy of the retail cannabis business permit issued by the City pursuant to this Chapter 6.xxx and the City issued business license shall be posted inside the cannabis retailer in a location readily visible to the public.
Maintain insurance at coverage limits, and with conditions thereon determined necessary and appropriate from time to time by the City Attorney. 6xxxx: Community Relations.
a. Each cannabis retailer shall provide the name, telephone number, and email address of a community relations contact to whom notice of problems associated with the cannabis retailer can be provided. Each cannabis retailer shall also provide the above information to all businesses and residences, in the City, located within one hundred and fifty (150) feet of the cannabis retailer. Such community relations contact shall respond to any complaints within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of such complaints. b. During the first year of operation pursuant to this Chapter 6xxxxxxx, the owner(s), manager(s), and community relations representative from each cannabis retailer holding a retail cannabis business permit issued pursuant to this Chapter 6xxxxxxx shall attend a quarterly meeting with the Permit Administrator and other interested parties as deemed appropriate by the Permit Administrator, to discuss costs, benefits, and other community issues arising as a result of implementation of this Chapter 6xxxxxxx. After the first year of operation, the owner(s), manager(s), and community relations representative from each such cannabis retailer shall meet with the Permit Administrator when and as requested by the Permit Administrator.
c. Cannabis retailers to which a retail cannabis business permit is issued pursuant to this Chapter 6xxxxxxx shall develop and make available to youth organizations and educational institutions a public education plan that outlines the risks of youth addiction to cannabis, and that identifies resources available to youth related to drugs and drug addiction. 27 6XXX Permissible delivery locations and customers.
A. Cannabis delivery businesses permitted to engage in delivery of cannabis and cannabis products inside the City of Redondo Beach are subject to the following requirements:
B. A permitted cannabis business shall not deliver cannabis goods to an address located on publicly owned land or any address on land or in a building leased by a public agency.
C. A permitted cannabis business shall comply with all requirements of state and local law pertaining to the cannabis business permit and all subsequent policies, procedures and regulations which may be amended by the Permit Administrator from time to in order to enforce this chapter.
D. Any kiosk, i-Pad, tablet, smartphone, fixed location or technology platform, whether manned or unmanned, other than a retail location permitted by the city, that facilitates, directs, or assists the retail sale or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products is prohibited and shall be a violation of this Chapter.
6XXXX Operating requirements for Out-of-City delivery services.
A. All cannabis businesses which conduct deliveries into or within the City of Redondo Beach shall be required to obtain a permit from the City of Redondo Beach in order to conduct retail sales regardless of whether they are located in the City or another local jurisdiction.
B. Prior to commencing operations, a cannabis out-of-City delivery service shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Obtain from the City a permit authorizing the delivery of cannabis and cannabis products within the City limits. A copy of this permit shall be retained by all drivers.
2. The retail business operating the delivery service shall provide the Permit Administrator with evidence of a valid state and local license for a cannabis business on whose authorization the delivery service is performing the delivery function.
3. The retail business operating the delivery service shall furnish to the Permit Administrator the year, make, model, license plate number, and numerical Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any and all vehicles that will be used to deliver cannabis goods.
C. Operating hours of the out-of-City delivery service shall be limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. § 6-6.06. No transfer or change in ownership
Permittees may not sell, transfer, pledge, assign, grant an option, or otherwise dispose of, in whole or in part, their rights under or interest in a Permit. It is strictly prohibited for any owner to sell, transfer, pledge, assign, grant an option, or otherwise dispose of, in whole or in part, their ownership interest in the licensed cannabis business for a minimum period of three (3) years from the start of operation. No permittee may allow for a separate entity to manage or operate their business or act as their agent in their place.
The permittee may only transfer ownership after the initial period of time and with prior discretionary approval of the City Council. Before approving any 28 such request, the City may require the purchaser, assignee, or transferee to provide the same information and materials that are required of an initial applicant, including the payment of associated fees.
A. The owner of a cannabis business permit shall not transfer ownership or control of the permit to another person or entity unless and until the transferee obtains an amendment to the permit from the Permit Administrator stating that the transferee is now the permittee.
1. Such an amendment may be obtained only if the transferee files an application with the Permit Administrator in accordance with the provisions of this chapter (as though the transferee were applying for an original cannabis business permit).
2. The proposed transferee's application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council (or if not set, shall be the same amount as the application fee).
3. The transferee's application will be treated as a new application and will be evaluated according to procedures adopted by the Permit Administrator, pursuant to Chapter 6XXXXX.
B. Cannabis business permits issued through the grant of a transfer by the Permit Administrator shall be valid for a period of one year beginning on the day the Permit Administrator approves the transfer of the permit.
C. Before the transferee's permit expires, the transferee shall apply for a renewal permit and pay the appropriate fee in the manner required by this chapter.
D. A Cannabis business permit shall not be transferred when the City has notified the permittee in writing that the permit has been or may be suspended or revoked.
E. Any attempt to transfer a cannabis business permit either directly or indirectly in violation of this Section XXXXXXX is hereby declared a violation of the permit and this chapter. Such a purported transfer shall be deemed a ground for revocation of the permit.
F. Permittees shall not have a common owner. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022
6XXX Location
(a) Before exercising any rights, permittees shall demonstrate proof of lawful possession of the premises where commercial cannabis activities are proposed to take place. Such evidence shall consist of properly executed deeds of trust, leases, licenses, or similar documents evidencing the permittee's right to possession and use of the premises. Subject to the criteria specified by the City Council in its solicitation for applications, at shall be awarded contingent upon an applicant's subsequent identification of a premises that is acceptable to the City; or, subject to an applicant's provision of an option, letter of intent, or similar instrument executed by the current owner of the proposed premises in favor of a permittee or applicant, authorizing commercial cannabis activities to be operated therein. (b) Commercial cannabis activities may only take place within the area, building, structure, and portion of the premises that is specifically described in a Conditional Use Permit. A permittee shall not relocate, move, or otherwise 29 alter the location of its operations from the specific area so identified without obtaining prior approval from the City; regardless of any possessory interest or right to possession to such additional areas. No permittee shall add additional or contiguous units or areas, thereby altering the initially approved premises, without prior approval of the City Council.
(c) The permittee shall not sublet, transfer, or otherwise assign any portion of any approved premises for any purpose, unless the City Council grants prior approval of such amendment.
(d) The permittee shall not make any physical change, alternation, or modification to the approved premises that, in the opinion or discretion of the building official, materially or substantively alters the location or usage of the premises from the plans approved in the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit and/or Conditional Use Permit, without the advanced approval of the City Council. For purposes of this subsection, the phrase "materially or substantively alters" means any physical change, alternation, or modification to the area of the premises identified in the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit or Conditional Use Permit for the operation of commercial cannabis activities that either: (1) increases the capacity or scope of commercial cannabis activities by 5% or more; or (2) requires a building permit. (e) If the proposed location will be leased from the property owner, the applicant shall be required to provide a signed and notarized statement from the owner and all lien holders of the property, acknowledging that the property owner and all lien holders have read this chapter and consents to the operation of the retail cannabis business on the owner's property.
§ 6-6.07. Minimum security requirements.
Permittees shall comply with the security standards and requirements set forth in this chapter, the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit, the Conditional Use Permit, and the Act. If any of the foregoing are inconsistent, the most restrictive provision shall control unless a different intent is clear from context.
(a) Security standards are as follows:
(1) Owner shall establish a security system that prevents individuals from remaining on the premises of the commercial cannabis business if they are not engaging in an activity directly related to the permitted operations of the commercial cannabis business and establishing limited access areas accessible only to authorized commercial cannabis business personnel.
(2) Panic buttons shall be installed in all commercial cannabis businesses. (3) Sensors shall be installed to detect entry and exit from all secure areas. (4) Each commercial cannabis business shall have the capability to remain secure during a power outage and shall ensure that all access doors are not solely controlled by an electronic access panel to ensure that locks are not released during a power outage.
(5) All security personnel shall be vetted through and approved by the Police Department.
30 (b) All premises where commercial cannabis activities are operated and their personnel shall comply with the following minimum-security standards:
(1) Security cameras.
a. Security cameras shall be installed and maintained on the premises in a good working condition, and shall be capable of producing digitally recorded documentation in a format approved by the Police Department.
b. All security cameras on the premises shall be in use 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Permittees are responsible for ensuring that all surveillance equipment is properly functioning and maintained so that the playback quality is suitable for viewing and the surveillance equipment is capturing the identity of all individuals and activities in the monitored areas.
c. All video surveillance equipment shall have sufficient battery backup to support a minimum of four hours of recording in the event of a power outage.
d. The areas of the premises to be covered by the security cameras include, but are not limited to: (i) all storage areas for cannabis or cannabis products; (ii) all areas where commercial cannabis activities are operated;
(iii) each location where weighing, packaging, transport, preparation, or tagging activities occur; (iv) the interior and exterior of all points of ingress or egress to storage areas; (v) all doors and windows; (vi) loading and unloading bays, the interior and exterior of all points of ingress or
egress to the structure on the premises where commercial cannabis activities are operated; and (vii) all points of ingress or egress to the premises.
e. Surveillance recording equipment must be housed in a designated, locked, and secured room or other enclosure with access limited to authorized employees or local law enforcement agencies for appropriate purposes.
f. All entrances and exits to the facility shall be recorded from both indoor and outdoor vantage points.
g. At least one camera shall be dedicated to recording the access points to the secured surveillance recording area.
h. Permittees shall keep a current list of all authorized employees and personnel who have access to the surveillance system and/or room on the premises.
i. Permittees shall keep a surveillance equipment maintenance activity log to record all service activity, including the identity of the individual performing the service, the service date and time, and the reason for service. Such records shall be maintained on the premises and shall be made available to the City upon request. j. The system shall be capable of recording all pre-determined 31 surveillance areas in any lighting conditions.
k. Video surveillance equipment shall, at a minimum, consist of digital or network video recorders, cameras capable of meeting the requirements described in this chapter, video monitors, digital archiving devices, a color printer, and the capability to produce still color photograph from any camera image, live or recorded. The date and time shall be embedded on all surveillance recordings without significantly obscuring the picture. The time on the surveillance video is to be measured in accordance with the official United States time established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Naval Observatory. l. Video surveillance systems must be equipped with a failure notification system that provides prompt notification of any prolonged surveillance interruption and/or the complete failure of the surveillance system to the permittee and Police Department. m. All surveillance recordings must be kept for a minimum of 90 days and be in a format that can be easily accessed for viewing. Video recordings must be archived in a format that ensures authentication of the recording as a legitimately captured video, and ensures no alteration of the recorded image has taken place.
n. After the 90-day surveillance video retention period has lapsed, surveillance video recordings must be erased or destroyed prior to being discarded or disposed of for any other purposes. Surveillance video recordings may not be destroyed if the permitee(s) knows, or should have known of a pending criminal, civil, or administrative investigation, or any other proceedings for which the recording may contain relevant information.
o. Upon request, permittees shall make available to the Police Department or local law enforcement agency, for law enforcement purposes, all information related to security alarm systems, recordings, monitoring, and/or system activity.
p. Permittees may utilize off-site monitoring and video recording storage, or an independent third-party service, to satisfy the requirements of this chapter, provided the standards exercised at the remote location meet or exceed all standards for on-site monitoring set forth herein.
q. The cannabis business shall be responsible for ensuring that the security surveillance camera footage is compatible with the City's software and hardware and remotely accessible by the Chief of Police. Alarm systems shall send real time alerts directly to the Police Department.
(2) Alarm system.
a. The premises shall be equipped with a reliable, commercial alarm system that is operated and monitored by a security company or alarm business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, operating in full compliance with this chapter.
32 b. Permittees shall maintain on the premises up to date and current records and existing contracts with third party alarm system or security services providers that: (1) describe the location and operation of each security alarm system; (2) a schematic of security zones; (3) the name of the alarm company, and, if different from the name of the alarm company; (4) the name of any vendor monitoring the premises.
c. At a minimum, the alarm system shall monitor all exterior points of access into the structure on the premises where commercial cannabis activities are operated, including but not limited to windows and doors.
(3) Security guard. At all times a premises is open to the public, at least one security guard shall be present who is licensed, possesses a valid Department of Consumer Affairs' "security guard card."
(4) Records. All records applicable to the surveillance system, alarm system, and track-and-trace system shall be maintained on the premises, and available for inspection upon request by the Police Department or other local law enforcement personnel for law enforcement purposes or to ensure compliance with this chapter, the Act, or the regulations(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 ) § 6-6.08. County Health Permit.
The City shall work with the County of Los Angeles to adopt the County's Cannabis Compliance and Enforcement Program and require the City's cannabis permittees to obtain the County's Health Permit prior to operation.(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
1) Any premises, or portion of a premises, for which the cannabis public health permit has been suspended or revoked shall close, cease doing business, and remain closed until the cannabis Health Permit has been reinstated or reissued by the Countyity Health Officer.
6xxx: Permittee, owner, and property owner responsible for violations. a. Each permittee and each owner and each manager of the permittee (and each individual owner and each individual manager of an owner or manager of the permittee) shall be responsible for any and all violations of the laws of the State or of the regulations and/or the ordinances of the City occurring within the City or in or about the premises of the cannabis retailer, if committed by the permittee or any employee or agent of the permittee and whether or not said violations occur within the permittee, owner, or manager’s presence. b. No person may engage in any cannabis retail sales within the City unless the person is in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter 6xx. c. It shall be unlawful to rent, lease, or otherwise permit any cannabis retail sales at any location, structure, or vehicle in the City by a person (1) that does not have a valid retail cannabis business permit issued by the City; (2) that does not have a valid State license; (3) that does not have any other applicable approvals, including, but not limited to, a building permit and City business license; or (4) that is not currently in compliance with all applicable 33 State and local laws and regulations pertaining to the cannabis retail sales. Property owners shall have strict liability for any cannabis retail sales at any location, structure, or vehicle in the City by a person (1) that does not have a valid retail cannabis business permit issued by the City or (2) that does not have a valid State license. 6-xxxx: Violations Declared a Public Nuisance.
1. Each and every material violation of the provisions of this Chapter 6xxx is hereby deemed unlawful and a public nuisance subject to all remedies and enforcement measures authorized by the City Municipal Code.
6xxxx: Each Violation a Separate Offense.
1) Each and every violation of this Chapter 6-xxx shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to all remedies and enforcement measures authorized by the City Municipal Code. Additionally, as a nuisance per se, any material violation of this Chapter 6-xxxx shall be subject to injunctive relief, any retail cannabis business permit issued pursuant to this Chapter 6xxx being deemed null and void, disgorgement, and payment to the City of any monies unlawfully obtained, costs of abatement, costs of investigation, attorney’s fees, and any other relief or remedy available at law or in equity. The City may also pursue any and all remedies and actions available and applicable under State and local laws for any violations committed by the cannabis retailer or persons related to, or associated with, the cannabis retail sales. Additionally, when there is determined to be an imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare, the Permit Administrator or designee(s), may take immediate action to temporarily suspend a retail cannabis business permit issued by the City, pending a public hearing before the City Council. 6xxxx: Remedies Cumulative and Not Exclusive.
The remedies provided herein are not to be construed as exclusive remedies. The City is authorized to pursue any proceedings or remedies provided by law § 6-6.09. Criminal penalties.
(a) Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall be deemed a misdemeanor and shall be enforced pursuant to Title 1, Chapter 2 of Redondo Beach Municipal Code.
(b) Separate offenses for each day. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any such person commits, continues, permits, or causes a violation thereof, and shall be penalized accordingly. (c) Use or activity prohibited by State law. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to permit or authorize any use or activity which is otherwise prohibited by State law.
(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
(d) Each and every material violation of the provisions of this Chapter 6xxxx may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor and upon conviction be subject to a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisonment in the County jail for a 34 period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Each day a material violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.
§ 6-6.11. Audits.
No later than February 15 of every calendar year, each permittee shall file with the City one copy of an audit of its operations for the previous calendar year, completed and certified by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing and accounting principles. The audit shall include, but not be limited to, a discussion, analysis, and verification of each of the records required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
§ 6-6.12. Records.
Permittees shall maintain records at the premises accurately and truthfully documenting the following:
1. Each cannabis retailer shall maintain accurate books and records in an electronic format, which detail all revenues and expenses of the business, including, but not limited to, all of its assets and liabilities.
On no less than an annual basis (at the time of performance review of a retail cannabis business permit issued pursuant to this Chapter 6xxxxxxx), or at any time upon reasonable request of the City, each cannabis retailer shall file a sworn statement detailing the number of sales by the cannabis retailer during the previous 3-month period (or shorter period based upon the timing of the request) detailing sales for each month within such period in question. The statement shall also include gross sales for each month and all applicable taxes paid or due to be paid. On an annual basis, each cannabis retailer shall submit to the City a financial audit of the business’s operations conducted by an independent certified public accountant. The City may perform its own annual independent financial audit and charge the retailer for such cost incurred by the City. Each permittee shall be subject to a regulatory compliance review and financial audit as determined by the Permit Administrator, subject to any applicable restrictions under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) regulations.
2. Each owner and operator of a commercial cannabis business shall maintain a current register of the names and the contact information (including the full names, address, and telephone number) of anyone owning, holding an interest in or managing the commercial cannabis business, and separately of all the officers, managers, employees, agents and volunteers currently employed or otherwise engaged by the commercial cannabis business. The register required by this paragraph shall be provided to the Permit Administrator or designee upon a reasonable request.
3. All receipts of the premises, including, but not limited to, all payments, purchases, contributions, reimbursements, and 35 reasonable compensation, whether in cash or in kind, concerning commercial cannabis activities, whether among licensees or otherwise.
4. Commercial cannabis businesses must record all commercial cannabis activity in the track and trace system as required by State law.
5. Proof of compliance with the Act and regulations, including, but not limited to, the license issued by the Department authorizing a permittee to operate commercial cannabis activities on the premises.
6. Any other required documentation described in the Commercial Cannabis Retail Permit required to be maintained on the premises.
7. The foregoing records shall be maintained by permittees for a period of seven years and shall be made available by the permittee to the Police Department, other local law enforcement, or the Permit Administrator upon request. If such records are not produced as requested, the City may seek a search warrant, subpoena, or court order to compel access thereto. The records shall be stored at the premises in a manner capable of being reproduced promptly and accurately. Any loss, damage or destruction of the records shall be reported to the Police Department within 24 hours.
8. Based upon the approved City-wide cannabis business tax, it shall be the duty of every owner and operator of a commercial cannabis business to keep all records as may be necessary to determine the amount of tax due hereunder and shall preserve the same for a period of four years. The Finance Director shall have the right to inspect such records at all reasonable times. The Finance Director shall determine the mode and method of recordkeeping required to assist the tax collector to perform the duties required of him or her under this section. At the time of permit renewal, each owner and operator shall submit to the City a financial audit of the business's operations conducted by an independent certified public accountant.
Each permittee shall be subject to a regulatory compliance review and financial audit as determined by the Finance Director. The Finance Director shall be authorized to engage a third-party to perform such audit(s).
(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
§ 6-6.13. Compliance with laws.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing any actions that violate State or local law with respect to the operation of a commercial cannabis business. It shall be the responsibility of the owners and operators of the commercial cannabis business to ensure that the commercial cannabis business is, at all times, operating in a manner compliant with all applicable State and local laws, any subsequently enacted State law or regulatory, licensing, or certification requirements, and any additional operating procedures or requirements which may be imposed as conditions of approval of the commercial cannabis permit. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing any actions that violate State law regarding the operation of a commercial cannabis 36 business. Except as otherwise provided herein, this chapter incorporates the requirements of the Act. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the foregoing, the more restrictive provision shall control. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
6XXX Persons prohibited from holding a permit or from employment with a cannabis business permittee.
Any person is prohibited from holding or maintaining a cannabis business permit, or from being employed at a cannabis business, if any of the following apply:
A. The applicant has been denied a cannabis license or permit, or has had a cannabis license or permit suspended or revoked by any city, county, city and county or any other state cannabis licensing authority;
B. The applicant was notified by the state, county, or city that it was conducting cannabis activity in violation of state law or City ordinances, codes, and requirements, and failed to cure the violation in a timely manner; or C. Evidence that the applicant is delinquent in payment of federal, state, or local taxes and/or fees, and took no steps to cure the delinquency when notified by the appropriate agencies.
D. Subxxxxxx A of this Xxxxx shall not apply to an approved applicant that is not awarded a permit resulting from a city, county, city and county or any other state cannabis licensing authority not selecting them in an application process with a finite number of available permits.
6xxxxxxx: Inspection and Enforcement.
a. The Permit Administrator or designee(s) charged with enforcing the provisions of the City Municipal Code, or any provision thereof, may enter the location of a cannabis retailer at any time, without notice, and inspect the location of any cannabis retailer as well as any recordings and records required to be maintained pursuant to this Chapter 4-35 or under applicable provisions of State law.
b. It is unlawful for any person having responsibility over the operation of a cannabis retailer, to impede, obstruct, interfere with, or otherwise not to allow, the City to conduct an inspection, review or copy records, recordings, or other documents required to be maintained by a cannabis retailer under this Chapter 6xxxx or under State or local law. It is also unlawful for a person to conceal, destroy, deface, damage, or falsify any records, recordings or other documents required to be maintained by a cannabis retailer under this Chapter 6xxxx or under State or local law.
c. The Permit Administrator or designee(s) charged with enforcing the provisions of this Chapter 6xxxx5 may enter the location of a cannabis retailer at any time during business hours and without notice to obtain samples of the cannabis to test for public safety purposes.
Any samples obtained by the City shall be logged, recorded, and maintained in accordance with the City law enforcement standards for evidence.
6xxx: Concurrent Regulation with the State.
It is the stated intent of this Chapter 6xxx to regulate cannabis retail sales and cannabis retail delivery in the City concurrently with the State. § 6-6.14. Interpretation.
37 The provisions of this chapter shall be read to be consistent with all the provisions of State and local law, and their implementing regulations, as well as the other provisions of this chapter.
(§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
§ 6-6.15. Severability.
Should any provision of this chapter, or its application to any persons or circumstance, be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, unenforceable, or otherwise void, that determination shall have no effect on any other provision of this chapter or the application of this chapter to any other person or circumstance and, to that end, the provisions hereof are severable. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
§ 6-6.16. Limitation of liability.
a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the City shall not assume any liability whatsoever, with respect to receiving, reviewing, processing, denying, or approving any application to operate commercial cannabis activities under this chapter. b) As a condition of submitting an application for a Commercial Retail Cannabis Permit, and as a further condition of approval, each applicant or permittee, as applicable, shall:
(1) agree to indemnify the City and its elected and appointed officers, employees, and representatives, from and against any claims, damages, injuries, or liabilities of any kind relating to or arising from an application, the City's denial or approval of an application, or the operation of commercial cannabis activities; (2) waive any and all claims, damages, injuries, or liabilities of any kind against the City and its elected and appointed officers, employees, and representatives; (3) agree to defend, at its sole cost and expense, any action against the City and/or its elected and appointed officers, employees, and representatives, relating to or arising from an application, denial or approval of an application, or the operation of a commercial cannabis activity; and (4) agree to reimburse the City for any court costs and attorneys' fees (with legal counsel of the City's choice) incurred in any legal challenge relating to an application, the denial or approval of any application, or the operation of a commercial cannabis activity. (§ 3, Ord. 3240 c.s., eff. October 6, 2022 )
6xxxxx: Promulgation of Regulations, Standards, and Other Legal Duties. l. Pursuant to Sections 11105(b)(11) and 13300(b)(11) of the State Penal Code, which authorizes City authorities to access State and local summary criminal history information for employment, licensing, or certification purposes; and authorizes access to federal level criminal history information by transmitting fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice to be transmitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, every person listed as an owner, manager, supervisor, employee, or volunteer of the cannabis retailer must submit fingerprints and other information deemed necessary by the Permit Administrator for a background check. Pursuant to Sections 11105(b)(11) and 13300(b)(11) of the State Penal Code, which requires that there be a requirement or exclusion from employment, licensing, or certification based on specific criminal conduct on the part of the subject of the record, no person shall be issued a retail cannabis business permit unless they have first cleared the background check, as determined by the Permit Administrator, as required by this Chapter 6xxxxxxx. A non-refundable fee for the cost of the background investigation, which shall be the actual cost to the City to conduct the background investigation as it deems necessary and appropriate, shall be paid at the time the application for a retail cannabis business permit is
39 6.xxxxx Store Front Retail Delivery Requirements.
A. Prior to providing cannabis goods to a delivery customer, operators are required to verify the age and the necessary documentation of each customer. They must ensure that medical customers are at least eighteen (18) years of age and verify that the customer has a valid doctor's recommendation. In the case of adult-use customers, they must verify that the customer is at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Sales shall only be made to persons matching these criteria.
B. Retail delivery services shall be limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., seven days a week.
C. Prior to commencing delivery operations, a cannabis Retailer shall provide the following information to the City:
1. Proof of ownership of the vehicle or a valid lease for any and all vehicles that will be used to deliver cannabis or cannabis products.
2. The year, make, model, color, license plate number, and numerical Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) for any and all vehicles that will be used to deliver cannabis goods.
3. Proof of insurance as required in Section xxxxxx for any and all vehicles being used to deliver cannabis goods.
4. The permittee shall provide the City with the information required by this section in writing for any new vehicle that will be used to deliver cannabis goods prior to using the vehicle to deliver cannabis goods.
5. The permittee shall provide the City with any changes to the information required by this section in writing within thirty (30) calendar days. 6xxxxxx. Appeals. Appeals relating to a denial of an application; to revoke, suspend or modify a permit; to deny renewal of an application for a permit; or to add conditions to a permit shall be conducted as prescribed in City of Redondo Beach Code of Ordinances 1-4 “Appeals”, recited below:
§ XXXXX Right to appeal. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Code, any person excepting to the denial, suspension or revocation of a permit applied for or held by him pursuant to any of the provisions of this Code, or to any administrative decision made by any official of the City pursuant to any of the provisions of this Code, may appeal in writing to the Council by filing with the City Clerk a written notice of such appeal, setting forth the specific grounds thereof.
§ XXXXX Time within which an appeal must be filed. Such notice must be filed with the City Clerk within 14 days after receipt of written notice of such action appealed from, but in no event later than 30 days after the date of such action. § XXXXX Hearing: Notice. The City Clerk shall forthwith set said matter for hearing before the Council at a subsequent regular meeting and shall cause notice thereof to be given to the applicant not less than five days prior to such hearing, unless such notice is waived in writing by the applicant. At such hearing the appellant shall show cause on the grounds specified in the notice of appeal why the action excepted to should not be approved. The Council may continue the hearing from time to time, and its findings on the appeal shall be 40 final and conclusive in the matter.
6xxxxxxx Contents of Appeal.
A. Within fourteen (14) days after service of the notice of the decision of the City:
1. To deny advancement to the final selection process; or
2. To revoke, suspend or modify a permit; or
3. To deny a renewed application for a permit; or
4. To add conditions to a permit
B. An applicant or permittee may appeal such action by filing a written appeal with the City Clerk setting forth the reason why the decision was not proper.
C. For appeals of a denial of an application prior to the final decision process, reasons shall be stated with specificity and shall address the issues outlined in Section xxxxxxxx
D. The Date of Service shall mean the date when a notice or written decision was personally
delivered to the applicant or permittee or the date when the notice was caused to be delivered by certified, first-class mail.
E. In cases in which the city can verify delivery of a notice to an applicant or in which an applicant is documented as refusing delivery, lack of receipt of the notice cannot form the basis for an appeal.
F. Notice of Appeal - The Notice of Appeal shall be in writing and signed by the person making
the appeal ("Appellant"), or their legal representative, and shall contain the following:
1. Name, address, and telephone number of the appellant.
2. Specify the decisions, actions, or a particular part thereof, made that are the subject of the appeal.
3. Include a true and correct copy of the notice issued by the City Manager for which the appellant is appealing.
4. State with specificity the reasons and grounds for making the appeal, including, but not limited to, a statement of facts upon which the appeal is based in sufficient detail to enable the Appointed Hearing Officer to understand the nature of the controversy, the basis of the appeal, and the relief requested.
5. All documents or other evidence pertinent to the appeal that the appellant requests the Appointed Hearing Officer to consider at the hearing.
6. An appeal fee as established by Resolution of the City Council.
G. Failure of the City Clerk to receive a timely appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal the notice issued by the Permit Administrator. In this event, the Permit Administrator’s notice of revocation, non renewal, or suspension shall be final.
H. In the event a written Notice of Appeal is timely filed, the nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation shall not become effective until a final decision has been rendered and issued by the Appointed Hearing Officer. Notices of appeal not served in a timely manner or served by non-operational business shall not serve to allow such business to operate pending appeal.
I. If no appeal is timely filed in the event of a decision of nonrenewal, the Cannabis
44 operate pending the decision of the appeal.
6.xxxxxxx Fees Deemed Debt to the City. The amount of any fee, cost or charge imposed pursuant to this Chapter shall be deemed a debt to the City that is recoverable via an authorized administrative process as set forth in the City ordinance or in any court of competent jurisdiction.
6.xxxxx Permit Holder Responsible for Violations. The person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be responsible for all violations of the laws of the State of California or of the regulations and/or the ordinances of the City, whether committed by the permittee or any employee or agent of the permittee, which violations occur in or about the premises of the Cannabis Business whether or not said violations occur within the permit holder's presence.
6.xxxxxx No Vested Rights. No person(s) (including any Applicant, Owner, and/or Permittee) shall have any vested rights to any permit, right, and/or interest under this chapter, regardless of whether such person(s) sold, distributed, and/or otherwise engaged in acts related to the use of Cannabis prior to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this Chapter.
Letter to Redondo Beach City Council From NRBBA Board of Directors For: Council Agenda Item N1 for meeting 9/17/2024
From Mickey M. Johnson, President
Council Agenda Item N1 for meeting 9/17/2024
Dear City Council,
I am writing on behalf of the North Redondo Beach Business Association (NRBBA) and its many business and residential members to urge the City Council to support licensed cannabis operators on Artesia Boulevard and express our concerns about the proposed ordinance changes that would limit their presence, allowing unregulated smoke shops to thrive.
NRBBA recognizes that voters have approved two cannabis licenses in Redondo Beach, and we know the city can certainly benefit from the revenue these legal operators will generate. For the residents and business owners of North Redondo Beach, the question is not about when cannabis retailers will open, but which type retailers will licensed to open.
As you know, the NRBBA’s mission is to build a thriving community and commercial district, so it may
seem counterintuitive that we would support a cannabis retailer on Artesia Boulevard. However, there are currently at least four unregulated smoke shops on Artesia Boulevard selling hemp-derived THC without oversight. These shops operate without security, without ID checks, and without adherence to state regulations, creating a cash-based market that disrupts our community. Are they selling to minors? We don’t know. Are they charging tax and contributing to the city’s bottom line? Questionable.
Licensed operators in other cities have been able to drive illegal shops out of business, and NRBBA would like to see the same thing happen along Artesia Boulevard. In parts of Los Angeles, for example, legal operators have closed down numerous unlicensed retailers, showing how regulated businesses contribute positively to community safety. Their presence offers a regulated alternative to the unlicensed smoke shops threatening our neighborhoods.
We urge the City Council to require stores to have 24/7 monitored cameras, trained security guards, and conduct strict ID checks to prevent underage sales. We urge the City Council to include language that prohibits overt storefront cannabis imagery like “420” or green crosses. Having legal operators who adhere to state regulations will make them a valuable addition to our local business environment, unlike the unregulated shops that have continued to propagate unchecked up and down the boulevard.
The unregulated “smoke” shops do not meet the safety and regulatory standards that licensed operators will uphold. Restricting legal operators with rigid location conditions invites more unregulated activity, undermining the progress we’ve worked hard to achieve creating a safe and thriving community.
We urge the Council to support businesses that engage with our community and uphold the highest standards. High-quality, legal operators are the kind of partners we need in our city—ones that invest in relationships and contribute to a safer, more vibrant Redondo Beach.
Very Sincerely,
Mickey Johnson
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important From: Tim Dodd <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 3:25 PM
To: Eleanor Manzano <[email protected]>
Cc: Paige Kaluderovic <[email protected]>; Scott Behrendt <[email protected]>; Todd Loewenstein <[email protected]>; Zein Obagi <[email protected]>; James Light <[email protected]>; Nils Nehrenheim <[email protected]>
Subject: Cannabis Draft Ordinance and Scoring Matrix - Comments from Sweet Flower - Sept 17, 2024
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Dear Mayor Light, Mayor Pro Tem Loewenstein, Honorable City Council members and City Clerk Ms.
Manzano -
Please see attached comments from Sweet Flower regarding this evening's City Council meeting item N1 - "DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE DRAFT CANNABIS REGULATORY ORDINANCE AND APPLICATION GUIDELINES"
We wish to commend City staff on their diligence and extensive work to date, and the City Council on progressing a legal cannabis store-front retail ordinance.
Our comments are provided in the spirit of cooperation to advance a transparent and open process in the City of Redondo Beach, and we look forward to further dialogue on this important topic.
Best regards,
Tim Dodd
Timothy Dodd
CEO/Co-Founder
SweetFlower
10000 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Cell: 3109952299
Timothy Dodd
Sweet Flower
10000 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
September 17, 2024
Redondo Beach City Council
415 Diamond Street
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Dear Members of the Redondo Beach City Council,
City of Redondo Beach Draft Cannabis Regulations and Scoring Matrix We understand the desire to create a thoughtful and balanced regulatory framework for legal cannabis retail in the City of Redondo Beach and commend City Staff on their diligent and thorough process to date.
We believe the City of Redondo Beach and the broader community of Redondo Beach deserve a responsible, transparent and best-in-class legal cannabis retail program.
I am writing to you today to express our concerns regarding the current cannabis retail scoring system and recent ordinance changes that are set to significantly impact the future of cannabis businesses in our city.
As one of California’s leading cannabis retailers, Sweet Flower has a proven track record of success in merit-based application processes. We have been awarded licenses in some of the state’s most exacting regulatory and market environments, including among others, Pasadena, still the most competitive merit based application process undertaken in the state, and Culver City, recognized as the most stringent in the state.
Our success is rooted in our unwavering commitment to building strong, community-focused businesses and operating with the highest standards of compliance, responsiveness, and best-inclass practices. We have maintained multiple locations throughout California since the inception of adult-use in 2018, without a single incident or complaint, reflecting our dedication to being a compliant and community-oriented operator.
2 1. The 600-Foot Buffer Change to 650 Feet: Lack of Transparency and Late-Stage Alterations One of our primary concerns is the recent change in buffer zones for day care centers, elementary schools etc. from 600 feet to 650 feet without proper notice or public input. The 600-foot requirement has been in place in ordinance drafts in Redondo Beach since 2018 and has been discussed, unchanged, in at least seven City Council, Planning Commission, and Steering Committee meetings. The sudden, late-stage change to 650 feet is both surprising and disappointing, particularly because we spent years working under the original guidelines. This change creates an additional obstacle for licensed businesses that create competition to unlicensed businesses, and that have already demonstrated a commitment to operating responsibly within the community and undermines the collaborative approach to develop the original 600-foot buffer with broad community support. We also question what the addition of an additional 50 feet really does to “protect” these uses, particularly considering the consequences of such change to the availability of commercial parcels for legal operators.
2. Scoring Matrix and Arbitrary Points Allocation
The current scoring matrix presents inconsistencies and biases that could unfairly impact responsible and qualified operators:
• Location Scoring: The allocation of 75 out of a total 150 points based solely on the retailer’s distance from youth centers is problematic. This criterion effectively creates a de facto wider buffer zone around “schools” under the guise of protecting youth centers (including afterschool programs and Boys and Girls Clubs). This arbitrary location test disproportionately impacts applicants and could single-handedly decide the outcome of the merit-based process.
Furthermore, this approach ignores more meaningful factors, such as the operator’s track record of compliance, community engagement, commitment to local employment and contributions to the neighborhood. Simply put, this scoring favors an unqualified operator in a remote location over a well-qualified operator.
• Revenue Requirement: The scoring matrix grants up to 100 points for applicants demonstrating taxable gross sales of $10 million per store annually. This figure is not only unrealistic for most operators, including many who have successfully established themselves as community partners, but also favors larger, typically vertically integrated cannabis businesses. The focus on revenue over essential qualities like compliance, operational excellence, and longevity creates an unnecessary barrier for small and mid-sized businesses. Further, the weighting of 100 points on revenue alone, which is only one factor of a business’ viability, is out of step with the realities of the cannabis industry; many players boasting large revenue numbers have allegedly floundered on financial, legal, compliance and operational issues, while many community focused operators may have lower revenues but still maintain profitable and well-regarded businesses.
Focusing to this extent on revenue alone is therefore misplaced. 3 • Community Benefits Points: The matrix only allocates 50 points for community benefits, which is disproportionately low compared to other categories. Operators like Sweet Flower, who have contributed significantly to community support and charitable donations, should receive greater recognition in the scoring. We believe commitment to the community is as important—if not more so—than arbitrary location criteria or revenue numbers.
3. Inconsistencies in Sensitive Uses: Conflicting Definitions The ordinance also contains conflicting language regarding sensitive uses. On page 37, sensitive uses include parks, while on pages 7 and 8, the location planning requirements do not mention parks. This inconsistency creates confusion and uncertainty for operators attempting to comply with the regulations. Clear and aligned definitions are essential to ensure that all parties understand and adhere to the ordinance.
4. Overall Need for Further Review and Refinement
Taken together, these issues suggest that more, quick work is needed before finalizing the cannabis retail regulations. The current scoring system and zoning requirements seem to prioritize arbitrary location and revenue criteria over more meaningful factors such as operator qualifications, compliance history, community benefits, and community engagement. Additionally, the conflicts within the ordinance’s language need to be resolved to provide clarity and fairness in the process.
While important, we do not anticipate these fixes should take long to complete.
Sweet Flower prides itself on being a compliant, highly responsive, and community-focused operator. We exercise best-in-class operations, compliance, and security practices at all times.
However, we cannot ignore the impact of these arbitrary and inconsistent regulations. I strongly urge the City Council and City staff to conduct a comprehensive review of the current regulations, and adjust the scoring matrix to reflect a balance between location, revenue, operator qualifications, and community benefits. Moreover, the ordinance language must be revised to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure that definitions around sensitive uses are clear and logical.
By refining the current framework, the City Council can create a regulatory environment that truly supports responsible cannabis operations, protects community interests, and promotes a fair, merit-based process. I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to continued dialogue on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Tim Dodd
CEO and Co-founder
Sweet Flower