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RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
City Council
February 28, 2023
CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT PROGRAM
RMC AMENDMENTS
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
RiversideCA.gov
2 2017
• Moratorium on commercial marijuana activity
• Adopted Ordinance No. 7398 to permit and regulate
Cannabis Testing Laboratories in industrial zones
2018
• Staff directed to prepare an ordinance prohibiting
cannabis businesses
• City Council approved Amendments to RMC prohibiting
commercial cannabis uses within City limits
BACKGROUND
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RiversideCA.gov
3 City receives Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition for the Riverside Cannabis Taxation and Regulation Act
BACKGROUND – SEPTEMBER 2021
Two options for City
Council consideration
on the Petition
Call an election to
place the initiative
petition on the
ballot; or
Adopt the proposed
initiative petition
without revisions.
RiversideCA.gov
4 Committee meeting to consider legalization
City Staff Team assembled:
• City Manager’s Office
• City Attorney’s Office
• City Clerk’s Office
• Community & Economic Development Department
• Police Departments
BACKGROUND – NOVEMBER 2021
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5 Immediate Actions
• Title 5 - Business Taxes,
Licenses and Regulations
amendments
• Title 9 - Peace, Safety and
Morals amendments to
clean up and consistency
• Title 19 - Zoning
amendments related to
land use regulations
Future Actions
• Conduct a financial
analysis on potential
revenue
• Cannabis tax ballot
measure in 2024
BACKGROUND - MARCH 2022
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6 Direction from Committee
Draft Amendments completed (Title 5, Title 9 and Title 19) BACKGROUND - OCTOBER 2022
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7 Title 5 -
Business
Taxes,
Licenses
and
Regulations
• Regulates the commercial sale, delivery
and testing
• Implements the provisions of the Medicinal
and Adult Use Cannabis Regulations and
Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”)
DISCUSSION – MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES
RiversideCA.gov
8 • Application procedures
• Background checks
• Sets limit of 14 Retail Cannabis Business permits
• Store-front retail businesses are allowed to have a delivery service component
• Allows Cannabis Warehousing or Manufacturing with no
limit on number of permits
• Community Benefits
• Issued and Enforced by City Manager
DISCUSSION –MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES
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9 • Appeal process
• Security measures
• Operational regulations
• Odor Control
• Legal age allowed on the premise
• Background checks
• Proximity to sensitive uses
DISCUSSION – MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES
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10 SENSITIVE USES BUFFER – STAFF RECOMMENDATION
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11 SENSITIVE USES BUFFER – COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
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12 Option 1
• 18-month pause
•P u r s u e G O - B i z
Cannabis Equity
Grant (Dec. 2023)
•C o n d u c t s t u d y
•U p d a t e P r o g r a m
Option 2
•6 - m o n t h p a u s e
• Procure consultant
to perform equity
study (no grant)
•C o n d u c t s t u d y
•U p d a t e P r o g r a m
Option 3
•A d o p t P r o g r a m
• Hold some permits in
reserve
• Pursue equity study
(Option 1 or 2)
• Issue remaining
permits
EQUITY STUDY
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RiversideCA.gov
13 DISCUSSION – RMC CHANGES
Title 19 – Zoning
• Modified to be consistent with Title 5
• Revised Land Use Table
• No new uses were introduced
• Planning Commission recommended approval on January
19, 2023
Title 9 – Peace, Safety and Morals
• Modified to be consistent with Title 5
RiversideCA.gov
14 March – June
2023
• Develop application
Procedure Guidelines and
Review Criteria
(CMO/Consultant)
• Conduct fee study
(Finance)
• Council adoption –
Guidelines and Criteria
(CMO)
July – October
2023
• Potential application period
(CMO)
• Prepare Fiscal Impact
Analysis for sales tax
measure (Finance)
• Develop language for sales
tax measure (Clerk)
November 2023 –
2024
• Place sales tax measure on
ballot (Clerk)
• General Election –
November 5, 2024
NEXT STEPS
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RiversideCA.gov
15 STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Community Trust
Equity
Fiscal Responsibility
Innovation
Sustainability &
Resiliency
#5 High Performing Government
#3 Economic Opportunity
Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan Priorities
Cross-Cutting Threads
RiversideCA.gov
16 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. DETERMINE the proposed Amendments exempt from further California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule),
2. APPROVE Planning Case PR-2022-001435 to amend Title 19 of the Riverside Municipal Code related to the proposed Cannabis Business Permit Program; and
3. INTRODUCE and subsequently adopt the attached Ordinances amending Titles 5, 9, and 19 related to cannabis business activities
4. PROVIDE DIRECTION on future actions to implement a Cannabis Business Permit Program including a Cannabis Equity Program. 15 16
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17 REFERENCE ONLY SLIDE
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18 REFERENCE ONLY SLIDE
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