Agenda Item Wording:
title
Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Provide staff with direction on preliminary Cannabis Ordinance content and structure.
body
Deadline for Action: 7/21/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager, devon.jones@visalia.city, (559) 713-4190; Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, paul.bernal@visalia.city, (559) 713-4025
Department Recommendation:
Receive staff report and presentation and provide staff with direction for the preliminary Cannabis Ordinance and business application process content and structure.
Summary:
On May 5, 2025, staff provided City Council with a Work Session staff report and presentation regarding direction and input on a Cannabis Ordinance and business application process that could be drafted and potentially considered for Council adoption but with a clear understanding that the number of businesses permitted to operate in the City of Visalia would be zero, based on current Council direction, which effectively establishes the regulatory framework for such businesses but would not permit such businesses from operating within the City of Visalia.
During the Work Session discussion, six specific items were discussed with the City Council to seek input and direction on these items to be addressed in the framework and structure of a Cannabis Ordinance. The six items, and subsections of these items are noted as follows:
1. Where in the municipal code should the cannabis business ordinance be placed?
2. Which uses or business types does the City want included or excluded? What zones would the City like to allow the various business types in?
There are seven California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) license types as follows:
1. Cultivation
2. Manufacturing
3. Distribution
4. Testing laboratory
5. Retail
6. Microbusiness
7. Event
3. What sensitive uses would the City like to identify, and what size buffers?
4. ...
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