Agenda Item Wording:
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Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Receive and review draft Cannabis Ordinance, draft cannabis business application and selection process, and provide staff with direction on changes to these documents, and authorize an amendment to the existing HdL contract to assist staff in a fee nexus study to set all applicable fee amounts for the cannabis business program by appropriating $12,000 from the General Fund for this contract amendment. This item is scheduled for the Work Session; if not completed, it may be continued during the Regular Session portion of this meeting.
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Agenda Date: 03/16/2026
Prepared by:
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager, devon.jones@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4190; Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, paul.bernal@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4025; Jim Koontz, City Attorney
Department Recommendation:
Receive the staff report and presentation on the draft Cannabis Ordinance, City's Cannabis Business Application, and selection process and provide staff with any input or necessary changes to these documents prior to considering the ordinance and related material for adoption at a future City Council meeting.
In addition, staff recommends the City Council amend the existing sole source contract with HdL to assist staff in preparing a cannabis fee nexus study to determine all applicable processing fee amounts for the cannabis business program, by appropriating $12,000 from the General Fund for this contract amendment. Please note during the preparation of the cannabis ordinance, cannabis application and selection process, staff noted that no fee had been identified/adopted via a nexus study to charge applicants if/when an ordinance were to become adopted.
Summary:
The consultant, HdL, along with staff and the City Attorney's office, have prepared the draft Cannabis Ordinance (Chapter 4.04) based on input and feedback provided by City Council and Planning Commission in past work session meeting...
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