Agenda Item Wording:
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Cannabis Ordinance Discussion - Provide staff with initial direction on preliminary Cannabis Ordinance content and structure.
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Deadline for Action: 5/5/2025
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 initial direction for the preliminary Cannabis Ordinance and business application process content and structure.
Background Discussion:
On March 3, 2025, the City Council authorized staff to proceed with drafting a cannabis ordinance for adoption, but during the adoption process setting the number of businesses permitted to operate in the City of Visalia to zero, effectively establishing the regulatory framework for such businesses but not yet permitting such businesses to operate within the City. Staff held a kickoff meeting with the City's consultant, HdL Companies, to establish all departments and divisions including specific staff members that will be involved in the ordinance process but also noted that this endeavor requires some initial input from Council to craft the preliminary concept and framework of the ordinance that will be brought back to Council for a more detailed review at a later date.
It should also be noted that HdL Companies has initiated the apportionment portion of their scope of work as this is essentially a separate task from the overarching cannabis ordinance task itself, though any necessary policy updates will occur as part of the cannabis ordinance adoption process itself. Staff will bring more information about the apportionment component of the cannabis ordinance when staff returns at a later date with more direction on the content and framework of the cannabis ordinance as noted above.
Staff ...
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