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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2017/12/12 Wkshp City of Chula Vista Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday, December 12,2017 6:00 PM Council Chambers 276 4th Avenue, Building A Chula Vista,CA 91910 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 6:12 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE Councilmember Diaz led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmember Aguilar, Councilmember Diaz, Deputy Mayor McCann, Councilmember Padilla and Mayor Casillas Salas Also Present: City Manager Halbert, City Attorney Googins, City Clerk Bigelow, and Deputy City Clerk Larrarte WORKSHOP 1. 17-0537 CANNABIS (MARIJUANA) POLICY IN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA As a follow up to the City's previous discussions on this topic, staff will present to Council a draft ordinance outlining potential changes to the City's current policy prohibiting all commercial cannabis activity in Chula Vista, including a future process for permitting and regulating such activity. Staff will seek consideration and feedback from the Council on the draft ordinance. Deputy City Manager Bacon, Deputy City Attorney McClurg, Development Services Director Broughton and City Attorney Googins presented the draft ordinance and responded to questions from the Council. Deputy Mayor McCann, Councilmember Padilla, and Councilmember Diaz expressed concern regarding the proposed lottery system and recommended considering applicants'qualifications. Councilmember Diaz spoke in support of increasing the proposed setbacks, including a formal definition of"sensitive receptors,"and he spoke in support of a skilled and trained workforce. Mayor Casillas Sa/as spoke regarding requirements for retail employees and requested additional information regarding including labor peace agreement language. She distributed additional information to the Council. John Acosta, Chula Vista resident, expressed concern regarding retail cannabis activities and requested additional information on the draft ordinance. City of Chula Vista Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes-Final December 12,2017 Lupe Ruiz, Chula Vista resident, expressed concern regarding cannabis use in public, employee training, and application fees. Dorian Zaentz, Chula Vista resident, spoke about the medical benefits of cannabis. The following members of the public spoke in support of the proposed ordinance and offered suggested modifications: -Sam Elhomsy, Chula Vista resident -Alexis Del Castillo, Chula Vista resident -Daniel Green, Chula Vista resident -Cynara Velazquez, representing the Association of Cannabis Professionals -Gina Austin, San Diego resident -Michelle Reynoso, Chula Vista resident -Dallin Young, representing the Association of Cannabis Professionals -Denise Price, representing Eaze -Jessica McElfresh, representing Citizens for Safe Access -Sapphire Blackwood, representing the Association of Cannabis Professionals Janice Draper, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance. The following members of the public spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance and offered suggested modifications: -William Perno, Chula Vista resident -Lisa Martin Goodsell, Bonita resident Manolo Guillen, Chula Vista resident The following members of the public spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance: -Kathleen Lippitt, Poway resident -Susan Wilcox, Chula Vista business owner -Judi Strang, Chula Vista resident, representing the Parent-Teacher Association -Carol Green, Chula Vista resident Councilmember Aguilar expressed concern that the proposed setbacks would not result in enough available properties to allow 3 storefronts in each district. She requested additional information regarding the issue of storefront deliveries and also spoke in support of allowing storefronts to sell products only for adult use and not medical. Councilmember Diaz spoke in support of not allowing the sale of medical use products in retail locations, starting with a fewer number of retail locations, the possibility of a city employee taking on role of community liaison, limiting the conditional use permits to one year, ensuring funding for public safety and education would be available, and strict application requirements to ensure applicants with no criminal history. He recommended including offsite storage for security video, re-examining setbacks to consider allowing a storefront in areas such as 3rd Ave, and he requested more information regarding state regulations on alcohol business advertising. Councilmember Padilla requested data on medical marijuana prohibition and on issues associated with storefront operations also providing delivery. He agreed with Councilmember Aguilar regarding the availability of properties. He clarified that greenhouses are considered enclosed. He agreed with Councilmember Diaz regarding strict application requirements to ensure quality applicants. He requested the clarification of certain definitions to clean up ambiguity, endorsed labor peace agreement language and requested additional information regarding deliveries to the City from outside the City. Councilmember Padilla spoke in support of any changes to the allowable number of licenses being made at the legislative level by the Council or the voters, and not at the administrative level. City of Chula Vista Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes-Final December 12,2017 Deputy Mayor McCann spoke in support of one dispensary per district to start. He did not support a lottery system, and recommended that candidates' qualifications be considered. He recommended that funding from retail operations go to the Police and City Attorney for enforcement. Mayor Casillas Salas spoke in opposition to reducing the number of dispensaries. City Attorney Googins spoke regarding the applicant selection process. There was consensus of the Council to direct staff to return to Council in January with a draft ordinance for further discussion that incorporated the Council's feedback. There was consensus of the Council to direct staff to research the following topics and make recommendations to the Council: whether or not to allow storefronts to deliver, medical and recreation use in storefronts, applicant selection criteria (lottery or merit-based), and options to address setbacks and separation. ADJOURNMENT At 9:30 p.m., Mayor Casillas Salas adjourned the meeting to the Regular City Council Meeting on December 19, 2017 at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers. Kerry . Bigelo MMC, City Clerk City of Chula Vista Page 3