WILLITS, 1/11/17 — The City of Willits cannabis working group will be discussing potential changes to Willits’ cannabis business ban at the city council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6:30pm. The agenda item is described as “Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Establishment of a Regulatory Framework for Cannabis Activities.”
The group was formed in order to discuss possible changes to the current ban on cultivation and cannabis businesses within city limits, and met several times in the fall with members of the public to discuss potentially allowing such businesses to operate within city limits. Several locals and out-of-county business owners and investors have attended both working group and city council meetings expressing their desire to open a variety of cannabis-related businesses if permitted by the city.
The composition of the working group and the positions towards cannabis on the current city council are not currently clear. Two new members of the Willits City Council were elected in November, including now Mayor Gerry Gonzalez (former Police Chief of the Willits Police Department) and Councilwoman Saprina Rodriguez, both of whom attended the cannabis working group meeting prior to the election. Holly Madrigal and Bruce Burton, who had taken positions in support of and against reconsidering the ban, respectively, are no longer on the council. It is also unclear whether the working group has developed draft regulations to bring before the full city council.
City Manager Adrienne Moore said that there were no supporting documents for this particular agenda item, noting the working group had not finalized recommendations that she could provide to the public. In an email, Moore wrote that: “After some discussion, we have not distributed anything further. Although the working group met several times, there was no clear consensus. Therefore, we are seeking clear direction from the full council tomorrow night before further staff time is put into drafting something that could be drastically different from what our new Council would like to see.”
See our previous coverage of the cannabis debate in Willits here and here.
All members of the public are welcome to provide public comment of up to 3 minutes for each agenda item under discussion. The meeting will also include a discussion of creating an “Memorandum of Understanding” with Willits Unified School District and a variety of informational and other items. Meetings are held at 111 East Commercial Street in Willits in the City Council chambers.
The full agenda for the council meeting can be seen below.
OPENING MATTERS – a) Call to Order; b) Pledge to Flag; c) Roll Call
2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Council welcomes participation in its meetings. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person so that everyone may be given an opportunity to be heard. To expedite matters and avoid repetition, whenever any group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, the Mayor may request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group.
This item is limited to matters under the jurisdiction of the City Council which are not on the posted agenda. Public criticism of the City Council, Commission, Boards and Agencies will not be prohibited. No action shall be taken.
3. PUBLIC MATTERS
a. Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Establishment of a Regulatory Framework for Cannabis Activities
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by a single motion and roll call vote by the City Council. Items may be removed from the Consent Calendar upon request of a Councilmember and acted upon separately by the City Council.
The following items are recommended for approval, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
December 14, 2016 Pulled by City Clerk
b. Disbursements Journal(s):
- Warrant Nos. 29605 – 29611, Totaling $22,410.24
- Warrant Nos. 29613 – 29694, Totaling $374,743.86
- Warrant Nos. 29695 – 29716, Totaling $52,744.94
- Warrant Nos. 29717 – 29754, Totaling $54,150.35
c. Resolution Declaring Acceptance of Grant Offers from the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) for Airport Projects for the Safety and Compliance of Willits Municipal Airport (Ells Field)
5. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
Matters that do no require action by the City Council but are of public interest.
a. Building Inspection Activity Report
b. Sales Tax Summary Report
c. Water Consumption & Revenue Chart
6. RIGHT TO APPEAL
Persons who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the City Council may have the right to a review of that decision by a court. The City has adopted Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits to 90 days the time within which the decisions of the City boards and agencies may be judicially challenged.
7. COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES
The Willits City Council meets concurrently as the City of Willits Planning Commission and City of Willits Successor Agency.
a. SITTING AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY – Resolution to Approve Recognized Obligation
Payment Schedule 2017-18 and Administrative Budget for July 2017 Through June 2018
Willits City Council Agenda – January 11, 2017 Page 2 of 2
8. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Willits
Unified School District for Lease, Management, Repairs, and Maintenance of Certain
Facilities Owned by the City
b. Verbal Reports – No Action
9. DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Administration (City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, Legal)
b. Public Safety
c. Community Development (Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement)
d. Public Works & Engineering (including Water and Wastewater Systems)
10. CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. League of California Cities
b. Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG)
c. Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
d. Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority-Joint Powers Authority (MSWMA-JPA)
e. Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)
f. Finance Committee
g. Revit-ED Committee
h. Water & Wastewater Systems Committee
i. Ad Hoc Committees
j. Other Committee Reports
11. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Mayor’s Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees for 2017
b. Resolution Appointing Representatives to Represent and Vote on Behalf of the City at the
League of California Cities’ Redwood Empire Division Business Meetings and Division
Legislative Committee Meetings
12. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES
13. GOOD & WELFARE
14. CLOSED SESSION NOTICE
15. ADJOURNMENT