Since California voted to legalize recreational cannabis in November, cities all over the state have debated on what to do with the plant. Some have high ambitions of complete freedom to smoke wherever they want. Others want strict regulations on where smokers can light up. The Benicia City Council will discuss the results of an online survey at its meeting tonight.
As a way to better garnering the community’s zeitgeist, the city of Benicia began the Benicia Town Hall website, a place where citizens could participate in an online survey. The cannabis survey opened on June 7 and closed on July 7. Around 2,000 people visited the Town Hall, and 1,410 participated in the survey. 55 percent of participants did not support dispensaries operating in the downtown area. The survey also found people were split on dispensaries in the shopping centers, but a majority of 69 percent supported dispensaries operating in the Industrial Park.
“We are not opposed to industrial cannabis operations in the BIP (Benicia Industrial Park) such as manufacturing, testing, etc,” Rod Sherry of Cullen, Sherry and Associates wrote in an email to City Attorney Heather McLaughlin. “Also, there was a lot of talk the other night about a large amount of empty warehouses in the Industrial Park. Please see the attached information that shows the BIP has less than 5% vacancy.”
Others are opposed to cannabis in the Industrial Park.
“It would be dangerous to have pot customers driving slowly trying to find an address of a retail store in an unfamiliar part of town,” resident Bill Southard wrote in an email to economic development specialist Teri Davena. “This is already a problem with the retail establishments on E. Second Street. Moreover, we have a refinery in town and its proximity to substances known to dull all the reactions and thought processes of its users is again dangerous to say the least. Please do not allow pot dispensaries to be located within the confines of the Industrial Park.”
Staff recommends that the council review the workshop and survey results, provide direction to staff on drafting the ordinance and potential ballot measure for a tax for cannabis uses, and review the proposed timeline for the ordinance. The City Council planned to discuss the results of the cannabis survey at its Aug. 15 meeting, but time constraints forced the council to push the discussion to tonight.
Also on the Council’s agenda, the adoption of the resolution renewing the Benicia Business Improvement District. This resolution would be a step in renewing the Business Improvement District. In 2012, the city of Benicia and First Street business owners partnered with one another to form a Business Improvement District. This partnership had a five year term. Benicia downtown merchants have been working to renew the Business Improvement District for an additional 10-year term, beginning on Jan. 1, 2018 and running through Dec. 31, 2027. Staff is recommending the council approve the resolution declaring the results of the majority of protest and renew the Business Improvement District.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight in a closed session to discuss legal matters. The regular meeting will start at 7 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St.

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