The former Sundowner location at East 5th Street has received three applications for a cannabis business. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)
After issuing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for cannabis-related businesses in town, City Manager Lorie Tinfow announced that nine proposals had been received for cannabusinesses in the city’s weekly newsletter.
In early 2018, the Benicia City Council approved ordinances related to cannabis business related operations. The council limited the number of retail businesses no more than two and microbusinesses to no more than one. No limit was set for other businesses, such as cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and testing. Additionally, Tinfow wrote that businesses would need to obtain use permits and public safety licenses.
“Since then, staff has worked to create a competitive RFP process for those interested in operating one of the limited business types as well as a separate, similar evaluation process for other types of cannabis businesses,” Tinfow wrote.
Following the Sept. 10 deadline for retail and microbusiness proposals to be submitted, the city did not receive any proposals for microbusinesses but garnered nine proposals for retail businesses. These included one proposal for a business on East N Street, three on Columbus Parkway— two of which Tinfow noted appeared to be vying for the same tenant space, two at different locations on Military East and three at the former location of Sundowner Bar & Grill on 1401 East 5th St. The latter property has been dormant for more than a decade.
Tinfow wrote that staff is currently reviewing retail business proposals to ensure they comply with the city’s requirements and evaluating them according to the scoring criteria that was approved by the council in March. The eligible applicants would also be interviewed, and the staff would visit each site, according to Tinfow. Following a backgrounding process and preapplication review, the two highest scoring applicants would be invited to move forward with the permitting and licensing process.
Tinfow wrote that the city also received proposals for cannabinoid oil manufacturing businesses, one on Bayshore Road and the other on East 2nd Street. She noted both would have to apply for the same permits and licenses.
“As you can see, all cannabis businesses must complete a very rigorous screening and approval process,” she wrote.
For more information on Benicia’s cannabis program, visit https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/cannabis.
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I look forward to someday being a headline story at this informative site. Martinez has starred twice already. Keep it on your bookmarks bar to stay abreast of evolving legislation, science, and policy as cannabis takes us forward into the future.
http://www.thecannifornian.com
When the city of Davis was reviewing applications for four cannabis shoppes, they had 13 interested businesses. Some were rejected at staff review for various reasons, but when faced with deciding which four applicants would be picked, council members expressed concern about denying a highly qualified applicant because they had previously decided on only four sites, so they unanimously increased the number to five. One is open now and the second will open next week on F Street downtown.
We should think about increasing the number of permits instead of letting a great team slip away going forward. There is no good reason to fear more than two cannabis shoppes. Let them compete.
We should practice gender equity in the selection of the first two if the opportunity exists.
The latest EDB Benicia Business Walk of East Second/BIP indicates more positive support for cannabusiness. Still showing thirty one commercial/industrial vacancies. Economic development at BIP was stalled until cannabis distillers came to town. There will be more cannabusiness going forward. Only one candidate is on the bow wave of the new economic frontier, the others are still struggling in the wake.
Shout out to our good neighbor Purge Labs, designers/builders of large-scale cannabis oil extraction equipment, and Ponder Environmental for being supportive of regulated cannabusiness.
Thanks for the information re: how many vacancies there are in BIP. Also a technical question…how is oil extracted from cannabis? I “thought” based on TV stuff (which might have been fake news), that cannabis is infused into oil (basically just soak), not extracted from. TIA
Measure E will levy a tax not to exceed six percent on all cannabis gross receipts in our city, from cultivators to retailers. Initial projections indicate $1.46 million annually for the General Fund. Few, if any, are against it, everybody wants the money. Vice Mayor Young and Councilman Campbell co-signed the “argument for”, with no “argument against”. I’m predicting over 85% in favor. This will be the only new business sector in town capable of generating millions of dollars annually. Only one candidate is committed to the prosperity of the City of Benicia Cannabis Program and will help protect our interests from the dais.
Just who is that candidate Stan? I know it is Will? Stan there will be revenue but how much. I believe it will be less.