During the Planning Commission’s meeting Thursday, commissioners selected members for a meditation group, a representative for a cannabis committee and went over business from the city.
Selection of commission member
The first agenda item the Planning Commission discussed was the selection of a commission member to the Foundry and Office building meditation group. The two historic structures, also known as the Foundry and Office buildings, had been slated for demolition at the request of its property owner Amports. Members of the Historic Preservation Review Commission filed an appeal, which was brought to the City Council following a split 1-1 vote by the Building Board of Appeals. The council voted to uphold the appeal and later formed a group to meet with a mediator and discuss potential solutions to this issue.
Commissioner Trevor Macenski was unanimously nominated by the Planning Commission to represent them as part of the mediation group.
Representative for Cannabis Committee
Second on the agenda was the appointment of a representative to the cannabis committee. After the passage of Proposition 64, the City Council began considering the regulation of marijuana usage. To do this, the council formed a stakeholder group to help provide input and direction in determining how marijuana uses should be regulated by the city.
“It’s a hot topic the city wants to move on from,” Kari Birdseye, chair of the Planning Commission, said. “We want to have regulations in place before the end of the year. City Council has directed that. It may be coming to the planning commission for zoning purposes within the next few months. It would be wonderful to not only have our expertise in the stakeholders group, but also someone who can report back to us on what’s going on”
Both commissioners Birdseye and Daina Dravnieks Apple were nominated for the representative position. Birdseye said that if Apple was willing to serve, then she would be more than willing to decline the nomination. Apple asked if Birdseye was sure, and she said yes. Apple was then unanimously voted to represent the Planning Commission for the marijuana committee.
Communications From Staff
The Planning Commission would then reviewitems from the June 6 City Council meeting. Community Development Director Christina Ratcliffe updated the commission about Raglan Tuttle’s appeal to open a hot dog restaurant in the Industrial Park. She told the commission that the council had denied Tuttle’s appeal, and he would have to start over if he wanted to open his restaurant. Another subject Ratcliffe went over was the council’s review of fees for all city services. The last topic to be discussed was the tech plan that came before the Planning Commission and City Council in a previous meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the commissioners applauded Ratcliffe for her service and wished her the best of luck in her new position in Martinez as the community and economic development director.
The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 11.
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This going to be interesting. The chair is supported by Mayor Patterson for 2018 council election. The Mayor does not like smoke of any kind. The council will support store front sales in Benicia by a 4/1 vote. It will not be supported by certain members of the city staff.. I do believe the Planning Commission will also support it for store front sales. Lets just see how the Enviro Greenies really think on enviro issues. They will be hypocritical
Good to see progress on the Cannabis Planning Comittee. I have optimistic hope that they will smoothly integrate businesses here in town, and look forward to the economic benefits it will provide.
I am amazed that they are going to meditate with a mediator.
I do believe it will pass and we will have 2/3 retail sales outlets. But not in the Industrial Park. If any pro retail outlet person runs for city council they better hope it does not get operational until after the November 2018 election. If any jump in crime, illegal growth, illegal out of state sales, jump in under age usage or any crime issues related to the selling at store front locations happen. They will not get elected in the November 2018 City Council election. I do ,believe it will happen. But there could be many unintended consequences related to this issue. We must all remember the chair of the Planning Commission is backed by Mayor Patterson for 2018 City Council. There could be a problem there also. As we are now starting to see the new councilmember Steve Young has already unhitch from the Mayors wagon. He appears to be very independent. So running with the mayors backing may not be worth what it appears to be. This is pure Socialist Progressive politics. But we all must remember we are in the State of California. Lets all hope it goes well.
Why would you believe crime, illegal growth, illegal out of state sales, jump in under age usage or any crime issues related to the selling at store front locations? Do you have so little faith in Benicia Citizens?
First off I said ” if”. I have a lot of faith in all residents of Benicia. Where does the crime come from that happens in this city? You tell me.? I also have a lot of faith in our legal and safety officers. Ask them.. Ask Colorado. I also ended with “Lets hope it goes well”. Not negative in any way. My comment might be negative in your thinking. That’s ok. That is why you commented. Please do not try to change my comment to your way of thinking. Be a critical thinker.
Plenty of Benicia crime comes from Benicians. We just have relatively low crime rates overall, and I don’t really see why having a legal business would encourage crime. If anything, it would dissuade it, since there just isn’t any illegal activity happening at all.
But sure, your comment implying that if cannabis business open before next elections will be a danger to supporters is obviously not negative.
Also, I can’t ask Colorado… it’s a State. If you want to rephrase whatever comment you’re trying to make, that’s fine, but it doesn’t really matter.
Colorado says crime is down since legalization. That’s the trend wherever it’s legal. Dispensaries have excellent security so criminals have no interest in robbing them. Vice-Mayor Young has mentioned no crimes at the ten dispensaries in Vallejo.
Dispensaries used to be in high-crime neighborhoods many years ago, and there were robberies, of the businesses and patients leaving with cannabis products. Present day data culled from sources such as the FBI Uniform Crime Report indicate crime trends downward around dispensaries as they become more main stream in commercial areas.
https://coloradopolitics.com/despite-claims-data-show-legalized-marijuana-not-increased-crime-rates/
Also, street sales will be subject to tax evasion prosecution.
Next we need to modify banking regs to allow cannabis operations to bank without fear of Federal Government interference.
The Business Park would be a good location for a cannabis quality testing lab.
There’s all kinds of opportunities.
Dave, you are correct. There are opportunities out there. But at the same time we must wait to see what the states final outline will be. There is still plenty of time to completely vet this whole situation. From medical to personal use. There is a difference. We shall see.
Actually, I just Googled the Colorado Department of Justice statistics and statewide violent crime was up 14% YOY 2015/2014. 2016 trends, while not finalized, department indications show violent crime estimated up another 10%. Your statistics may show a drop in common crime, since selling pot is no longer illegal. But violent crime is up. Dramatically. And that includes murder, rape, armed robbery.
Great comment.
Matter, Would you agree that there is no indication that a possible rise in violent crime in CO has anything to do legalization?
Considering legalizatiin occoured before that, its a pretty vague metric. Do you have any reports that there’s correlation between the two points? Othereise, it could just as reasonably be that crime went up because it was a hotter year than previous years. The number of “explanations” is limitless, without real, comparable metrics and studies.
Better yet read about Colorado. Plenty of info out there.
I believe Matter answered that question. But I can go into it also ,if necessary. There are many sources out there. My advise if anyone is interested dig a little bit. You can get answers.
Then read about Color4ado. There is plenty of info out there.
You’re going to need to be more direct than that. Should I be looking up Colorado Law? Agriculture? Economy? Education? Give a counterpoint, don’t misdirect.
Did not misdirect. You know very well what the subject is.
Nope. You said “Look at Colorado”. There’s a wealth of resources that show that legal selling of cannabis has done wonders for state economic growth. So, unliess you actually give an example, I’m going to have to assume you’re just letting me know how much you support open retail of cannabis, and are 100% backing it.
You assume to much without facts.
Then provide them. “Just look at Colorado” is a cop-out answer, where you can just say I’m not looking in the right places until I find something you agree with. Eother provide context for your own statement, or it’s meaningless.
I am not asking you to agree with me. If you are not interested in doing a little research that is OK with me. But do not try and tell me how I am thinking. You do not know. You are not a critical thinker. You will comment back. So what.
All I’m saying is that “Look at Colorado” isnt a valid position. Telling someone to “just do research” proves nothing. If you want to engage other people and seem as if you have an educated, informed opinion, you need to be ready to provide reasons for what you say. All you’ve done so far is talk in vague generalities, refusing to even give a minor reason for what you mean. It ends up coming across as either very afraid or very dishonest, since you continually double down on being intentionally vague.
Your comment is very negative. I am not the issue. You are clearly for retail sales of pot. You stated that. I do not need a lecture from you. Not at all vague. Do your own home work. I will not do it for you. You appear to want to pick a fight with me. I am not on trial. This is a community issue. You made a stance now give us your search results. You seem to think your opinion is more important than others. Yours is only an opinion without facts. Do your own homework and quit complaining about me. Your comments are directed at me with personal attacks. It appears you have an issue with me personally? Is that true.? I do not know you . Do you know me, have we ever had a talk? Get to the issue and stop trying to attack me. A losing cause..
My issue is that you make consistantly negative remarks towards a subject Benicians have been doscussing for a long time now, yet you’ve never one given a reason aside from personal bias. Not only would the availability of medical and recrational cannabis be good for the town’s economy, it also has the potential to improve the quality of life for many citizens of Benicia. Naturally, if you feel to go against that, one would want to know why that is. I care more for the condition of Benicia as a whole than I do your feelings, and it’s honestly quite strange that your feelings are so hurt.
For all those trying to draw conclusions from Colorado crime stats (and it doesn’t matter what you are trying to prove from them):
You can draw an infinite number of lines through 1 point. You need a bit more data to remove confounding factors and statistical noise to get a trend….just a fact.
Good call, Greg. I like your style.
I believe there is enough data to develop a trend. For sure Colorado.
Really! What is the regression coefficient? P-Statistic? Chi-Squared?
What other factors could explain the data and how were they eliminated?
Opioid overdoses and deaths have shot up in Colorado (along with a lot of other states) in the past 5 years, In the last year, Opioid deaths dropped slightly in Colorado, while heroin deaths have soared. Could it be possible that the heroin addiction increase is related to the violent crime increase????
Do you see the problem with looking at statistics in a simplistic manner? Well if not yet:
Ice cream sales were, at one time before vaccines were available, correlated with cases of polio: was ice cream causing polio? Or did polio cases and ice cream sales go up in summer, with no causal relationship? These are the facts, you decide!
Well if there is a fact that DUI were up related to pot use. Underage usage of pot up. These facts are not looked at in a simplistic manner. They are directly related to pot usage. You decide.
There is more. Emergency room visits are up 77%, crime up 44% since 2012. Those are facts that even the pro pot folks can not claim as simplistic. These are unintended consequences.
It might be reasonably conjectured that ER visits and crime increase are related to the heroin and opioid addiction crisis that dramatically increased in this same timeframe. Once again there are so many confounding factors simple conclusions are difficult to arrive at.
Maybe. But the pro pot folks do not think that way.
You would not know the difference, you hateful old fool.
Petersen do you remember when you used my grand children names. You denied it until you finally confessed. I am not a fool. You do tell tall tales.
I tell tall tales? What does that mean? And, what does that have to do with the topic of this column? And, why does that entitle you to insult me? And, why does that give you the right to let people know what my middle name is (and also my father,s name)? Like I said, you have issues. Please get some help.
Even there, Bob, you need to be careful on statistical analysis. For example, both DUI and underage usage rates that are reported can be related to enforcement effort: has that remained constant? Has it been taken into account? If not it can be a confounding factor that biases the conclusion drawn.
I am just saying, more data are needed to determine a trend, no matter what trend one is trying to prove.
I fully understand that. But when those do occur after pot regulation then you have facts. Based only on Pot use. I believe both sides must be looked at. I do believe the pro pot folks will not like some of the facts and do anything to dispute them We see it on this run. I am not including you.
‘I do believe the pro pot folks will not like some of the facts and do anything to dispute them ” I disagree, everything that has been offered by the, pro pot folks, has been quite objective and rational.
Name them.
You first.
No Gunther AKA Rojee. Your turn. I do believe I just outed , you. Have you ever told the folks about the names of my Grand children you used and them lied about it.. You will not because you are a loser., Take a hike back to Oildale.
What are you going on about? First off, don’t use my middle name (which, BTW, you misspelled). Secondly, what is rojee? Thirdly,you have some serious issues. Get some help.
I do believe the store front sales in Benicia is a done deal. Would you favor an additional say 5% sales tax and a special fee of say $500. along with the License tax.
Subjective probability can be kicked around until the cows come home.
As long ass it is backed with current and reasonable time data. It no longer is subjective it is fact.
meant “as” sorry for the typo
Regardless of “is” or “as”, still incorrect
explain
There is no law/concept in statistics known as “current” or “reasonable time data”.
Then what is their. How do you see a trend. Facts and facts only.
This is simply a question of the principle of causation. No “facts” are available that support a supposition that a rise in violent crime could be the direct result of legalization/retail dispensaries, period.
Ask Colorado. Unintended consequences.
B B my feelings are not hurt. Tell us all about the negative comments I made about the subject. I think you should read what I said. Try this one “lets all hope it goes well”. That is not negative. It appears you do not want to hear both sides. You refuse to do research to support your personal opinion. I assume your personal opinions are ok. You just made a whole lot of them. I gave you facts on how the city council election will go along with how many retail out lets there will be. Also said there will be no outlets in the Industrial park. Do you doubt me on those facts. Believe me I do know what I am talking about and am very close to this issue. Try another tactic your blame game is not working.
How city council will proceed is not a “fact”, unless you are either able to travel into the future, or able to control it directly.
If you are not making negative assumptions, may I ask why you would think it would have a negative impact for future election chances? I don’t follow your reasoning there.
I said” if”. I do know the council very well and my vote count is accurate. No need to control. Anyone that knows city politics will agree with me. Do you follow the council and speak to any of them. Just curious. I do my homework. I was correct on the final Valero vote by the council at 5/0. No one believed me. Guess what I do know what I am talking about. Follow my facts and you will be a lot more informed. Try city finances, CalPers, just to name two. Correct on both.
By the way also said Trump would win the election even when he was way down. I did lay out the scenario. Again no one believe me. Believe me and you will be very well informed.
B B time for me to exit this nonsense between the two of us. I will comment on others if necessary but not you B B. I love going out a winner.
The “nonsense” only exists as long as you spam public forums with your opinion imitating fact. Guessing correctly doesnt mean your opinions are verified, and time and time again youve failed to ever provide a shred of proof of the claims you make. If you think you’re a “winner” of anything here, by commenting on a small-town newspaper and being unable to even support a position, you’re really handing yourself a shiny participation trophy.
A highly desired trophy. I am asked all the time for my opinion on issues. If I am willing to make that comment I have a very high success rate. Like it or not. I do know what I am talking about and I am very well informed. I do not care what you think. You are not an informed commenter. I am. Bye
Thought you said you weren’t responding to me anymore? Oh well. It’s not much fun when you aren’t able to discern sarcasm.
I shut my eyes and commented. Shame on me. I do hope you understand that none of this personal.
This old sage is a winner. Join my group.
Thomas Petersen these issues with you go back a few years. You started with invasion of my privacy and then lied about it. I do know who I am dealing with. You could very well be the one that does need help. You know that I also know you have in the past post under different names. It all start with the Benicia Patch. You get a little testy with me and you will get a come back. My advise to you is move on very quickly.
Livesay, So now, years later, you are invading my privacy, and insulting me? Not to mention wild accusations? Quite the hypocrite, aren’t you? Now, you are threatening me (you’ve got nothing)? My suggestion to you is to go pound sand, you sad excuse for a human being.
Cannot take it. You know I told the truth. It hurts. I never searched you out. You used my daughter and my two grandchildren to invade my privacy. Then lie about it. I could careless about you.