Cannabis and a city employment agreement are the big two items the Benicia City Council will be discussing Tuesday.
The council will be voting on the first reading of the cannabis ordinance and resolution to establish regulatory restrictions and procedures for cannabis use by amending various sections of the Benicia Municipal Code, including zoning and the Downtown Mixed-Use Master Plan after determining the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, which legalized recreational cannabis in California for those ages 21 and older. The council adopted a temporary moratorium in January while directing staff to gather information and solicit feedback from the public. The moratorium expires on Dec. 1, and the council gave further direction at its Sept. 19 meeting.
The council could vote on the Planning Commission’s recommendation of one cannabis retailer, one microbusiness that allows retail in the Lower Arsenal, no large-scale cultivation, and no retail in the downtown area, if the council’s discussion leads them down that path.
The decision has drawn mixed feedback from the community. In a letter sent to the city by Kelly Hughes, an educator at Joe Henderson Elementary School, the teacher wrote, “Allowing dispensaries so close to our school may be legal and therefore the easy decision to make. However, just because it is easy does not make it the right decision for Benicia. I truly hope that you will strongly reconsider their vote, as it pertains to the location of these businesses as you move forward in finalizing this ordinance.”
However, an email to City Attorney Heather McLaughlin by Jano Dekermenjian, the senior associate of government affairs for the dispensary review website Weedmaps, suggested benefits to licensing retail dispensaries.
“I encourage the city to consider licensing more than two retail licenses,” he wrote. “We have consistently seen across legalized jurisdictions that without sufficient levels of retail density and reasonable access it is difficult to control the illegal cannabis market…If the city is reluctant to permit additional retail storefronts, I suggest permitting independent delivery services. With effective regulation, technology platforms for delivery and seed-to-sale tracking can be utilized to offer delivery services without any loss in accountability or product traceability. Every transaction, product and delivery can be tracked and accounted for to preserve public safety and public health.”
Also on the agenda, the council will discuss amending the employment agreement between the ity of Benicia and McLaughlin, as well as discontinue Employer Paid Member Contributions into the California Public Retirement System for the city attorney. It has been recommended by staff that the council adopt the resolution and approve the agreement with McLaughlin and adopt the resolution discontinuing the EPMC.
In other Business, the council will vote to support the nomination of the historic sections of the Benicia City Cemetery for listing on the California State Register of Historical Resources and possibly the National Register of Historic Places. This nomination was also supported by the Historic Preservation Review Commission at its Oct. 26 meeting.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 in a closed session to discuss legal matters. The regular meeting will start at 7 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 250 East L St.

Sharing is caring!