Title
Recommendation to Approve the Implementing Regulations Governing a Request for Proposals (RFP) Process for Allocating Limited Privilege to Apply for a Cannabis Business Permit and the Request for Proposals. (City Manager 1010)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Acting City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Approve the Implementing Regulations Governing a Request for Proposals Process for Allocating Limited Privilege to Apply for a Cannabis Business Permit and the Request for Proposals
BACKGROUND
On November 1, 2016, the City Council approved a referral directing staff to study updated regulations for, and potential taxation of, commercial cannabis activities. On July 5, 2017, a second referral related to cannabis business activities was approved by the City Council. The July 5 referral directed staff to propose regulations to permit convenient and safe cannabis businesses in Alameda including dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing, and purity and potency testing laboratories and quality control facilities.
City Council held meetings on September 5, 2017 and October 21, 2017 to hear public comments on allowing cannabis businesses, discuss the draft cannabis ordinances and provide staff with direction for preparing final cannabis related ordinances for adoption. On November 7, 2017, the City Council introduced two ordinances: (1) an ordinance covering all aspects of regulating the operations of cannabis businesses, including requiring an operator's permit and granting the Community Development Department the authority to adopt implementing regulations ("regulatory ordinance"), and (2) an ordinance amending the City's smoking ordinance to regulate smoking of cannabis in the City of Alameda. On December 5, 2017, the City Council introduced a separate ordinance governing land use. These three ordinances were all in effect as of January 18, 2018.
The regulatory ordinance requires a Cannabis Business Ope...
Click here for full text