The Colusa City Council on Tuesday approved a zoning ordinance that will allow cannabis storefronts to operate virtually anywhere in the city, except in residential neighborhoods and 1,200 feet of the school, but it is possible voters could have something else to say about it in November.
A voiced effort to recall two members of the Colusa City Council got underway following a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, allowing retail sales of marijuana in the downtown, including Market Street, where most have voiced strong opposition.
Citizens attending the Tuesday City Council meeting said they would look into the process of recalling Council members Daniel Vaca and Denise Conrado, but even that “may not be necessary.”
Mayor Tom Reische, who made the motion to allow retail “anywhere” except where legally restricted, and Councilman Josh Hill, who abstained, are up for reelection in November and will likely face tough opposition from more conservative candidates to retake the council majority, which would then include Councilman Greg Ponciano, who cast the lone vote against retail sale of marijuana.
Although there has been a major shift on the council in recent years, Ponciano said he was one of only two remaining members that promised Colusa would never vote to allow storefronts when the original cannabis ordinance was approved. Ponciano also served on the ad hoc committee for a tax share agreement, also promising the County of Colusa no additional marijuana businesses of any kind would be permitted in the downtown core, particularly Market Street and streets adjacent to the Courthouse.
Ponciano, in opposition, read the city’s current ordinance which states that dispensaries (medical at that time) are a public nuisance.
“Dispensaries are inconsistent with the city’s mission statement… ‘To provide and maintain a progressive family-oriented and safe community.’ That ordinance is not very old, and I haven’t seen any compelling evidence that those views have changed.”
Ponciano said nothing has been presented to the City Council suggesting there has been a change in sentiment from the public.
None of the local marijuana non-storefront retailers appeared before the council Tuesday to make their cases, and only one citizen, among many giving public testimony, expressed favor for allowing retail downtown.
Reische, who opposed cannabis dispensaries previously, was the only member of the council to make a case for the allowance.
“There is a purpose for dispensaries…It’s mostly for the simple fact that people who work in there are to help the individuals who are there for the product for a reason, whether it be for recreational or medicinal, and that is the only way you can get expert advice on cannabis other than reading something in a book. So, a dispensary has a useful purpose in my mind.”
Vaca and Conrado stated no reason for their approval.
At that, Reische moved to add dispensaries to “any part of the city limits.”
After confusion erupted from the audience, Reische amended the motion to approve the ordinance as written in the draft, approving dispensaries and microbusiness (with a special use permit) on M-1 Light Industrial, which officially deletes the “Riverfront District” exclusion, and to allow in all areas zoned commercial.
While Conrado said there had been previous discussion about excluding the area of the Pirelli property (beyond the 1,200 feet from the high school), no amendment to the motion was actually made.
While citizens were shocked at the decision, they said after the meeting they were equally outraged at the procedure to run roughshod over the public.
Colusa resident Amber West Torres said she was extremely disappointed that Colusa staff refused to admit letters and petition results into the hearing, which had been submitted and acknowledged by the city.
“None of our voices mattered; the citizens who showed up didn’t matter,” she said. “They still passed it after they said it would never happen.”
Citizens who said they may still pursue a recall in November would have to serve a notice to the council members they seek to remove; have their petition approved by the Clerk-Recorder to circulate for signature gathering, and publish a public notice of intention to recall in a newspaper of general circulation.
Clerk/Recorder Rose Gallo-Vasquez said a successful petition to recall would require 25 percent of the 3,019 registered Colusa voters or 755 valid signatures. The deadline to add a recall on the November ballot is Aug. 12.■