Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2006
Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2006 The Modesto Bee
Contact:  http://www.modbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271
Author: Lorena Anderson, Bee Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

TURLOCK BANS MARIJUANA STORES

Temporary Halt Gives City Council 45 Days To Study, Decide On Action

TURLOCK -- With little discussion or public comment Tuesday night, 
the City Council banned medical marijuana dispensaries within city 
limits, at least temporarily.

Council members voted unanimously to forbid the establishment of 
cannabis clubs for 45 days while they study the issue and decide on a 
permanent course of action.

Before the 45 days is up, city staff members will request an 
extension to a full year, and could ask for another 12 months. City 
Attorney Dick Burton said it might take at least that long to decide 
the medical marijuana issue in the state's appellate courts.

A public hearing on the moratorium drew only two citizens to the 
podium, both of whom are anticannabis.

Linda Taylor, an anti-drug advocate, said she favors stiffer 
penalties for drug users. She wants the city to ban dispensaries 
until state law can be changed "to reflect the majority of Stanislaus 
County voters, who were against Proposition 215," the state medical 
marijuana law passed in 1996.

Resident David Whiting told the council that as a former 
methamphetamine user, he sees harm in marijuana, even with a prescription.

The topic was heated last month in Modesto, when the City Council 
chose to close a dispensary on McHenry Avenue and ban all similar 
businesses. About 120 people showed up to speak there -- many in 
favor of keeping the dispensary open -- and the debate lasted nearly 
three hours.

There are no dispensaries in Turlock, but interim City Manager Tim 
Kerr said the council didn't want to wait for someone to propose one 
before it began looking at the arguments.

City Planning Manager Michael Cooke told the council that with other 
cities in the area banning dispensaries, Turlock would be a logical 
place to propose one.

Mayor Curt Andre pointed out that the discussion at Tuesday's meeting 
was not one of social issues.

"We'll have time to discuss our philosophies on the issue later," he said.

The council voted unanimously to spend $30,000 to recruit five new 
police officers and make two staffing changes within the Turlock 
Police Department that will provide promotion opportunities and a 
salary savings of $44,000.

One vacant captain's position will be converted to a lieutenant's 
job, and once it is filled, Kerr said, the department will have a 
lieutenant for each day's three work shifts. That's where the savings 
comes from.

A vacant communications supervisor slot will become a sergeant's job, 
giving the department nine sergeants.

Before the motions and votes, Councilman Kurt Vander Weide asked for 
a moment to show his "unrestrained" happiness that the city would get 
more officers.

Kerr said final numbers are not ready for release yet, but judging by 
the quarterly sales and property tax payments received so far, the 
city should have enough money to cover the cost of new officers.

"People have been spending more in our city," Councilman Billy Wallen said.

Kerr said there's no timeline on hiring, and if revenue projections 
aren't met, the city can decide not to fill the jobs.

However, Turlock has 66sworn officers now, which means there are 
about 1.9 officers for every 1,000 residents. The standard most 
cities use is 1.5 officers for every 1,000 residents, Kerr said. 
Hiring five brings the city closer to the standard and does not 
account for the growth the city is likely to face in coming years.

Andre said the goal is to have 10 officers as soon as possible but 
five right away.

The council also approved a $12,000 contract with a Modesto firm to 
begin asbestos abatement on the Carnegie Arts Center, which was 
gutted by fire in November. Kerr said the firm could begin the 
abatement work within the next few days.

The asbestos must be removed, he said, before structural engineers 
can get inside and evaluate the cost of rebuilding versus remodeling.

That evaluation will go to the city's recently established citizens 
advisory committee, whose members have not been chosen. That 
committee will make a recommendation to the council on the arts building's fate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom