Pubdate: Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/161
Note: Does not publish letters from outside their circulation area.
Author: George Hostetter

FRESNO TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD MEDICAL POT REGULATION

Fresno City Hall may be rushing into the buggy-whip business just as 
Henry Ford charges into the picture.

The City Council on Thursday took the first of two steps to allow 
medical marijuana users to grow up to four marijuana plants.

The council on a 5-2 vote approved the introduction of such a bill. 
The council will vote at a later date on adopting the bill that 
amends city code.

Council Members Sal Quintero and Steve Brandau voted no. Quintero 
stayed quiet. Brandau said Fresno should lay low until City Hall and 
Fresno County come up with the same regulations.

It makes no sense for the city to go it alone when there are so many 
county islands within its boundaries, Brandau said.

Council Member Clint Olivier said the regulatory bill is a worthy 
effort, but most likely will be made irrelevant by the crush of 
events. Olivier said he's convinced California voters in 2016 will 
legalize the recreational use of marijuana, just as the adults of 
Colorado have done.

"We will be run over by the legalization train in 24 months," Olivier said.

Perhaps the city's biggest challenge at that point will be figuring 
out how to spend all the tax revenue generated by the voters' 
decision, Olivier said.

The bill offers limited immunity for the indoor cultivation of up to 
four medical marijuana plants per residence.

Olivier and Council President Oliver Baines are members of a council 
subcommittee on medical marijuana. Blong Xiong, who was termed out in 
January, was the third member from the council.

Council Member Esmeralda Soria will replace Xiong.

In other action the council:

Accepted with considerable joy the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Controller Michael Lima said 
the city's once precarious finances have improved so much that Fresno 
is no longer in danger of becoming insolvent. Gone from this CAFR is 
the dreaded "going concern" statement that forced its way into the 
last two CAFRs, Lima said.

Approved a three-year, $450,000 contract with a Bay Area firm for a 
service that uses strategically-placed microphones to locate the 
source of gunshots in high-crime neighborhoods. ShotSpotter should be 
up and running this summer in a three-square-mile area. Police 
officials are reluctant to identify the area for fear vandals will 
destroy the microphones.

Conducted a workshop on the planning department's new development 
code. The current code hasn't been thoroughly modernized for decades. 
City officials hope to have a proposed code to the council by July. 
The code is pivotal to implementing the 2035 general plan.

Gave a cheer of appreciation for Ron Orozco, who is retiring after 41 
years of stellar journalistic service with The Bee. Mayor Ashley 
Swearengin proclaimed Thursday to be "Ron Orozco Day."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom