Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jul 2016
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2016 Appeal-Democrat
Contact: 
https://appeal-democrat-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Kirk Barron

MARYSVILLE COUNCIL PASSES SLEW OF MARIJUANA RESOLUTIONS

The Marysville City Council unanimously passed a slate of 
marijuana-related resolutions in preparation for the opening of the 
application period for two medical marijuana dispensary licenses.

The council approved changes to its fee schedule, adopted selection 
criteria for dispensary licenses, and passed a cannabis business tax 
and a resolution submitting the tax measure for the Nov. 8 ballot at 
Tuesday's meeting.

The application period for Marysville's two medical marijuana 
dispensary licenses opens Monday, and the city is holding an 
informational meeting from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The application period will 
be open for 30 days, City Manager Walter Munchheimer said during the meeting.

The updated fee schedule includes medical marijuana dispensary permit 
fees set only to recover the city's costs in processing license 
applications, according to the staff report.

Marysville's dispensary permit process has four phases, starting with 
$3,706 for phase one, $1,047 for phase two, $2,144 for phase three 
and $3,576 for phase four. The application process also includes a 
$83 Live Scan fee and a $221 zoning verification letter.

During phase two and three of the application process, the city will 
use guidelines adopted Tuesday, which councilman Bill Simmons said 
were "rigorous" and "arduous."

The evaluation and scoring criteria in phase two looks at the 
proposed dispensary's business plan, neighborhood compatibility plan, 
safety and security plan, and its proposed location. Phase three 
looks at the business' community benefits plan, neighborhood 
compatibility plan, qualifications of principals and several other 
weighted critera.

In response to the passage of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and 
Safety Act in 2015, which allows cities significant freedom for 
regulating the industry, the council adopted a cannabis business tax 
which will start at 5 percent and is capped at 15 percent. A $15 per 
square foot of canopy space cultivation tax is recommended in the 
ordinance with a cap of $25.

Because the cannabis business tax would be a new tax, it must be 
approved by voters to comply with Proposition 218. As such, the 
council also approved a resolution submitting the tax as a ballot 
measure in the Nov. 8 general election.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom