Consider Directing Staff to Propose Regulations to Authorize Convenient and Safe Cannabis Businesses in Alameda.  (Mayor Spencer)  [Not heard on June 6 or 20, 2017]
I. I just look forward to hearing the night when I got back from the League of Cities Conference in Monterrey last week, or maybe while I was there, I emailed the city manager and said, Oh, I just, you know, sat next to somebody who is a consultant with a firm that looks at the taxation issues around cannabis sales and dispensaries, manufacturing. And and that's when the city manager informed me that, well, we actually just had a staff presentation from another consulting firm, so we've gathered good information. So let's share it. We always, you know, you make better decisions with more information rather than less. So I am very. Enthused to see what staff has in store for us in September. Based on the previous council referrals. It's already been brought in. Just one last thing, if anyone knows. It is my understanding that the no smoking ordinance that exists in Alameda is silent on medical marijuana. So that's I mean, if you're a patient and you have your card, sorry, we don't take questions from the audience, but that's it is the ordinance is simply silent on that. So so anyway, I am I am content to wait for staff to come back in September because we're not going to get it on the next meeting and we'll be back to the first meeting in September. And and I think we'll all be able to make a good informed decision are several then. Thank you. And remember. See. You know, I was looking at this referral and I think the question has to be asked and answered. So I don't see a reason not to have the referral go forward as direction. However, I also want to make sure that. We make an informed decision, and that decision will include the experiences of other cities. In contemplating what we're doing compared to where it's already happened in California, as well as other states where there are a little bit ahead of the timeline, Colorado, Washington or what have you. And also, like, whatever comes back, because I think to simply drop these components into an ordinance and approve that in October is unrealistic. I'd like to have that full information. I'd also like to make sure that we take into account the fact that cannabis is still illegal federally. And there is much of the industry, I think, and I would like to know if it's actually true. Is a cash industry. Mm hmm. So. And so are. We talking piles of money that are going to be. Well, I don't want an answer now, but I. I think we need to look at the impact of that as far as what we plan on doing here. Remember. I'm sorry. I just. I just want to follow up on the vice mayor's point. We do see what other cities do on some of these zoning requirements in these these areas, the Green Zone, so to speak. So maybe when staff comes back with their maps, you know, they can give us options. You know, if we do it like city X with this number of feet, these are our zones. If we do it like citywide, that has a different number. I mean, this is our zone. I mean, just so we can kind of get a picture in our head, you know, rather than, you know, wait for us to give direction on a number. You know, we might be able to be better informed on what that number should be based on the maps. Well. Okay. So my referral was very specific in regards to including things like preferences for owner operators who currently live in Alameda, conditional zoning regulations as well as limit the numbers of of dispensaries. But I appreciate, you know, the staff is working on coming back on September 5th. And what I would hope is that I would have the support of council to give further direction, to propose these regulations, to have staff be more specific when they come back and and hopefully on the fifth, give us then the options so that we can give clear direction. Of what to come back with at the next meeting in September of what we'll be looking for September 19th, and that's the meeting after. Instead of thinking that we're going on until January, if there's any way to move it along faster. So I. Did you want to add, Brody? I mean, I don't want to wait till January either. I mean, so. Right. But otherwise, if you want to use the mike. That's when the state regulations go into effect and when recreation becomes. Right. But in regards to coming up with our ordinance now for medical, we should be able to do that and then be prepared to go forward in January with recreational, but not wait until January to move forward with medical access on the island. So that's that's in fact, my concern. What I want to try to expedite this and at least send a clear signal to staff that that's what we're looking for, that we really do want to try to expedite it. But I. Think. Oh, sorry. All right. But I just wanted to understand specifically what so what you're asking for is you're saying prioritize medical to go into effect before January 2018 and then. Well, that's. That's what she was saying. Because she's talking about. That's what I heard you say. You want the medical dispensaries to come in before it becomes. Legal right now within our state. Right. So, yes. That right now medical is accessible at dispensaries in other cities and not here. So, yes, so that is the ask. That's why that's what the referral is about. I mean, I'm happy to clarify it, but that's why I'm bringing in this referral. I don't want to wait until 2018 to be talking about medical dispensaries. I think it's appropriate for us to give direction to move forward with that now. Just like other cities do. Maybe you're not aware you can go to other cities, get medical cannabis at dispensaries. So that's what my ass. I've been working on the issue for quite some time. I am aware of that. I'm just asking what your timeline is relative to what you're asking for, because your referral includes a number of different things, including dispensaries, cultivation, manufacturing, purity and potency, testing labs, quality control facilities and other activities. So I don't see anything in the actual language of the referral relative to prioritizing medical dispensaries other than there's a line. Currently our medians must travel out of town to purchase cannabis, but I don't see anything else in here specific to that. So I'm trying to understand what your what your motion is or what your proposal is. So to. So I do appreciate member Ortiz comments in regards to low hanging fruit, if there are parts of it that he thinks we can expedite. But at this point, since it's the medical that is legal, then that is what the focus would be to proceed with that and come up with that. I ask. A question. So. I mean, is it possible to bring back some ordinances? I mean, again, I don't really want to. You confine it to just dispensaries because I do think manufacturing cultivation are. Are. Opportunities for Alameda but to bring back some draft ordinances excuse me in the first meeting in September maybe not a first reading, but at least some language that we could see. And if it's going along the. Right path, why. Don't we bring back examples from other cities that we have looked at and feel are good? Places to start. For the council. I mean, we can bring. The, you know, recommendations. And then, you know, this discussion, I think, was very helpful because this is the first time we've had a chance to talk about it since the referral. And if we didn't have this referral, we wouldn't have had an opportunity to share additional thoughts, which I think that's helpful. So, you know, some of the other direction that came from my colleagues on what they'd like to hear, what they'd like to see, I mean, we could take that into you can take that as direction also, right? A member of addressing. Again. I think the question should be asked and answered and. I don't see any problem with bringing in examples as long as it's not the first reading of an ordinance. I think, again, that's unrealistic and I want the the broad public to be able to weigh in on this. I think the I the efforts that are going on on polling and survey, I think are absolutely critical. To in the in the real world, in the world of government governance, is to understand what the broad community thinks. And then I still also want to understand the implications of a business, a business that's only legal in Calif or new from for our point of view, but illegal on the federal level. So our taxes being paid are so our employees paying into Social Security. How do we how do we gauge. The the revenues and in the business license and, you know, all these other things that go along with when you don't have when you don't have a when you have a cash economy. You know, that's those are questions in my mind, I think are worth the public understanding. So and I certainly want to understand that before I make a vote. Okay. So I. So then, so my, my motion would be to move forward with the referral plus the other comments that were made from council members. That makes sense. Remember. You know that everyone has a right to right. So so that I think. So that I'll try that. So moving forward with the referral by referral along with these other issues that were raised. If it, if it, if it matches what's written here, I'd say yes because then this doesn't also doesn't have a timeline. So I'm okay with that because I don't think we'll know what the timeline isn't. We have the information in front of us. So I would go second. I'll second that. All right. And did you have a question? No. I just feel like we've given staff a lot of direction. I don't really see what we're going to accomplish. Okay. All those in with the vote. Sorry. All those in favor. I. Won't let you vote. I suppose. No. Motion carries 4 to 1. Thank you. All right. Ten. A designation of voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities annual conference. So who is our current series star with that? Who's our current? Who are our current delegates or do we not have delegates? I. I am in his mouth. I'm the interviewer. So apparently we need. So you guys currently are and that we need another motion for this specific conference. So move there a second. Yes. All those in favor. I motion carries unanimously ten be marriage nominations for okay at this point the nominations I have. For disability. Thomas Mills AM I. L l s. Our Planning Board, Stephen Gertler and Reuben Cellos. And those are the ones I'm able to go forward with tonight, chipping away at this. So have Historical Advisory Board and Public Art Commission next time, hopefully. That being said, then I can go ahead and adjourn the meeting. No council communications, I think. Oh. Can you repeat the council communique? I'm sorry, but. Can you repeat the names? Okay. So, commission on disability issues. We needed one seat. Thomas Mills and my L. The other commission planning board and my nominations on that are Steven Gawler, Gio, RTL E r and Reuben Kilos. T. I. L o. S. Those and then his travel advisory board and Public Art Commission all need to come back on. Now Council Communications. Actually. Did you have anything member Ashcroft did ask? I did, because you and I both attended the League of California's Cities Conference this past Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Monterrey. And so we. Report back the. There were some great sessions there when. I. Attended included making housing more affordable. We just can't talk about that enough, but it does help to hear what other communities are doing. I also attended a session on voter outreach and the California Voting Rights Act reforms, and our Secretary of state actually was one of the speakers. There was a session on dealing with outlier city council members. And also that this was really important in today's this day and age is creating a governance of governance, culture of civility and purpose. And that's something that is really incumbent, as I said, upon the council members, the mayor and the council, to set the tone. We often hear from angry people more and more, but hopefully we can be civil to each other, to our staff and. And set the tone and. There were some other are really good over the one on earthquake preparedness and always good to get out there and see what other other cities are doing and and meet your colleagues in other communities. And also, I wanted to say that yesterday I thought the parade was awesome. And then we also attended the Coast Guard festival at at near the Hornet afterwards. And I thought a couple of the Coast Guard challenge coins, I meant to bring one so I could show it. But the Coast Guard did an adorable job of minting a coin that had fireworks and the Hornet and the bridge and all that. But on the other side, it also was very Alameda and even had our little love our island logo little with the rest of some little scenes about Alameda. So there's probably a way you can get hold of them. I think Barbara Price, who chaired the parade, has access to some of them or the city manager, right? Yeah. I think you're right. Barbara Price does have access to them. If anyone wants one, they can also contact our office and we'll make that connection as well. All right. Very nice. But anyway, and as I told the other Coast Guard folks that I met, we are very grateful that they renewed their commitment to be a Coast Guard city for another five years. And we appreciate all that they do, not just in our city, but while the mission of the Coast Guard is broad and they do a lot for our country. Thank you. Thank you. Vice Mayor. I attended the Alameda County led abatement JPA meeting, as I typically do as the delegate from the city of Alameda. One thing that we covered was the fact that East Bay Mud did announce that they have lead contamination in some of their pipes in the Berkeley Hills and also in Moraga. I'm sorry, Lafayette. And so they're Lafayette. And so they're currently working on finding out figuring out a pathways forward to remediate that. And the other issue that we discussed was the fact that there is a large there was a news article relative to a publication by the FDA that there is a can lead in a lot of the baby food that is out there on the market. And the FDA won't release the names of the individual companies that are producing food that have lead contamination. But interestingly, Gerber is fighting the publication of any of the names and also fighting the report to say that they think that letter is naturally occurring and therefore, okay. So we are trying to figure out ways that we can partner with the food banks and other groups to get the information out and to perhaps press for more transparency relative to what those tests actually what the results of those tests were. And finally, we have in October. So June was led led awareness prevention month. And in October we have a specific week that we focus on. I think it's the third week of October. And so I was in communication with our city manager about potentially having Larry Brooks, who is the executive director, the new executive director, come to make a presentation to our city council about the work that's being done, what's going on with funding and other legislation that's been pending and and the work that the lead abatement agency is actually doing. Member. Thank you. I'll be quick. I just want to give a quick shout out to Barbara Price and the entire parade committee for a fantastic parade yesterday. Maybe we can just. APPLAUSE I know it's against the rules, but. And last week I was in a maybe this requires a referral, so I'll just put it out there and see what happens. But it was a press conference with the public defender and there's an effort to move all arraignments from Oakland over to the new courthouse in Dublin. So that would make it harder for any any defendants and the folks in custody in Alameda and their families to actually attend that hearing. So perhaps the council could consider, you know, weighing in on a letter to the presiding judge. It's also going to impact staff time relative to having to commute out there for arraignment. So all of our officers who have to go testify are going to have to tack on the additional travel time to go out there. Which could be like two or 3 hours. The city manager, everybody says. Yeah, all right. So well, that's. Which means we'd like to hear all sides of the situation. It sounds very compelling, but there's probably a reason. Money. Mm hmm. Remember? Does that complete your comments? Yes. Thank you. Okay, then I. Go ahead. Okay. Then I wanted to share and I want to thank we have some people here at the live in town that had created a movie in regards to gay marriage that we hosted here in chambers a few weeks ago. And so I want to thank them for sharing it. And the people that attended it was different then from a historical perspective, and I think we'll end up showing it again in the future. Another thing recently we had Relay for Life in our city is Anson High one more year. And that's always for those of you that don't know, it's a 24 hour period where people show up at the track and our police and fire. Our city had a team. We were all out there raising money to find a cure for cancer. Then we had and that member I spoke to, she and I were both down at the convention in Monterrey for a few days to for the issues that she spoke to. And some things that came up there that we might want to consider was having councilmembers speak once and timing council members, not just the public. We may want to look at that. We have that in our state. We really want to. Have 3. Minutes, so maybe we want to look at implementing that. That was one of the things that. Already been implemented we're not following. Okay. So I appreciate that. We also had we had young Dongguan Mayor Park Si Bok, the delegation from our new sister city that we of we supported at the last council meeting. And then we formalized the employees. They were here. They came on Saturday. They were here through the parade. They participated in our parade. And I know and I want to thank our meetings because I know on the parade route there were Alamitos. They had signs congratulating them that I thought was really, really good. It's just great when our in our community steps up. So and I want to thank all the businesses that supported that. It is, of course expensive. And so you know thank you to all the businesses and he Xiong Matz who was the chair of who is the chair of that sister city delegation and then U.S. Coast Guard . Base. Allen made a pact and did it one more time, stepping up with our inaugural festival. There were over I heard 2000 people attended. They do plan to do it every year in the future. And it turned out really well. Of course, the parade was was amazing. So thank you, everyone. Member Ashcraft I'm sorry, I forgot when you and I both were at Relay for Life on that Saturday, and then I went later in the day to the ribbon cutting for the Center for Independent Living. And a lot of you know that it Center for Independent Living started, I think, in the sixties in Berkeley, and they have just opened up a headquarters at Marina Village Parkway. And they also presented a lovely gift to the city, which was this beautiful, streamlined, mechanized wheelchair that would allow you to go on the beach and even into the water if you are confined to a wheelchair. And they presented it to our recreation and Parks Department. You have no idea. Well, maybe you do. I didn't know how beautiful and streamlined wheelchairs have become. They're going to be working with our school district. And I said, you know, we're getting ready to finalize this universal design ordinance, so maybe you can weigh in on some of that. But it's it's very nice to have their presence in Alameda. And I want to thank you. So I was late to that event. And so member Ashcraft was there for the actual ribbon cutting. But then I was able to tour the facility and encourage them to participate in the run yesterday morning. Midway Shelter to benefit Midway Shelter. And you may have seen we had a few people here in wheelchairs from from that center participating along with Admiral MEJA and Coast Guard members. So that being said, I will now during the meeting at 1230 to goodnight, everyone. I guess.