HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 546 �r
CERTIFICATION
I, Marcia McClure Torgerson, C.M.C., City Clerk of the City of Atascadero, hereby
certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Interim Urgency Ordinance No 546, adopted
by the Atascadero City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on October 27, 2009, and that it
Now has been duly published pursuant to State Law
j
DATED:
Marcia McClure Torgerson, C.M.C.
City Clerk
City of Atascadero, California
am
INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO 546
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES
PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858(a).
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS
SECTION 1 Findings.
A. On September 8, 2009, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 545 imposing a
moratorium on the establishment and operation of medical marihuana facilities in the City for a
period of 45 days. The findings set forth in Urgency Ordinance No. 545 are incorporated by
reference.
B Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858(d), the City staff issued a report to the
City Council on October 13, 2009 (hereafter, "Report"), describing the measures taken to review
and monitor the conditions that necessitated the adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 545
C. Some cities where medical marihuana dispensaries have been established report increases in
illegal drug activity, illegal drug sales, robbery of persons leaving dispensaries, loitering around
dispensaries, falsely obtaining "identification cards" to qualify for medical marihuana, and other
increases in criminal activity
D As described in the Report, there is a conflict between Federal and State law regarding the
legality of the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana, and the reported negative
secondary effects in communities that have permitted the establishment of medical marihuana
dispensaries, many California cities have adopted moratoriums on such uses and several other
cities have adopted ordinances banning such facilities outright. In San Luis Obispo County, six
of the seven cities have passed ordinances prohibiting the establishment or operation of medical
marihuana dispensaries.
E. Due to the conflict between Federal and State law regarding the establishment of Medical
Marijuana Facilities, and the negative secondary effects of medical marihuana dispensaries, it
remains necessary for the City staff to continue to study the potential impacts such facilities may
have on the public health, safety and welfare, as well as the impacts that the conflicting
authorities may have on the City's ability to regulate such facilities
F Based on the foregoing, the City Council finds that allowing the establishment or operation of, or
approving any entitlements for the establishment or operation of Medical Marijuana Facilities
conflicts with Federal law In addition, the City Council finds that there are negative secondary
impacts of Medical Marijuana Facilities. Based upon these findings, there is a current and
immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. Accordingly, the City finds that the
continuation of the interim prohibition on such uses and the issuance of any such applicable
entitlements is necessary for an additional period of 10 months and 15 days to allow for the
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City of Atascadero
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 546
Page 2 of 5
further study of Medical Marijuana Facilities, including consideration of a draft ordinance to
�.r prohibit the establishment or operation of Medical Marijuana Facilities.
G The City has complied with the notice and public hearing requirements of Government Code
section 65858(a)and 65090
SECTION 2. Environmental Review The City Council finds that this ordinance this draft ordinance is
categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA")Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
SECTION 3. Continuation of Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. The City Council
orders as follows.
A. In accordance with the authority granted the City of Atascadero under Government Code
section 65858(a), and pursuant to the findings stated herein, for a period of 10 months and 15 days from
the expiration date of the 45-day Moratorium Ordinance No. 545
1 No medical marijuana facility may be established or operate in any zone of the
City
2. No use permit, variance, zoning clearance or other applicable entitlement or
approval will be accepted, approved or issued for the establishment or operation of a medical marihuana
facility
B As used in this ordinance,the following definitions apply•
err
1 "Establish" or "operate" Medical Marihuana Facilities means and includes any of the
following:
(a) The opening or commencement of such a business or establishment as a
new business or establishment;
(b) The conversion of an existing business or establishment to a business or
establishment defined as Medical Marijuana Facilities in this ordinance;
(c) The addition of any form of business or establishment defined as
Medical Marijuana Facilities in this ordinance to any other existing business or establishment.
2. "Marijuana" means all parts of the plant Cannabis, whether growing or not; the
seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound manufacture, salt,
derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin. It includes marihuana infused in
foodstuff. It does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake
made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or
preparation of the mature stalks (except resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized
seeds of the plant that are incapable of germination
3 (a) A medical marijuana dispensary, cooperative or collective (hereafter "Medical
Marijuana Facility") means any facility or location, whether fixed or mobile, where medical marihuana is
made available to and/or distributed by or to one or more of the following: a "primary caregiver, a
City of Atascadero
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 546
Page 3 of 5
qualified patient," or a person with an "identification card," as these terms are defined in California
err Health and Safety Code section 11362.5 and following.
(b) A Medical Marihuana Facility does not include the following facilities
("facilities"), or delivery to such facilities, as long as such facilities are otherwise regulated by this code
or applicable law- a clinic licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, a
health care facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, a
residential care facility for persons with chronic life-threatening illness licensed pursuant to Chapter 3 01
of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, a residential care facility for the elderly licensed pursuant to
Chapter 3 2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, a residential hospice, or a home health agency
licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, as long as any such use
complies strictly with applicable law including, but not limited to, Health and Safety Code section
11362.5 and following.
SECTION 4. Legal and Planning Study_ The City staff, with the assistance of the City Attorney's
Office, is directed to continue to study and analyze issues related to the establishment or operation of
medical marihuana facilities within the City, including but not limited to, evaluating conflicts in State and
Federal law concerning the validity of the Compassionate Use Act, the legality of such facilities, and the
potential impacts of such facilities on public health, safety and welfare of the community
SECTION 5. Severability If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for
any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such
decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby
am declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause,
or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. Effective Date and Duration. This urgency ordinance enacted under California
Government Code section 65858(a) will take effect on October 23, 2009, upon the expiration of the 45-
day Moratorium Ordinance No 545, upon adoption by a four fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council. This
ordinance will remain in effect for 10 months and 15 days from the effective date, and will expire on
September 8, 2010 unless extended.
SECTION 7 Publication. The City Clerk is directed to cause this urgency ordinance to be published in
the manner required by law
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of October, 2009
AYES Council Members Clay,Fonzi, O Malley and Mayor B6raud
NOES None
ABSTAIN None
,a„ ABSENT Council Member Kelley
City of Atascadero
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 546
Page 4 of 5
�.r
CITY OF ATASCADERO
Ellen Beraud,Mayor
ATTEST
� I U, A 61�� M
Marcia McClure Torgerson, C.M.C., City C,l rk
APPROVED A ORM.
1
Brian A. ierik, City Attorney
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City of Atascadero
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 546
Page 5 of 5
+ . STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ) SS
CITY OF ATASCADERO )
I, Marcia Torgerson, City Clerk of the City of Atascadero, certify that the foregoing
Ordinance No 546 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
ATASCADERO as an urgency measure at a regular meeting of the Council held on
the 27th day of October, 2009 and that such ordinance was adopted by the following
vote
AYES Council Members Clay, Fonzi, O'Malley and Mayor Beraud
NOES None
ABSENT Council Member Kelley
/72, .
Marcia McClure Torgerson, C M C , Ci Clerk
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