HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 11-09 CC SP MIN (2)MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL
CANNABIS WORKSHOP
November 9, 2021
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistentwith State
of California Assembly Bill No. 361, approved by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:33 p.m. by Mayor Sotelo-Solis.
ROLL CALL
C un ilmer bens present: Bush, Morrison (arrived at 5:12 p.m.), Rios, Rodriguez, and Sotelo-
Solis.
Administrative Officials present: Raulston, Winney, Bell Jr., Chapel, Gamwell
Consultant: Kyle Tankard
PUBLIC COMMENT
Six verbal commentswere registered and heard: Janice Luna Reynoso, Alex Scherer, Michelle
Luna Reynosot Duke Valderrama, Laura Wilkinson, and Sara Ochoa.
Three written comments were received and read into the record: Nancy Estolan, Zachary
Gomez, and Jacqueline Reynoso.
CANNABIS ABIS WORKSHOP
1. Cannabis Workshop
a. Recap of June 15th Workshop
b. Application Survey Results
c. Report on Comparable Cities' Social Equity Program
d. Local 1 social Equity components of Ordinance and Application
e. Cannabis Application
f. Development Agreement
g. Public Comment
h. Council Comments and Direction
2. Resolution of the City Council of the city of National City setting the number of commercial
cannabis licenses authorized to operate in National City.
a. Public Comment
b. Council Comments and Direction
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City of National City —Special Meeting Minutes (Cannabis Workshop) November 9, 2021
Mayor S tel -Solis introduced City Manager Raulston who introduced Economic Development
Specialist Gamwell and Consultant Kyle Tankard. Ms. Gamwell and Mr. Tankard provided the
P werP int presentation titled "Cannabis Workshop"
C un ilmembers provided remarks, s, asked clarification questions, and Staff provided responses.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Rios, s, seconded by Councilmember Bush, to raise the
threshold to 90% in Phase 2 of the application process.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Morrison, seconded by Councilmember Rios, to establish a
Phase 3 selection process that is merit 1 points based, with the use of a lottery should there be a
tie, with a timeframe to be defined.
Friendly amendment by Vice -Mayor Rodriguez to consider applicants with local ownership in a
separate lottery pool to assure an applicant with local ownership is selected. Maker of the motion
did not accept the friendly amendment.
Ayes: Morrison, Rios, s, Sotelo-Solis
Nays: Bush, Rodriguez
Motion passed by 3 to 2 votes.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Morrison, seconded by Councilmember Rios, to assign the
timefrar e of 60 days to the open application period.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Stet -Solis, seconded by Councilmember Bush, to add 300 points
(for a total of 500 points) to the community benefits and investment plan element of the merit -
based evaluation, and thus increase the maximum score to a total of 3,000 points.
Friendly amendment by Councilmember Morrison to add 200 points (for a total of 400 points) to
the community benefits and investment plan element, and to add 100 (for a total of 400 points) to
the qualifications of owners element. Maker of the motion and seconder of the motion accepted
the friendly amendment.
Friendly amendment by Vie -Mayor Rodriguez to merge the safety plan element and the security
plan element into one element. Maker of the motion did not accept the friendly amendment.
Friendly amendment by Councilmember Bush to amendment the points tally to add 100 points
(for a total of 600 points) to the labor, equity, diversity, and inclusion plan element, to reduce by
50 points (for a total of 350 points) the safety plan element, and to reduce by 50 points (for a total
of 350 points) the security plan element. Maker of the motion accepted the friendly amendment.
Mayor S tel -Solis asked for a restatement of the points tally for the application evaluation
elements. City Clerk Molina stated the tallies as follows:
500 business experience
600 labor, equity, diversity, and inclusion plan
350 safety plan
350 security plan
400 qualifications of owners
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City of National City — Special Meeting Minutes (Cannabis Workshop) p) November 9, 2021
300 neighborhood compatibility plan
400 community benefits and investment plan
100 proposed location
Total: 3,000 points
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by ice -Mayor Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Bush, to give an
additional 20 % point preference to applicants with local ownership, in Phase 2 of the application
evaluation review process.
Substitute motion by Councilmember Rios, seconded by Councilmember Morrison, to give an
additional 5% point preference to applicants with local ownership, and to dedicate two (2) licenses
to applicants with local ownership that meet the 90% qualification threshold.
Friendly amendment to the substitute motion from Vice -Mayor Rodriguez to give an additional
10% point preference to applicants with local ownership, and to dedicate three 3 licenses to
applicants with local ownership. Maker of the motion did not accept the friendly amendment.
Ayes: Morrison, Rios, Rodriguez, Sotelo-Solis
Nays: Bush
Motion passed by 4 to I vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Morrison, seconded by Councilmember Rios, to define local
ownership as any resident who has lived in National City for at least four years prior to
11 912021.
Substitute motion by Mayor Sotelo-Solis, second by Councilmember Bush, to define local
ownership as any resident who has lived in National City for at least three 3 years prior to
1191.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Bush, seconded by Mayor Sotelo-Solis, to set the number of
commercial cannabis licenses authorized to operate in National City to a maximum of six (6), and
to preserve a minimum of one (1) license for a consumption lounge by an applicant that meets
the 90% qualification threshold.
Ayes: Bush, Rios, Rodriguez, Sotelo-Solis
Nays: Morrison
Motion passed by 4 to 1 vote
ACTION: Motion by Vice -Mayor Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Bush, to amend the
proposed Application Procedures and Guidelines at Section B, subsection 1 to add language to
include ten 1 or more employees.
Ayes: Bush, Rios, Rodriguez, Sotelo-Solis
Nays: Morrison
Motion passed by 4 to 1 vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Bush, seconded by Councilmember Morrison, to amend the
language in the proposed Ownership Acknowledgement Form to strike "at least 20% interest
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City of National City — Special Meeting Minutes (Cannabis Workshop) p) November 9, 2021
individually" from the second paragraph, and to have the 1 % interest threshold include collective
ownership.
Friendly amendment by Councilmember Morrison that in a collective each individual holds at least
a 10% interest. Maker of the motion accepted the friendly amendment.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember ber Morrison, seconded by Councilmember Rios, to amend the
proposed Ownership Acknowledgement Form to reflect the owners' names, signatures, and
ownership percentages.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Mayor Sotelo-Solis, seconded by Councilmember ber Bush, to add language to
the guidelines that states an applicant with a 10% ownership is not allowed to apply for a second
permit.
Friendly amendment by Councilmember Morrison to direct staff to add language to address the
concern of loopholes for duplicate applicants, and to identify where in the document the changes
are made. Maker of the motion accepted the friendly amendment.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Bush, seconded by Vice -Mayor Rodriguez, to amend the
proposed Application Procedures and Guidelines at Section B, subsection 9 to state "Describe
plans to encourage 75% local hiring goal of National City residents."
Friendly amendment by Councilmember Rios to state `Describe plans to encourage a minimum
of 50% local hiring goal of National City residents." Maker of the motion accepted the friendly
amendment.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
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City of National City — Special Meeting Minutes (Cannabis \Alorkshop) November 9, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Satelo-Solis adjourned to the Regular City Council Meeting: Tuesday, November 16, 2021,
6:00 p.m., via teleconference.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Luz Molina, City Cl
The foregoing minutes were approved at the Regular City Council Meeting: Febru
t.
Alejandra. Sotelo-Solis, Mayor
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