HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2020 0617 CCSA REG JNT DC ITEM 09E SUPPLEMENTALMOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
SUPPLEMENTAL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Karen Vaughn, Community Development Director
BY: Shanna Farley-Judkins, Principal Planner
DATE: 06/17/2020 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Hold a Study Session and Provide General Policy Guidance on
Industrial Hemp Uses
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Subsequent to the preparation of the staff report, the following correspondence was
received from members of the public.
Attachments
Item: 9.E.
SUPPLEMENTAL
From:John Novi
To:City Council & City Manager
Subject:Support of staff recommendations regarding industrial hemp
Date:Friday, June 12, 2020 6:40:57 PM
Hello Council,
I have read the staff report regarding the General Policy Guidance on Industrial Hemp Uses on
the 6/17/20 City Council agenda and wish to voice my support for all of the recommendations
put forth by staff. I believe that hemp does have its impacts such as odor and truck traffic and
support the prohibitions on warehousing and processing, but also believe that processed hemp
is a product that brings both medicinal and economic benefits and that the sale of processed
products and testing should be allowed in Moorpark.
Thank you for your consideration.
John Novi
From:Ryan Loftis
To:Moorpark
Subject:Hemp Business Vote
Date:Saturday, June 13, 2020 7:23:36 PM
Attachments:ATT00001.txt
I wanted to express my full support as a citizen of Moorpark, CA for these measures up for vote with city officials. I
actually support to allow everything listed on the graphic attached. I have no issues with the smell or traffic. I also
hope that one day THC/Hemp related products will be sold within the city.
From:Becky Spelts
To:Moorpark
Subject:June 17 Council Meeting--Hemp
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:15:10 PM
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing as a concerned citizen who has lived in Moorpark for the past 14 years. The
warehousing, manufacturing, research, and sales of hemp products is WRONG for Moorpark.
I urge you to prohibit all of this from entering our community.
First, no one knows what allowing industrial hemp within our city will mean. It is likely that
business could continue to grow, and while that makes it tempting for generating revenue for
the city, the bottom line is we don't know what the consequences of that growth would be in
terms of increased traffic for business transportation and odor. All of us are aware of the
frustrating truck traffic that plagues our city and continues to negatively impact businesses
within Moorpark. In addition, the negative health effects the odor of hemp have had on
citizens of our community has come to light with the cultivation of hemp nearby on land
within the County of Ventura's jurisdiction. DO NOT open the door for businesses that
potentially will contribute to these already well-established problems.
Secondarily, while some businesses are ethical in their practices, unfortunately there are
others which are not. We do not want shady businesses to seek approval for selling CBD
products related to industrial hemp, and in turn sell cannabis products as well. CBD oil from
hemp and CBD oil from cannabis (which contains THC) are very similar which make
distinguishing between those types of oils and products extremely difficult. Moorpark should
not take a chance in this area for the sake of our children and the safety of our community.
Another issue that needs to be addressed is where will the oversight on these businesses
lie...the Ag commission, sheriff's department, or some other governing body? With the
storage and production of hemp within city limits, there can be absolutely no leniency or
loopholes for these businesses. We would need spontaneous, unannounced inspections by
the city or sheriff with no need for a search warrant. In addition, there would need to be at-
will testing of samples with escalating penalties for non-compliance, with the end result
termination and not just fines. This will require an incredible amount of oversight to ensure
businesses are complying, and even then, there will be instances of unwanted materials or
items slipping through the cracks. As of today, there is insufficient regulation in hemp related
businesses, and this creates a huge risk for communities who allow these types of businesses
to open.
DO NOT BE PERSUADED BY THE HEMP LOBBY! This is not what Moorpark needs and will
potentially create additional issues related to our community's health, safety, and quality of
life. DO NOT ALLOW THE SALE, MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING, WAREHOUSING OR
RESEARCH OF HEMP IN MOORPARK!
Sincerely,
Becky Spelts
Moorpark, CA 93021
From:juliest@pacbell.net
To:Moorpark
Subject:I am AGAINST Hemp growing or processing in Moorpark
Date:Monday, June 15, 2020 10:31:35 AM
Hello - I wanted to let the council know that myself and my husband are against allowing the growing or processing
of hemp in Moorpark. Last year the odor was so bad in our neighborhood and my son had to go back on his full
regimen of asthma treatments due to the poor quality of air he was breathing. Please do not approve this business.
Sincerely,
Julie & Ron St Amand
From:kzeedik@gmail.com
To:Moorpark
Subject:No to Hemp Processing in Moorpark
Date:Tuesday, June 16, 2020 3:32:49 PM
Dear Moorpark City Council,
We strongly urge you to please stop any hemp processing from coming to the city of Moorpark. Having hemp
within our city would not benefit Moorpark and would only cause problems. Allowing hemp processing in
Moorpark would bring distasteful odor, distasteful business, and more bad traffic. We are highly opposed to any
form of hemp processing in the city we love so much. Please keep hemp processing out of Moorpark.
Thank you,
Mark and Kathrine Zeedik
From:Jerry F
To:Moorpark
Subject:Fw: June 17 meeting item # 9E Hemp
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 1:34:56 PM
To the Moorpark City Council: please reference the trailing email that I sent to the Ventura
County leadership. Hemp and cannabis is a slippery slope; I am concerned that growing,
processing, and warehousing these products is now on the docket in our beloved city.
Although this would mean more revenue, common sense also tells us that this will bring more
crime and a lower quality of life to the area as demonstrated by the 2019 experiment of
growing it in our region. I urge you to stand by your neighbors; do not to be lured by
temptations of big industry and $. The citizens of this city have entrusted you with our well-
being and that is not to be compromised under any circumstances.
Sincerely,
Jerry K. Fong
805-321-0044
Moorpark, CA 93021
From: Jerry F <justonejerry@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 6:43 AM
To: CountyExecutiveOfficer@ventura.org <CountyExecutiveOfficer@ventura.org>;
clerkoftheboard@ventura.org <clerkoftheboard@ventura.org>; VCAC Hemp
<VCACHemp@ventura.org>; supervisor.huber@ventura.org <supervisor.huber@ventura.org>;
Smith, Chelsie <Chelsie.Smith@ventura.org>; Steve.Bennett@ventura.org
<Steve.Bennett@ventura.org>; linda.parks@ventura.org <linda.parks@ventura.org>;
John.Zaragoza@ventura.org <John.Zaragoza@ventura.org>; kelly.long@ventura.org
<kelly.long@ventura.org>; Williams, Ed <Ed.Williams@ventura.org>; andy.calderwood@ventura.org
<andy.calderwood@ventura.org>; CountyExecutiveOfficer@ventura.org
<CountyExecutiveOfficer@ventura.org>
Cc: Stop The Smell Moorpark <Stopthesmellmoorpark@gmail.com>
Subject: Fw: 6/9 BoS Mtg: Agenda Item #8 - READ AT MEETING
Mr. Powers - including you on this thread regarding the newly proposed hemp ordinance
dated June 5th. This is a quality of life issue that concerned citizens like myself are not willing
to concede. Hemp/cannabis clearly needs different oversight with appropriate checks and
balances. Big industry is counting on citizens to tire and lose patience - we all know that
established organizations with deep pockets tend to win. We're counting on this group to
make sure that the well-being of your residence isn't overlooked or compromised.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jerry K. Fong
805-321-0044
Moorpark, CA 93021
From: Jerry F
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 1:21 PM
To: clerkoftheboard@ventura.org <clerkoftheboard@ventura.org>; VCAC Hemp
<VCACHemp@ventura.org>; supervisor.huber@ventura.org <supervisor.huber@ventura.org>;
Smith, Chelsie <Chelsie.Smith@ventura.org>; Steve.Bennett@ventura.org
<Steve.Bennett@ventura.org>; linda.parks@ventura.org <linda.parks@ventura.org>;
John.Zaragoza@ventura.org <John.Zaragoza@ventura.org>; kelly.long@ventura.org
<kelly.long@ventura.org>; Williams, Ed <Ed.Williams@ventura.org>; andy.calderwood@ventura.org
<andy.calderwood@ventura.org>
Cc: Stop The Smell Moorpark <Stopthesmellmoorpark@gmail.com>
Subject: 6/9 BoS Mtg: Agenda Item #8 - READ AT MEETING
To the Board of Supervisors:
As our elected officials, we have entrusted you to protect the well-being of your citizens, and
that is never up for negotiation. Industrial hemp and cannabis impact the quality of life for
anyone around the property. Some argue that further research needs to be done before we
draw any conclusions. Well, we crossed that bridge as live experiments were conducted in
2019 prior to regulation, and the results speak for themselves through the voices of the
residents who have placed their trust in you.
We require:
permanently banning the growth of industrial hemp and cannabis within a 1/2 mile of
the areas previously described
absolutely no exceptions to be made (not for low-odor varieties, greenhouses, or any
other “cute” loopholes the AC intends to create)
retaining the people’s right to sue for nuisance
revision of the Ag Commission's powers and processes:
AC required to present any new materials 5 days in advance of any meeting to all
interested parties. Sending an ordinance the day before a meeting is irresponsible
and unprofessional. This is viewed as an underhanded tactic to limit the response
from opposing parties!
streamline the process for sheriffs to investigate issues; they should not need to
seek approval from the AC
The residents of Ventura County have been clear and consistent on this topic. Should the AC
and the Deputy AC continue to prioritize industry over the health and safety of the residents of
Ventura County, we will seek to remove them from their positions.
Sincerely,
Jerry K. Fong
From:Rachelle Hanshaw
To:Moorpark
Subject:Opposition to ANY CBD or hemp in our community!!!
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 1:52:47 PM
I am writing to express my opposition to any CBD or hemp distribution,
manufacturing, or processing in Moorpark. There are too many unknowns and
negatives that come from allowing this to enter our town. Thousand Oaks has
been wise in holding off because they are cautious of long term negative effects
that it could have on their community as a whole. The enticing short term
monetary benefit that is pushed should not overshadow consequences that
could adversely affect our city. I implore you to be wise in your decisions that
are supposed to be made to protect the community that you represent and do
not allow it to enter Moorpark.
Rachelle Hanshaw
From:Cheri Ackermann
To:Moorpark
Subject:Item 9E Guidance on Industrial Hemp use Public Comment for 6/17 Please read and submit
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 2:35:39 PM
Please refer to your Summary Table of Staff Recommendations for the following referenced
categories:
I AGREE with Staff Recommendation on the following 3 categories to PROHIBIT: 1)
Warehousing Raw Hemp and Finished Hemp products, 2) Manufacturing:
Paper/Textile/Construction Materials, and 3) Manufacturing Oil Extraction, for the same
reasons given in the staff recommendation. Thank you Staff.
I DISAGREE that Warehousing: Accessory to manufacturing or retail should be allowed. This
is just a loophole to the warehousing of hemp, and that the verbiage "...when accessory to a
permissible manufacturing or retail use" does not define in any way what these permissible
uses may be. This should not be allowed until specific terms define what these permissible
manufacturing or retail uses may be.
I don't know the impact of the remaining categories recommended to allow, however the
residents need to have recourse to file nuisance complaints and have the ordinance amended
accordingly.
Cheri Ackermann
MoorPark Resident
From:Melanie Parrish
To:Moorpark
Subject:Hemp
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:08:29 PM
Dear City Council,
Moorpark is a nice family town, with lots of public parks and places for families to learn and grow. Please do not
anymore hemp production, processing, storing or selling in Moorpark .
Please take a step back and think if Thousand Oaks and Amgen felt it was bad for their city then it should also be
bad for ours. There is no rush. We can wait until others cities have been the Guinea pigs and tried it out. We have
time to study and ensure our families are safe. We have been so blessed in Moorpark. Let’s not throw it all away
for so businessmen and farmers can make money. We need to do what is best for the citizens of Moorpark. And
promote values and safely measures that will help the city attract good citizens. Many people have shared how there
lives have been harmed by the smell of the hemp. Let’s not make things worse. We are all working hard to provide
a safe place to live and raise children, we depend on you to keep it that way!
Melanie Parrish
Sent from my iPad
From:Mardi Douglas
To:Moorpark
Subject:June 17 Council Meeting- Hemp issue, please read at meetimg
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:10:15 PM
Honorable Mayor and Council,
Please do not allow any hemp activities that will allow for ANY smell into the environment. I
thought you understood this after we showed up in mass for a council meeting late last year.
Now, with Covid, our options for expressing our extreme displeasure are limited. Thankfully
I was informed about this meeting topic a couple of days ago but many of your constituents
have NO idea these measures are on the table. You should not approve these measures that are
harmful to our health and enjoyment of our homes, businesses and schools.
All you need to do is look at Santa Barbara county and other locations where hemp is allowed
to see what our future holds. Any place hemp is near people, people are miserable. It is that
simple. It is Not right to allow people to be made sick for a few to profit. The city of Moorpark
should not look at profiting in sales tax at the expense of citizen's health.
The proposals do not address the criminal issues. As of now, if a hemp/marijuana violation is
reported to the police they REFER it to Andy Calderwood. Nothing happens. How will you
protect citizens from criminal/illegal conduct? The Ag commissioner does not have the
resources or money to enforce compliance.
Warehousing indoors does NOT mitigate the smell. Please look at Carpinteria and other
communities. Until you can guarantee that no resident, School, restaurant, business, or park
area will be FREE from noxious smell, please say NO!
Lab testing and research STILL SMELLS.
The standard should not be to mitigate smell-it should be NO Smell. Hemp smell makes
people sick.
Please do not rush into these decisions until you have adequate education and feedback
from residents and business owners. Please do not get us into provisions that will take
lots of time and money to reverse when they don't work out.
Thank you,
Mardi Douglas
Moorpark, CA 93021
From:Barb Loczi
To:Moorpark; Roseann Mikos; Chris Enegren; David Pollock; Troy Brown; Janice Parvin; Ken Simons
Cc:Barb Loczi
Subject:Hemp Issue - Commercial and Planting/Cultivation Considerations
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:18:44 PM
Please read the following correspondence in spoken remarks before the Moorpark City
Council Meeting relative to Item 9.E on tonight’s City Council agenda.
We, as a community, are very much in process until we arrive at a final determination about
the growth of industrial hemp in the unincorporated areas immediately adjacent to the City of
Moorpark. Until such time as there is a complete and comprehensive decision on this matter,
we are asking that any additional decisions about warehousing, retail sales, laboratories and
testing of any hemp products be put on hold.
We realize that growers and other industrial hemp business interests are very much in play,
actively involved and organized in their determination to promote expanding their commercial
interests in hemp products growth, warehousing, retail sales, laboratories and testing in our
city.
We also understand that staff see a number of advantages to allowing hemp-related businesses
into our community because these businesses will help fill vacant commercial spaces and
provide an increase in the taxes for our community.
Please do not be swayed by short-term solutions for long-term problems that will immediately
identify Moorpark as a haven for hemp-related businesses. We have been a community of
safety and solid family values. The promotion and inclusion of hemp-related business interests
will have a profoundly adverse effect on our community’s reputation.
The interests and safety of Moorpark’s citizens must be first and foremost on the minds of the
City Manager and City Council when determining whether to proceed with any development
of possible businesses interests or increase in commercial enterprises involving industrial
hemp within our city limits. All elements associated with these products, including the
prospect of increased criminal activity that have been proven in other communities involved
with hemp/hemp products commercial ventures, should be considered and given the full
weight of the Council’s deliberation only after the substantial issues regarding cultivation and
expansion of planting in the unincorporated areas have been decided.
We live in the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the fields of industrial hemp, and we
have spoken and written our objections to these industrial hemp crops in presentations before
the County Board of Supervisors and the Moorpark City Council describing the profoundly
adverse effects that this crop has had on our health and quality of life. We urgently request a
moratorium on ANY decisions regarding the addition of hemp-related commercial enterprises
within the city.
The citizens of Moorpark, our quality of life, our health and safety rely upon you to put those
interests first in your deliberations about all of these matters.
Barbara & Geza Loczi
Moorpark, CA 93021
805
loczi
Thank you,
Barbara & Geza Loczi
From:Hilary Corbin
To:Moorpark
Subject:Breath of Fresh Air (Agenda item 9-E)
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:36:49 PM
To the Honorable Mayor Parvin and Moorpark City Council Members:
With so much uncertainty in our world right now, it seems almost silly to be writing this letter.
However, as I take my daily walks through my neighborhood lately, I am so thankful that I'm
not choking on the noxious hemp odor that had descended upon us in months past.
Moorpark has made it clear, and we agree we need a one mile permanent setback ordinance
from industrial hemp cultivation in our neighborhoods.
We are opposed to any unhealthful air and public nuisance created from growing hemp or
cannabis.
Here is a short list of what we need:
* 1 mile setback from residences, schools, community parks and playgrounds-1/2 a mile is
not enough!
* Absolutely no loopholes for greenhouses or research facilities
* No potted or propagated cannabis plants within the 1 mile setback-including low-odor
varieties
* Increased regulation and oversight for all planting for agricultural research institutes
Thank you for your time. Please stay safe and healthy and enjoy the fresh air in our wonderful
city.
Sincerely,
Hilary & Casey Corbin
Moorpark, CA 93021
From:Travis Schimmer
To:Moorpark
Subject:NO on Hemp
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:54:51 PM
Good afternoon,
I am a 35 year resident of Moorpark and homeowner and would like to let city leaders know
many residents including myself do not support the growing, manufacturing nor storing of
hemp, cbd, or marijuana in Moorpark. It affects our quality of life, air quality, home prices,
and there are too many unknowns on how it affects the health of those inhaling it and living in
direct proximity to it. Please do not allow this to happen.
Thank you,
--
Travis Schimmer
Pharm.D. R.Ph
B.S. International Business Management
e: tschimmer@gmail.com
p: 808-551-9325