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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2024 0103 CCSA REG ITEM 08B SUPPLEMENTAL MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Carlene Saxton, Director of Community Development BY: Doug Spondello, AICP, Deputy Community Development Director DATE: 01/03/2024 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider an Ordinance Approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2023-03 to Comply with Business and Professions Code Section 26320 et seq (Senate Bill 1186 (2022)), Including Adding Chapter 8.65 (Commercial Cannabis Activity Prohibited), Modifying Chapters 17.08 (Definitions), Table 17.20.050(D), Table 17.20.060(A), and 17.20.070(A) and (D) of the Moorpark Municipal Code to Clarify the Prohibition of Commercial Cannabis Activity Throughout the City, Except to Allow Licensed Nonstorefront Retail (Delivery Only) Medicinal Cannabis Businesses as a Conditionally Permitted Use Within the M-1 Zone Subject to Location Criteria and Make a Determination of Exemption Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act in Connection Therewith CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED Subsequent to the preparation of the staff report, the following attached emailed correspondence was received from a member of the public. Attachment: Email dated January 3, 2024 Item: 8.B. SUPPLEMENTAL From:Ky Spangler To:Ky Spangler Subject:FW: Cannabis Warehouse in Moorpark (SB1186) Date:Wednesday, January 03, 2024 9:00:14 AM Importance:High From: JAMES ROGERS Sent: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:27 AM To: Chris Enegren <CEnegren@MoorparkCA.gov> Cc: Renee Delgado <RDelgado@MoorparkCA.gov>; Daniel Groff <DGroff@MoorparkCA.gov>; Tom Means <TMeans@MoorparkCA.gov>; Antonio Castro <ACastro@MoorparkCA.gov>; PJ Gagajena <PJGagajena@MoorparkCA.gov>; darin.hendren@ventura.org; Carlene Saxton <CSaxton@MoorparkCA.gov> Subject: Cannabis Warehouse in Moorpark (SB1186) Importance: High I just became aware of the subject this evening through my connection to the neighborhood Internet bulletin board, Next Door. I did not see the city’s announcement on 8 Dec 23 as I do not read the local newspaper. In response to the subject, I am urging the City Council to disapprove any official actions that will permit the establishment of a cannabis warehouse in Moorpark. Such a warehouse will most certainly invite more criminal activity to Moorpark just as surely as the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. A cannabis warehouse would be a very attractive target for criminal gangs who employ the infamous “smash and grab” robbery technique. The “smash and grab” is currently “very popular” in Los Angeles and has started to occur in Moorpark with the recent attack on the Target store. And, there is nothing to preclude the Mexican drug cartels from going into partnership with local SoCal gangs to steal the marijuana in these warehouses. Remember that we have some 2000 gang members in Camarillo who could align with such “proactive” drug cartels. Think about that for a moment - Mexican drug cartels partnering with local gangs to further their criminal activities. Who takes the brunt of the bad fallout from “smash and grab” robberies? Why, store owners, customers and residents in the neighborhood. Please consider the fact that marijuana is a gateway drug no matter what the politicians say. Articles I have read about the adverse physiological impact of smoking marijuana on the developing human brain show that it causes a variety of mental health issues in young people. Mexican drug cartels are already aligned with China to push illegal drugs into the US via the open Southern Border. As a consequence, we are losing 300 citizens a day due to overdosing from these illegal drugs. Why should we do anything at all to tacitly support Mexican gang activity? The active ingredient in marijuana (cannabis) is a compound referred to as THC. It’s potency in marijuana has been significantly increased over the past decade or two. Hence, a better way to address the subject of “medical marijuana” would be to have drug companies extract the THC from the marijuana plant and fashion it into an oral medication (pill or tablet) that is prescribed by the user’s own physician. Bottomline: We do not need a cannabis warehouse in Moorpark nor should we allow it. Perhaps it is time for cities and counties to start pushing back on some of the poorly researched, poorly constructed, counterintuitive, and very expensive state laws coming from Sacramento. They can start with focusing on how to dramatically reduce, then eliminate, the state's $2.3 TRILLION debt without raising taxes or decreasing services. Sincerely /S/ James Rogers Moorpark