5h) Discussion and Possible Action Including Introducing and Waiving an Ordinance Amending Mendocino County Code Chapters 1.04, 1.08 and 16.30 Relating to Code Enforcement Procedures and Regulations, Including Administrative Penalty Increases Relating to Stormwater, Cannabis and Building Violations. (Sponsors: Planning and Building Services and County Counsel)
To supervisor McCowens comment about 1100 participants paying taxes but not really paying attention or participating. We are paying attention. We are participating. We just don’t see a path forward. The hurdles keep growing. Every time we take a step forward, we continuously see a bigger wall grow in front of us that needs to be climbed over. We don’t have a direct line of communication to state reps. But that’s why we vote you guys in. To be the voice and to work on solutions between those state agencies and our laws and rules. The citizenry partaking in the legal tax paying parts of our society expect at least that much.
I fully support Code enforcement being able to enforce county code. How many persons are allowed to live at a grow with legal housing? Cars parked in drainage ways. Land graded from pasture to greenhouses, which causes floods. Code enforcement has previously said they can't do anything even though they know it's illegal housing. Slippery slope.
This issue is complex and incredibly confusing. I urge the Board not to make significant changes until AFTER the Ad Hoc Committee's Town Hall on this subject scheduled for Dec. 16th AND preferably after two new Board members take office in January. Then please provide clear public information on the policy choices and their pro's and con's. (Comment by Madge Strong)
Appreciation for your continued efforts... Cannabis has had the unique status amidst this strange year of being deemed essential. This year also showed the county & the state that cannabis is valuable. Even with what some of you yourselves have called a failed program, and we are not disputing that claim, it's profitable. Collecting fees, fines and taxes from the cannabis industry in the range of the millions of dollars in this county, and at a time when there is so much economic uncertainty in our world. Can you imagine how beneficial it would be if is was a successful program? We can!
We read the agenda items, 5h & 5i. We write in support of both the CCAG & MCA memos. We respect the research & knowledge of the experts in both of these industry associations. We are very concerned by the potential for many of the unintended consequences they outlined on both agenda items.
Hopefully, getting clarity on cannabis being recognized locally as an "Agricultural Activity" gives the county the foundation we need to move forward in the process of obtaining our State Annual Cultivation Licenses. Anything & everything should be done to find a way for the county to follow through on their obligations to the Phase 1 applicants & permittees. Those of us local farmers who signed on in good faith that, as we heard in these very BOS meetings, if we satisfied all of the requirements of the county permit program we would be CEQA compliant & eligible at the state level. Yet here we all are, still awaiting the very documents the county promised to provide. Our elected state representatives seem to understand & want to help Mendocino's situation. Our county hiring an outside attorney at this juncture re the CEQA issues we are having with the state agencies sounds like a great idea. Make this work for small farms & it will pay off in big ways in long run.
Thank you for you time & consideration,
Laura & Marty Clein
To supervisor McCowens comment about 1100 participants paying taxes but not really paying attention or participating. We are paying attention. We are participating. We just don’t see a path forward. The hurdles keep growing. Every time we take a step forward, we continuously see a bigger wall grow in front of us that needs to be climbed over. We don’t have a direct line of communication to state reps. But that’s why we vote you guys in. To be the voice and to work on solutions between those state agencies and our laws and rules. The citizenry partaking in the legal tax paying parts of our society expect at least that much.
I fully support Code enforcement being able to enforce county code. How many persons are allowed to live at a grow with legal housing? Cars parked in drainage ways. Land graded from pasture to greenhouses, which causes floods. Code enforcement has previously said they can't do anything even though they know it's illegal housing. Slippery slope.
This issue is complex and incredibly confusing. I urge the Board not to make significant changes until AFTER the Ad Hoc Committee's Town Hall on this subject scheduled for Dec. 16th AND preferably after two new Board members take office in January. Then please provide clear public information on the policy choices and their pro's and con's. (Comment by Madge Strong)
Dear Honorable Supervisors,
Appreciation for your continued efforts... Cannabis has had the unique status amidst this strange year of being deemed essential. This year also showed the county & the state that cannabis is valuable. Even with what some of you yourselves have called a failed program, and we are not disputing that claim, it's profitable. Collecting fees, fines and taxes from the cannabis industry in the range of the millions of dollars in this county, and at a time when there is so much economic uncertainty in our world. Can you imagine how beneficial it would be if is was a successful program? We can!
We read the agenda items, 5h & 5i. We write in support of both the CCAG & MCA memos. We respect the research & knowledge of the experts in both of these industry associations. We are very concerned by the potential for many of the unintended consequences they outlined on both agenda items.
Hopefully, getting clarity on cannabis being recognized locally as an "Agricultural Activity" gives the county the foundation we need to move forward in the process of obtaining our State Annual Cultivation Licenses. Anything & everything should be done to find a way for the county to follow through on their obligations to the Phase 1 applicants & permittees. Those of us local farmers who signed on in good faith that, as we heard in these very BOS meetings, if we satisfied all of the requirements of the county permit program we would be CEQA compliant & eligible at the state level. Yet here we all are, still awaiting the very documents the county promised to provide. Our elected state representatives seem to understand & want to help Mendocino's situation. Our county hiring an outside attorney at this juncture re the CEQA issues we are having with the state agencies sounds like a great idea. Make this work for small farms & it will pay off in big ways in long run.
Thank you for you time & consideration,
Laura & Marty Clein