2a) Discussion and Possible Action Including Providing Recommendations to Staff and a Referral to the Board of Supervisors Recommending Approval of the County of Mendocino Cannabis Department Monthly Update for March
(Sponsor: Cannabis)
Honorable Supervisors,
With the Cannabis Programs budget issues, I believe the county should explore new revenue streams to diminish shortfalls. My suggestions is that the Cannabis Program consider working with phase 1 legacy operators who withdrew applications in sunset zones a path back to the application process with new applications. The badly needed economic reforms and fallowing measure passed too late for many to hold on. Secondly, the permit streamlining pace played a large role in the exit of applicants. Operating since 2017 (like I did) on an application receipt without any idea when a county permit and annual state license would be issued, makes it incredibly difficult to warrant making long term investments especially as the market endures a historic multiyear collapse. Getting applicants back into the program would help your bottom line and be a good look for the program working with legacy operators.
When suggesting to Krissy Nevedal, she mentioned “I suspect - because of how CEQA works - that there is little opportunity to allow additional zoning options for Phase 3 applications. It would be much easier to allow for a period of time that withdrawn phase 1 applications and permits could be revived by the original applicant/permit holder. Ultimately this would be a decision the Board of a supervisors would need to make.”
I am Michael Adams, a saddened and disappointed farmer. I am a member of MCA and support the memo they submitted.
In addition, I urge the GGC to direct MCD to immediately assign AT LEAST one staff member or
contractor to the processing of Equity Applications.
The suspension of the LEEP program is depriving our local licensees, including myself, who have suffered
disproportionately from the War on Drugs of crucial support for their struggling and
under-resourced businesses. In addition to direct grants and local tax and fee waivers for Equity
operators, there are programs and deadlines at the State level that are accessible only to Equity
designees which have now become inaccessible to many of our local operators due to the
inability of MCD to manage and properly budget the administration of the grant program.
In addition. I see that there are a number of vacancies in MCD(see attached) I have submitted my resume and cover letter to HR and MCD now 4 times. I am qualified for a number of positions. I was told I was underqualified for the senior planner position. I believe that I could handle the responsibilities of that job, along with any of the other positions MCD is looking to fill. I have sent the entire BOS, MCD and HR my resume and cover letter. I will be sending to HR and MCD again today.
A final note. The amount of time it is taking to process anything by MCD is quite high. As I read it from the County of Mendocino Cannabis Department Update, March 27, 2023, it will take MCD 150 hours to process an application/ renewal. That is 4 weeks of full time work. If I had a planner working with me personally for a full month I should think I would have everything done to a "T".
I am available to help MCD and the County of Mendocino and our farmers in any capacity. If any of you would like to receive my cover letter or resume again, please ask.
I am attaching my email from 3.24.23 to the BOS and MCD where I detailed my issues and offered my help. I have received no response, but It was only Friday that I sent it.
Please find a way to administer the grants due to our farmers. Please hire the staff needed to help this happen. Please remove anyone from MCD who is preventing our farmers from getting licensed or getting the funds they should be getting.
Honorable Supervisors,
With the Cannabis Programs budget issues, I believe the county should explore new revenue streams to diminish shortfalls. My suggestions is that the Cannabis Program consider working with phase 1 legacy operators who withdrew applications in sunset zones a path back to the application process with new applications. The badly needed economic reforms and fallowing measure passed too late for many to hold on. Secondly, the permit streamlining pace played a large role in the exit of applicants. Operating since 2017 (like I did) on an application receipt without any idea when a county permit and annual state license would be issued, makes it incredibly difficult to warrant making long term investments especially as the market endures a historic multiyear collapse. Getting applicants back into the program would help your bottom line and be a good look for the program working with legacy operators.
When suggesting to Krissy Nevedal, she mentioned “I suspect - because of how CEQA works - that there is little opportunity to allow additional zoning options for Phase 3 applications. It would be much easier to allow for a period of time that withdrawn phase 1 applications and permits could be revived by the original applicant/permit holder. Ultimately this would be a decision the Board of a supervisors would need to make.”
Sincerely,
Harrison Suger
I am Michael Adams, a saddened and disappointed farmer. I am a member of MCA and support the memo they submitted.
In addition, I urge the GGC to direct MCD to immediately assign AT LEAST one staff member or
contractor to the processing of Equity Applications.
The suspension of the LEEP program is depriving our local licensees, including myself, who have suffered
disproportionately from the War on Drugs of crucial support for their struggling and
under-resourced businesses. In addition to direct grants and local tax and fee waivers for Equity
operators, there are programs and deadlines at the State level that are accessible only to Equity
designees which have now become inaccessible to many of our local operators due to the
inability of MCD to manage and properly budget the administration of the grant program.
In addition. I see that there are a number of vacancies in MCD(see attached) I have submitted my resume and cover letter to HR and MCD now 4 times. I am qualified for a number of positions. I was told I was underqualified for the senior planner position. I believe that I could handle the responsibilities of that job, along with any of the other positions MCD is looking to fill. I have sent the entire BOS, MCD and HR my resume and cover letter. I will be sending to HR and MCD again today.
A final note. The amount of time it is taking to process anything by MCD is quite high. As I read it from the County of Mendocino Cannabis Department Update, March 27, 2023, it will take MCD 150 hours to process an application/ renewal. That is 4 weeks of full time work. If I had a planner working with me personally for a full month I should think I would have everything done to a "T".
I am available to help MCD and the County of Mendocino and our farmers in any capacity. If any of you would like to receive my cover letter or resume again, please ask.
I am attaching my email from 3.24.23 to the BOS and MCD where I detailed my issues and offered my help. I have received no response, but It was only Friday that I sent it.
Please find a way to administer the grants due to our farmers. Please hire the staff needed to help this happen. Please remove anyone from MCD who is preventing our farmers from getting licensed or getting the funds they should be getting.
Thank you for reading these comments.
Michael Adams
Nurturing Seed Farm
Willits CA
Honorable Supervisors,
Please review the attached memo from MCA regarding the March MCD Update.
Thank you for your consideration of the questions and comments we raise.
Sincerely,
Mendocino Cannabis Alliance
e: info@mendocannabis.com