Speaker 0: Great. Thank you very much. We're going to go ahead and do our second and final reading for the recreational marijuana items. I want to move that up and that is item 33.
Speaker 1: Out of 33 is report from City Manager. Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Menace Code related to adult use cannabis read and adapted as Read City.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And this is the second reading councilmember. We have a motion and a second. Is there anything else you want to add, Mr. West? No, sir. Okay. Councilman Pierce. Councilman Mongeau?
Speaker 8: Yes. I'd like to make a friendly to move to declare the ordinance read and adopted as read with the following changes to the text of Chapter 5.92 as presented in staff's recommended action. This would not change the reading. It would still remain a second reading one that section 5.92.1520.8.3. B is amended to add or to the end of the sentence. And to that paragraph C is added to section 5.92.1520.8.3, which I'll read is a Long Beach resident currently receiving unemployment benefits. This is something that we discussed at the last council meeting and at the time it was thought it would force it into a second reading. But upon additional discussion with the city attorney's office, it's it does not do that and it still maintains the value and vision that was originally intended. And so that would make that possible. Councilmember Pearce, would you accept my friendly. Yes, I have a couple of questions for the city attorney. First one, understanding that this change would simply expand, who would be part of the social equity piece?
Speaker 10: That is correct. We've talked to Councilmember Mongeau about her proposed amendment and it would expand under the social equity piece, add an additional category of making other folks available to participate in this program.
Speaker 8: That's correct. And I think that that's great if someone's on unemployment and we're making sure that we have new job opportunities for them. And to clarifying from you that this would be the final reading today.
Speaker 10: That is also correct. We looked at this and this is a small change in it expands what was already approved by the council the following week and by the motion is specifically identified where and what language we would be changing to this substantially large ordinance. And so, yes, we believe that we can do that this evening. If it's accepted and approved by the body tonight, this would be the final reading and the audience would go into effect 31 days after the mayor signs it.
Speaker 8: Wonderful with that. I'd like to just say that it's a historic night. I know a lot of residents have waited for this night. I think the staff has done a fantastic job of working with all stakeholders, from residents to industry to council officers, in making sure that this is an ordinance that moves the city forward. And so I urge my colleagues to accept the motion and vote on this today so we can have our final reading.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And this is the final rating, correct? Correct. Okay.
Speaker 10: That is correct. We're done. We are.
Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. There's any public comment on this.
Speaker 10: I just wish you would. Do the right thing. You recognize? You have to recognize. And certainly cannot be unaware. The devastation that this will bring on this city. Period. Whatever our crime problems are now. They will near double whatever our homeless problems are. Those are all the intensification of those problems. This doesn't solve a single thing. If people want. They can go somewhere else to get that. They may come back here. But at least you can go to bed at night. And you can look your constituents in that eye and say, we've done that. We did the right thing. Approving. This is clearly not right. All you have to do is look at where the one is in Belmont Shore. In the middle of a. The pathways at school kids, period. There will be an increase in every single neighborhood like that. All it takes is character and backbone. I know some of you don't have that, but I know I think and I would hope that the majority do. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Speaker 4: I am Francis. My two friends passing it out. I am Francis Henley Dyson Harris. I reside in District one and I've spent a tremendous amount of time putting together the document that you have before you. Mayor Robert Gates City Council members I'm Shirley Charles Pratt's hammers quote I believe that the the positive truth and right ideas through honest debate and rigorous arguments is a noble understanding. I am grateful to have played a small role in the conversation, has helped guide this ordinary nation's destiny as a great guideline to implement while making decisions regarding this ordinance. Because I'm a pediatric nurse, that's the only reason I'm standing before you. Because I'm a pediatric nurse. I'm reluctant to completely support the second reading of this ordinance. Why? Surely this ordinance requires and needs special care? Because there's too much at stake. Therefore, any reasonable and protective recommendations must be considered that is, be allowed, discussed and decided upon, even if a second reading is postponed to a later date. Now, combined, marijuana dispensaries exist in Los Angeles, Nevada. I believe that only existing medicinal marijuana dispensaries should be allowed to apply for adult use, recreational marijuana dispensary license and must coexist meaning same location. I believe in an adult use. Recreational marijuana dispensary needs to be initially operated as a medicinal marijuana dispensary. Now there are 23 pending movement to some dispensaries in Long Beach. After a six month trial period, then it may be a medicinal and or an adult use cannabis recreational dispensary. I feel strongly about a performance period. I believe that any medicinal and or adult use recreational cannabis dispensary which violates its permit must lose and forfeit is slicing to operate in Long Beach. I believe that any person who lives in Long Beach and whose low income and the district qualifies as being eligible as a local hire and a bit distant and or adult use. Recreational Cannabis Dispensary. I believe this ordinance must include mandatory notification to the public regarding hearings to applicants for a CFP conditional use permit, particularly for adult use of recreational cannabis. Surely public opinion is imperative a protocol regarding handling use less than 21 years and age who are illegally using and possessing medicinal and or adult use. Recreational cannabis is naive in smoking, medicinal and or adult use recreational cannabis and the public needs to cease. Yes, this ordinance is a living document which can be amended any time. Please do not permit this belief to prevent you from your profound capability creating and supporting and approving an ordinance that is noteworthy with accuracy and integrity.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4: Okay. You're welcome.
Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please.
Speaker 9: Seven Orson silos second District coming in, talking and speaking in support of this measure. This has been many years in the work, in the works. Really special thanks goes out to the city attorney's office for their patience and really just care in terms of making sure that this ordinance stayed in compliance with appropriate state regulations as they were being adopted. As a quick aside, however, at the current moment there are 86 non-compliant delivery services that are not paying into the measure m taxes. That means that they are not supporting that they are a negative they're a revenue negative source for cannabis within within the city of Long Beach. They are provided untested and on and frankly just on regulated cannabis to patients and adult use patients or adult use consumers across the city. And at this particular moment, members of the BCA as well, and frankly, anybody who any well minded cannabis consumer would really appreciate extra attention being paid to these particular delivery services in the form of perhaps some sort of ordinance emphasizing already existing enforcement measures that are that have been provided. Other than that, we're really looking forward to continued, you know, evolving and good relationship with the city and hiring lots of people locally. Thank you. Have a good day.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Any additional public comment? Please come forward.
Speaker 9: Hello. I'm Stefan Freeman. I'm not from Long Beach. But what I can tell you is that we're spending a significant amount of time in Colorado, has been spinning a significant amount of time in Canada, seeing what they're doing in their approach that they're taking right now. And I will tell you that I only came here just to come to this one meeting. You're definitely on the right track. The only way that you can take something that's happening like this with the marijuana business is to take the proactive approach that you're taking. And I'm also looking at potentially putting a business here as well. But the only reason why we make those kind of decisions is because we see the people that are on this council and the work that you're doing to make sure that this is a transparent business where things are being done the right way. So I just wanted to say thank you for letting me hear what's happening in Long Beach. And I'm hoping that as we go through this, that I become a business in the city as well. So thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. That closes public comment. Councilman Mongo.
Speaker 8: Thank you, Francis. I appreciate your comments. That was something that I worked on very hard last week or at the last council meeting, but it was not accepted by my colleagues. I will let you know that, though, there has been discussion both publicly at this dais that after the ordinance is in effect, there are a couple of ideas about things that could improve the ordinance. But to do those things, they want a opportunity to first demonstrate that through the nine that are available now to open and see how it goes and learn from that experience. And I'll tell you specifically, one that I've worked on with the community and I want to continue working with industry on is there are on both sides the way that the original program went. There were challenges for industry because they were locked into certain locations and therefore some of them have exorbitant rent. And on the neighborhood side, sometimes there were locations that weren't yet available but could be available 69 to 120 days. But if they didn't have their location, they couldn't get into the lottery. And so we're looking at options which would allow both the industry opportunity to move slight amounts without affecting the value of the ordinance and causing additional confusion. So we're in discussions with the city attorney, but those kinds of things, we really appreciate that you are so in tune and feel free to come to any of our community meetings. My district has had dozens of community meetings on this matter that industry has joined us in as well with the neighbors to have these dialogs. So thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. At the conclusion of a comment and the emotion in a second on the floor with those friendly amendments, there are slight changes. Please cast your votes.
Speaker 1: Motion carries.
Speaker 0: Okay, great. Thank you very much. We're moving on to item 24.
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending use tables in Chapters 21.31, 21.32, 21.33, 21.34 and 21.35; and by adding Chapter 5.92, and Sections 21.15.113, 21.15.441.1, 21.15.441.2, 21.15.441.3 and 21.15.441.4; all related to adult-use cannabis, read and adopted as read.  (Citywide)