All commissioners were present. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am and the Pledge was recited.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Julie Runkel and a colleague led a discussion on the opportunity to pass Cannabis & Zoning Ordinance Amendments.
BACKGROUND:
The Office of Cannabis Management has provided guidance on the different areas of cannabis regulation that may be exercised by the County. This includes public use, retail registration, and zoning.
Regarding public use, the County Board adopted Ordinance #900 prohibiting smoking cannabis on County property last week. Next week the County Board will consider Ordinance #901 to place a moratorium on cannabis businesses and direct staff to study the retail registration and zoning components of cannabis regulation. Today’s discussion will inform that study.
• Some of the questions for Board consideration to provide direction to staff include:
• Should the county set a retail registration cap? If so, what number?
• What districts should various types of cannabis businesses be allowed in?
• Should cannabis businesses be permitted, conditional, or interim?
• What setbacks [from school or churches for example] should be considered?
• Should lower-potency hemp edibles be regulated differently from other cannabis businesses?
Commissioners are disposed to be as conservative as possible in providing for cannabis production and outlets.
Runkel and her staff person reminded them that the state law requires permission for one outlet per every 12,500 residents in the county. City caps may exceed county caps and override county caps.
Lower potency hemp products can be sold in normal stores, but full potency pot will be limited to cannabis stores.
Runkel will return with a proposed ordinance based on gathering any available information from cities and other counties using the template provided by the state Office of Cannabis Management.
ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
Labor Negotiations Strategy (Closed Session, pursuant to Minn. Stat.13D.03)
The meeting was closed for this discussion, and all observers left the room.
