To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Cannabis
Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
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Department Contact: |
Sara McBurney |
Phone: |
707-463-6680 |
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Department Contact: |
Steve Dunnicliff |
Phone: |
707-463-4441 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Approval of Second Amendment to BOS Agreement 23-074 with Ascent Environmental, Inc., Altering the Payment Terms
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approve second amendment to BOS Agreement 23-074 with Ascent Environmental, Inc., altering the payment terms; and authorize Chair to sign same.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
At the March 14, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board directed County Counsel to draft an ordinance that would streamline the cannabis permitting process while maintaining all existing environmental protection measures. At the same time, the Board directed the Executive Office and County Counsel to work with the Department of Cannabis Control (“DCC”) to develop a pathway for applicants to obtain an annual state license.
On May 22, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved and entered into agreement 23-074 with Ascent Environmental for up to $5,000,000 in Environmental Planning Services from the Effective Date of the Agreement through December 31, 2024.
On September 25, 2024, the General Government Committee recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors.
On October 8, 2025, the BOS approved the first amendment with Ascent Environmental, extending the Agreement date through March 31, 2025.
Summary of Request:
The DCC and Mendocino County continue to work in partnership to support provisional cultivation licensees’ transition to annual licensure and support the issuance of annual licenses for new cultivation within the County.
DCC, which is responsible for the issuance of state commercial cannabis licenses, is the lead agency in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).
In August 2023, DCC issued a Notice of Preparation (“NOP”) stating that an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for the Licensing of Commercial Cannabis Cultivation in Mendocino County would be prepared. The EIR will programmatically evaluate the environmental impacts of the DCC’s annual licensing of commercial cannabis cultivation operations in the County as well as the environmental impacts of future licensed commercial cannabis cultivation operations. Where needed, the EIR will identify potentially feasible mitigation measures to avoid and/or substantially lessen any significant adverse effects identified in the EIR’s impact analysis.
The DCC is currently working with Ascent, to develop the EIR. The progress of individual applications relies on the completion of the EIR, and the completion of any mitigation identified as applicable to site specific cultivation project(s) through March 31, 2025. This request will allow the County to change the billing terms for the last month of the contract to ensure we are able to use Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant Program (“LJAGP”) funding to finalize this contract.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not approve agreement; provide direction to staff.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: An Effective County Government
Supervisorial District: All
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: WOLJA21 |
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current f/y cost: YES |
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budget clarification: This amendment will ensure the cost of this agreement is covered entirely with the LJAGP grant. |
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annual recurring cost: No. |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): Yes |
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revenue agreement: No |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: Yes
CEO Liaison: Steve Dunnicliff, Deputy CEO
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Senior Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Approved |
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Date: March 11, 2025 |
Executed Item Type: Agreement |
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Number: 23-074-A2 |
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