To: Board of Supervisors
From: Executive Office
Meeting Date: September 12, 2017
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Department Contact: |
Carmel Angelo |
Phone: |
463-4441 |
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Department Contact: |
Kenneth Spain |
Phone: |
463-4441 |
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Item Type: Noticed Public Hearing |
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Time Allocated for Item: 30 Minutes |
Agenda Title:
title
Noticed Public Hearing - Discussion and Possible Adoption of Resolution Amending the Master Fee Schedule Regarding Cannabis, Including, but Not Limited to, the Department of Agriculture, Effective October 12, 2017
(Sponsor: Executive Office)
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule regarding cannabis, including, but not limited to, the Department of Agriculture, effective October 12, 2017; and authorize Chair to sign same.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
Two separate fee hearings were conducted in 2012 to address cost recovery measures; and annual fee hearing meetings were held on April 3, 2013, April 8, 2014, November 4, 2014, December 20, 2016, January 10, 2017, March 20, 2017, and July 11, 2017. The last amendment to the Fee Schedule took effect July 11, 2017.
Summary of Request:
Pursuant to County Policy N0. 47, consideration and possible approval of a request to add a new fee or reduce the existing Annual Application Fee as part of the cannabis permitting process, and to amend the Fee Schedule for the Department of Agriculture is being presented by the County Executive Office as directed by the Board of Supervisors on August 29, 2017. The proposed fee is specifically for a Cottage Industry Application Fee for the cannabis program.
The Board has directed staff to present multiple options to reduce the cost of applying to the cannabis program for cottage industry level cultivators as defined in County Ordinance No. 10A.17.060 (Types C, C-A and C-B). Attached to this agenda item is a spreadsheet (Attachment C) defining possible rates and the resulting amount of subsidy each level of less than full cost recovery would reduce General Fund revenue.
The Board directed the Chief Executive Officer to convene by teleconference the Mendocino County Cannabis Working Group which met on August 30, 2017 and provided several suggestions for consideration as part of creating a list of options for cottage industry applicants. The suggestions are:
• Make the Cottage Industry (CI) permit a three (3) year permit
• CI applications take less time so they should be reduced
• Eliminate the Inspection Fee and go to a complaint driven process
• Make refunds for CI fees already collected if/when the Annual Application Fee is reduced for Cottage Industry Applications
• Make the CI fee a tiered fee, adjusting for multiple fees that require less time when done at the same time
Additional fee related comments, not necessarily related to the Cottage Industry, were:
• Why is there a Property Profile Fee when it was not charged under 9.31
• When will there be a Mendocino Sustainability Grown Certification Fee and program
• The Property Profile Fee needs to be institutionalized in the Planning review process (meaning to make sure the amount is adjusted against other fees that require a Property Profile as part of their process)
Staff has prepared for Board review the fiscal impact of partially refunding fees already paid by the 71 applicants who have applied as of August 30, 2017. The refund would be based upon the new/revised, adopted fee.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Return to staff with direction for further review.
Supplemental Information Available Online at: N/A
Fiscal Impact:
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Source of Funding: General Fund fee income |
Budgeted in Current F/Y: No |
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Current F/Y Cost: Unknown |
Annual Recurring Cost: Unknown |
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Supervisorial District: All |
Vote Requirement: Majority |
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Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: Yes
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CEO Liaison: Alan D. Flora, Assistant CEO |
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CEO Review: Yes |
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CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Nicole French |
Final Status:Adopted |
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Date: September 29, 2017 |
Executed Item No.: Resolution Number: 17-135 |
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Note to Department: |
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Executed Documents Returned to Department: Originals _____ Copies _____ Hand Delivered ___ Interoffice Mail ___ Executed Agreement Sent to Auditor? Y/N |
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