To: Board of Supervisors
From: Cannabis
Meeting Date: May 22, 2023
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Department Contact: |
Steve Dunnicliff |
Phone: |
707-463-4441 |
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Item Type: Regular Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: 30 Minutes |
Agenda Title:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Approval of Agreement with Ascent Environmental, Inc., for up to $5,000,000 in Environmental Planning Services from the Effective Date of the Agreement through December 31, 2024
(Sponsor: Cannabis)
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approve agreement with Ascent Environmental, Inc., for up to $5,000,000 in environmental planning services from the effective date of the agreement through December 31, 2024; 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.
Summary of Request:
After meeting with DCC, the state has agreed to perform site-specific environmental review as part of its licensing process, removing an administrative burden that has historically been borne by the County. DCC plans to utilize a programmatic environmental impact report (“EIR”) to study state licensing of cannabis cultivation in Mendocino County. This EIR can then be used as the basis to generate site specific environmental documents for individual license applications and provide a pathway to annual licensure.
To facilitate this plan, DCC requested that the County use existing grant funding to develop the requisite environmental documents within the states current deadline. This would help ensure the development of adequate environmental review while removing a burden that would otherwise fall to the applicant in the form of fees or consultant work. This is consistent with the grant’s purposes, but it will require an amendment to the grant agreement.
Ascent has been identified as the appropriate vendor for these services pursuant to the attached exception to bid. Their prior work in neighboring counties is being used as the model for this approach, and they have developed a specialized expertise specific to this proposal. They also have the necessary capacity to perform the work on a short timetable and are acceptable to DCC.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not approve agreement; provide direction to staff.
Does This Item Support the General Plan? Yes
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: Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant |
budgeted in current f/y: Yes |
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current f/y cost: $1,250,000.00 |
if no, please describe: |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
revenue agreement: N/A |
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budget clarification: N/A |
Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: No
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CEO Liaison: Executive Office |
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CEO Review: Choose an item. |
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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: May 22, 2023 |
Executed Item Type: Agreement Number: 23-074 |
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