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Lemoore Council votes 4-0 to approve marijuana ordinance. Billingsley to leave council in July
In a surprising development, Councilmember Chad Billingsley, currently serving his first term on the Lemoore City Council – he was elected in 2018 – announced that he would leave the council. The July 16 meeting will be his last he told the audience.
In a move that potentially could reap big rewards for its annual budget, the Lemoore City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing the sale, cultivation, and manufacturing of cannabis within the city’s limits. Council members voted 4-0 to approve the initial reading of the ordinance.
Lemoore Councilmember Blair was absent from Tuesday’s meeting. After spending a night in the Kings County Jail two weeks ago, Blair is out on bail following an incident on June 5 that began in the Lemoore Police Department parking lot and ended at the intersection of Cinnamon and Lemoore Avenue with her arrest.
Lemoore police charged Blair with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (her vehicle), two counts of felony child endangerment, one count of a felony evading a peace officer, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of reckless driving. Her arraignment is scheduled for July 5 at 8:15 a.m. in Dept. 7 at the Kings County Courthouse in Hanford.
City Planning Director Steve Brandt outlined the proposed cannabis ordinance for council members Tuesday night. “Currently, any commercial cannabis is not allowed,” he said, telling the council that the new ordinance would open up the city to the sale, cultivation of marijuana, manufacturing, testing, and distribution.
However, while the sale of recreational marijuana would be limited to downtown and commercial parts of the city, the manufacture and cultivation will be in light industrial zones, away from the downtown business areas.
The Lemoore Planning Commission recently approved the city’s new cannabis ordinance at its most recent meeting. They also supported it by a unanimous vote.
Lemoore isn’t the first Valley community to take steps to approved marijuana sales and cultivation. Since January 2018 several cities had adopted similar ordinances allowing commercial operations. The growing list includes Coalinga, Woodlake, Farmersville, Lindsay, and Fresno.
For Lemoore, the city will limit dispensaries to the downtown area and light industrial zones. Deliveries will also be allowed.
Dr. Gail Grooms, during a public discussion, asked if the sale and cultivation of marijuana will help the city regarding its finances. “How will having cannabis stores, where it can be sold or manufactured, help the city (and its finances)?”
City Manager Nathan Olson responded that currently Woodlake, which adopted its ordinance about a year ago, is bringing in $500,000 to its general fund budget. He added that there are interested parties considering cultivation and manufacturing in Lemoore. “That could bring in several million dollars,” he speculated.
Lemoore Planning Commissioner Ed Rogers, who voted for the ordinance at the planning level, and citing his experience as a firefighter says he doesn’t think it will be a problem and said he believes that in many cases it helps some people. “If it helps a veteran get up and walk in the morning, I’m for it. If you stay on top of it, I don’t think it will be a problem, he said.”
Another Lemoore Planning Commissioner, Ron Meade, also voted for the ordinance. “There is not a wall around this city that prohibits anything, whether it’s alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana. Whether you like it or not, marijuana is legal in the state of California. They’re going to get it. If it’s going to happen, why not let it happen here under regulation.”
City leaders will make it official when the council approves the final reading at its July 16 regular council meeting.
The cannabis ordinance, while it may not help close the financial gap in this year’s budget, may help erase deficits in the future. Council members approved its fiscal year 2019-20 budget, passing it with a 4-0 vote.
The City was expecting a budget deficit this year, based on expected revenues of $11.3 million dollars and expenditures in the range of $15.4. It also will account for a budget deficit of about $4.1 million. To reduce the general fund deficit, city officials recommended reducing the scope of the city’s new Public Safety Dispatch Center project, proposing that all fixtures, furniture, and equipment for the facility be postponed until additional funding can be secured.
City officials stated that special funds and enterprise funds – mostly funds that pay for themselves – are all “anticipated to have positive fund balances at the end of the fiscal year 2019-20.” However, the golf course fund and the fleet fund are carrying negative fund balances, but the staff is working on auditing those funds and providing recommendations to the council.
Councilmember Billingsley, elected in November 2018, announced at the end of the meeting that he would be leaving his post in July, following the next council meeting. “I have recently accepted an offer within my company for a position located in Colorado,” said the first-term member. Billingsley works for Leprino Foods, based in Colorado.
“Accepting the position will require me to move out of my district, and I’ll be unable to serve on the Lemoore City Council. Due to this, July 16 will be the last council meeting, and I will be able to attend. As difficult as the decision was to leave Lemoore, where I have lived all my life, I believe it is in the best interest of my family and personal development.
“I have had the opportunity to work for a great company and am excited to continue to grow in a new role. Lemoore will always be my hometown, and I appreciate all the support I’ve received over the last year.”
