New council appointment, reorganization, and cannabis keep city leaders busy Tuesday night

By Ed Martin, Editor
Lemoore's John Plourde is sworn in Tuesday night as fellow council members voted to have him join the Lemoore City Council.
Lemoore's John Plourde is sworn in Tuesday night as fellow council members voted to have him join the Lemoore City Council.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

It was certainly a busy if not productive Tuesday night for Lemoore’s city council members. For starters, they finally picked someone to fill the vacant District E seat and elected a new mayor pro-tem. Finally, the council continued the ongoing process of establishing two downtown marijuana dispensaries.

Just another day at Lemoore City Hall.

The four-member council, including its most recent pick, Chris Schalde, picked former council member John Plourde to assume the vacant District E seat vacated when council member, Holly Blair was arrested earlier this summer. She remains in the Kings County Jail.

Plourde, no stranger to the council dais – this is his third time filling a vacant council seat, while also serving a full term on his own – won the support of three of the four council members. Only Mayor Eddie Neal voted against Plourde.

Plourde was nominated two weeks ago but lost out when the then three council members unceremoniously selected Hugh Allen, who overnight declined the offer, forcing another opportunity to pick a new council member.

“The last couple of years have been difficult,” said Plourde upon taking the oath of office and then taking his seat. He thanked Mayor Neal for his service and said the City faces many challenges. “Let’s move on.”

Surprisingly, while there was some opposition to the downtown dispensaries, which became a possibility after the city of Lemoore approved a new ordinance earlier this year allowing such businesses, there remained considerable support for cannabis operations amid hope that the companies might boost Lemoore’s downtown area.

The Council heard from several cannabis operators during the 5:30 p.m. study session that concluded a little over two hours later. And, shortly after bringing on the newest council member, the council selected  Valley Pure, a Woodlake-based cannabis business, and Natural Healing Center, a cannabis clinic based in San Luis Obispo County.

Valley Pure was the Central Valley’s first dispensary to sell recreational and medical marijuana. It appears Valley Pure will place its downtown dispensary in the city’s vacant railway station as council members, toward the end of Tuesday night’s meeting, approved a two-year lease with the Woodlake-based dispensary.

Natural Healing Center is in the process of purchasing the vacant Bank of America building on D Street as it begins its dispensary process. The city’s cannabis regulations allow one dispensary for every 12,000 residents, hence the two in the downtown area. Chief Operating Officer Nick Andre told The Leader that Natural Healing Center, which currently has dispensaries in Grover Beach, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo, is looking forward to setting up shop in Lemoore. “We were really happy to see business owners in support," he said. "They recognized the economic development it can bring to downtown.” He added that in Grover Beach, Natural Healing Center sees 500 to 700 people a day. "Just think about the amount of traffic that will increase in the (Lemoore) downtown area."

Andre told The Leader he expects to be open in four to five months. "We are looking forward to working with the city, and we believe we're going to bring a lot of benefits. All the research we've done is that Lemoore is going to be a successful market."

Mayor Eddie Neal recused himself from the selection process after his brother, former professional football player Lorenzo Neal, advocated on behalf of one of the cannabis operators, a firm entitled Humanity.

While cannabis dispensaries begin popping up throughout the Central Valley – Hanford recently approved local dispensaries – Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson made a case for Lemoore. “It’s coming whether we like it or not,” he said. “And it’s going to generate revenue for the city of Lemoore,” insisting that because of low sales tax revenues and other factors, the city’s budget is currently in a deficit.

“We’re pretty much on a shoestring. We’re in a deficit. Sales tax revenues have been flat over the last couple of years. Cannabis is sort of a kick start to our economy, but it’s not a savior.”

The Lemoore City Council finally has a full complement as John Plourde took his seat Tuesday night.
The Lemoore City Council finally has a full complement as John Plourde took his seat Tuesday night.

He suggested the cannabis could be beneficial to the city. “Who we get here makes a difference. We need to be certain where it is. I’ve met some good companies, and I’ve met some good people,” he added in referring to his interaction with cannabis companies.

While the City Council may have selected the two companies, the process won’t be final until the city completes an extensive application process. Included in the process are additional negotiations, a public hearing process and hammering out a comprehensive development agreement that will finalize fees and costs.

A development agreement, particularly for Valley Pure, may include maintaining and improving the train depot, which recently experienced a minor fire. There’s also a possibility, due to state regulations that prohibit dispensaries adjacent to park areas where children play, that it may have to relocate the existing skateboard park and water feature adjacent to the depot.

Plourde had a good night. His fellow council members, just minutes after taking his seat, appointed him to the vacant mayor pro-tem seat, vacated when Chad Billingsley resigned last month to take a new job in Colorado.

The selection came during a council reorganization effort that could have replaced the mayor as well, but a groundswell of support for Mayor Neal nixed any thought of replacing him. Instead, council members opted to follow the customary routine of reorganizing following the two-year election cycle.

“Typically, it’s (selection of mayor) after the election. Unless there is a special reason to reorganize it shouldn’t be done,” said speaker Tom Reed. “I see no need to elect a new mayor. We have a mayor. He’s done a good job.”

Plourde suggested the council table the reorganization until the next election in 2020. “I think all of us should vote for what’s the best for Lemoore,” he said. “The testimony in the room here is overwhelming for the mayor. We have to vote for what’s in the best interest of the city of Lemoore.”

New council appointment, reorganization, and cannabis keep city leaders busy Tuesday night

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