Agenda Packets - 2023/08/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 31, 2023 Special Meeting Page 3 1 within the City of Mounds View. 3 City Attorney Riggs requested the Council introduce an interim ordinance that would authorize a 4 study and impose a moratorium on the operation of cannabis businesses within the City. He 5 explained this ordinance was the result of the Cannabis Act that was adopted by the Minnesota 6 legislature. He reported under the act the City can regulate the time, place and manner regarding 7 cannabis businesses, along with the hours of sales. He stated there were a number of communities 8 that were putting a moratorium in place to allow them time to further study this topic. He stated 9 this study would allow the City Council to further consider the zoning regulations for these 10 businesses going forward. He explained if the Council were to introduce this ordinance, the second 11 reading would be held on Monday, August 7. 12 13 Council Member Gunn stated she would like further information regarding growing of cannabis 14 plants. She asked how many plants could be growing in a backyard at any time. City Attorney 15 Riggs explained a resident could have four mature plants in their backyard. He indicated the 16 Council lacked the ability to regulate this, but rather this would be regulated by the State. 17 18 Council Member Gunn questioned if cannabis could be sold in an established business. City 19 Attorney Riggs stated this would be determined by the State. He commented further on how the 20 City needed time to discuss and think through how to properly draft zoning regulations regarding 21 cannabis businesses. 22 23 Council Member Gunn inquired what the term of the moratorium would be. City Attorney Riggs 24 stated the moratorium would run through January 1, 2025. He reported the City would have zoning 25 regulations in place by that time. 26 27 Acting Mayor Meehlhause opened the meeting to the public. 28 29 Rene Johnson expressed concern with the fact the proposed Ordinance was not available for the 30 public to view on the City's website. 31 32 Acting Mayor Meehlhause indicated the Ordinance was posted on the City's website under the 33 meeting agendas and packets. 34 35 Dennis Frohm, 7040 Bona Road, recommended the cannabis issue be treated similar to alcohol 36 sales to ensure it be kept from schools and churches. He believed cannabis was not as bad as 37 tobacco and alcohol because these substances were addictive. He stated he was in favor of the sale 38 of cannabis in the community to those 21 and older. 39 40 Acting Mayor Meehlhause closed the meeting to public comment. 41 42 MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Cermak. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 1006 43 Authorizing a Study and Imposing a Moratorium on the Operation of Cannabis Businesses within 44 the City of Mounds View. 45 46 Council Member Lindstrom commented he spoke with the League of Minnesota Cities today about