Agenda Packets - 2023/08/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 31, 2023 Special Meeting Page 4 1 this topic and he understood the State would not be issuing license until January of 2025. City 2 Attorney Riggs explained this was his understanding as well, but noted people could still apply. 3 4 Council Member Lindstrom believed the war on drugs, cannabis in particular, has gone on far too 5 long and he feared the moratorium was continuing the war. He believed the City had the time to 6 figure out the zoning without the moratorium in place. 8 Council Member Gunn indicated the moratorium would allow the City time it needs to set up 9 proper zoning for cannabis businesses. She noted the City could put the moratorium in place for 10 however long it would like. 11 12 Council Member Lindstrom stated he would not be supporting the moratorium. 13 14 Council Member Cermak reported she was allergic to cannabis and the smoke coming from 15 cannabis. She was sad the State of Minnesota passed legislation that made cannabis legal. 16 17 Acting Mayor Meehlhause explained the timeline for the moratorium aligns with the State 18 approving licensing. He asked if the moratorium could be repealed sooner if the City Council had 19 zoning code requirements in place. City Attorney Riggs reported this would have to occur once 20 the zoning codes were in place. 21 22 Ayes — 2 Nays — 2 (Cermak and Lindstrom) Motion failed. 23 24 B. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 1007 Prohibiting Use of Cannabis and 25 Hemp in Public Places. 26 27 City Attorney Riggs requested the Council introduce an ordinance prohibiting the use of cannabis 28 and hemp in public places. He explained a number of communities were looking at putting this 29 type of legislation in place. He reported the ordinance has a simple and broad definition for public 30 places. He indicated this ordinance would be similar to how tobacco smoke was treated in City 31 parks. He noted that this ordinance should be viewed as a tool. He recommended the ordinance 32 include language to address the use of medical cannabis. 33 34 Acting Mayor Meehlhause asked what was included in public places. He questioned if schools 35 were included. City Attorney Riggs reported this included City parks, City right of way (including 36 sidewalks), City Hall and the Community Center. He noted that schools were covered under the 37 Cannabis Act. 38 39 Acting Mayor Meehlhause opened the meeting for public comment. 40 41 Dr. Jean Strait, 7728 Knollwood Drive, anticipated vaping was more of a concern in schools than 42 cannabis use. She questioned how the City would regulate something that could not be identified. 43 She feared the City was worrying about the wrong things. 44 45 City Attorney Riggs clarified the Ordinance was simply a tool. 46