At a special City Council meeting held for the purpose of conducting a public hearing related to cannabis activities, the Milpitas City Council took the first step to prohibit all commercial cannabis activity within the City on a permanent basis, as well as regulate cultivation of cannabis for personal use.
The Council unanimously approved (4-0; Phan recused himself on the matter) the introduction of Ordinance No. 298, which amends the Zoning Ordinance of the City’s municipal code to effectuate the ban and regulations. The final adoption of the Ordinance is schedule for the January 15, 2019 City Council meeting.
At its November 20, 2018 meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare regulations permanently banning all commercial cannabis activity within the city and establish regulations for personal cultivation. The Planning Commission recommended approving the proposed zoning ordinance at their meeting of December 6, 2018.
There has been extensive dialogue on the topic of cannabis over the last two years before the City Council, Cannabis Subcommittee and Planning Commission. The City also held two facilitated community meetings and conducted public surveys in June 2018, which garnered over 500 responses. Hundreds of e-mails were received from members of the public, including a community initiated petition, in addition to hundreds of public comments received at Council meetings.
As background, on November 9, 2016, State Proposition 64 to legalize adult use of cannabis or marijuana was approved by California voters. On January 17, 2017, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 291 to place a temporary moratorium on certain cannabis-related activities so as to allow time for the City Council and community to decide whether to allow cannabis activities in the city. The temporary moratorium was subsequently extended to the fullest extent allowed under law, prompting tonight’s Council agenda item.
For more information, visit the City’s website at www.milpitas.gov
