Commercial Cannabis

Happening at the December 5, 2023 City Council meeting: City Council will consider the second reading of the ordinance to amend Monterey City Code section 19-103, the Schedule of Fees and Services Charges, to fully recover the cost of administering the Cannabis Business Ordinance and Rental Inventory Ordinance. City Council will also consider adopting a resolution to amend the Master Fee Schedule. Additionally, City Council will receive an informational update on the commercial cannabis application process.

View the agenda for the December 5, 2023 City Council meeting here.

As we approach the end of the year, we are also closing in on the launch date for our commercial cannabis application. On November 21, 2023, City Council will consider a second reading of the Cannabis Business Ordinance. On that same day, Council will consider a first reading of an ordinance amending City Code to fully recover the cost of administering the Cannabis Business Ordinance. At the following regular City Council Meeting on December 5, 2023, Council will consider a second reading of the cost recovery ordinance, as well as a resolution to amend the City's master fee schedule. Council will also have the opportunity to receive an informational update on the application process at that time.

If everything remains on schedule, the application process is tentatively scheduled to launch on December 11, 2023.

At the November 7, 2023 City Council Meeting, the Monterey City Council approved the first reading of the cannabis ordinance. City Council will consider the second reading at the November 21, 2023 City Council Meeting. Staff will recommend adopting a resolution to amend the Master Fee Schedule to add a retail cannabis application on December 5, 2023.

• PDF of the slide presentation from the November 7 meeting
• Watch this Item #23 on the November 7, 2023 agenda

The Planning Commission, on October 24, 2023, adopted a resolution recommending to the Monterey City Council they adopt the draft commercial cannabis ordinance. The ordinance comes before the Monterey City Council for a first reading on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the evening session beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Tentative steps following the Tuesday, November 7 City Council Meeting: If City Council approves the first reading, the second reading will come before the Council at the Tuesday, November 21 meeting.

The City Council meeting agenda is available at https://isearchmonterey.org:

See Public Hearing item #23 on the agenda, 1st Reading by Title Only of an Ordinance to Amend the City Zoning Ordinance to Authorize and Regulate a Limited Number and Type of Cannabis Businesses and Rezone Multiple Parcels to Include a Cannabis Business Overlay District; Exempt from CEQA per Public Resources Code Section 21083.3 and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 - https://isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=5742&doctype=1

The Planning Commission on October 24, 2023 adopted a resolution recommending to the Monterey City Council they adopt the draft commercial cannabis ordinance. The ordinance comes before the Monterey City Council for a first reading on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the evening session beginning at 7:00 p.m. The agenda report will be available prior to the meeting at https://isearchmonterey.org/.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Planning Commission will consider updates to the City’s Zoning Map to create Cannabis Business Overlay areas. Updates to the City’s Zoning Map require review through the Planning Commission.

Previously, on June 6, 2023, the City Council decided to approve a project description for cannabis that – in addition to operational regulations – includes four storefront retailers (one in each CB zone), one non-storefront retailer (consistent with Senate Bill 1186), and two temporary events at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. No storefronts would face Alvarado Street, nor cross streets with Lighthouse Avenue, Foam Street, or Wave Street. The associated Cannabis Business Overlay areas are mapped within the following figure for consideration.

Further review by the City Council will occur after the Planning Commission has considered these updates to the latest Zoning Map. A date has not yet been chosen for City Council review.

At the June 6, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council with a 4-1 vote, approved (with one change) the project description for cannabis businesses and temporary cannabis events. The one change is regarding the number of temporary cannabis event permits that may be issued. Per the draft ordinance on page 7, item C7, "No more than five temporary cannabis event permits may be issued by the city
per calendar year. Two of the five event permits shall be designated to occur in connection with the California Roots Festival and the Rebels and Renegades Music Festival. The remaining three permits shall not be for more than one day each." Council changed this by removing the additional three permits, however the two designated events were approved, California Roots Festival and the Rebels and Renegades Music Festival. Both events will have to apply for the permit once that process is open.

The agenda report for last evening's meeting is posted on isearchmonterey.org at https://isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/AGENDA%20REPORT.DOC.pdf?meetingId=5429&documentType=Agenda&itemId=38190&publishId=24046&isSection=false. The meeting video is set at the 6:26:56 timestamp when this item was discussed.

Here is an updated Cannabis Roadmap Timeline dates, posted May 2, 2023.

Updated Cannabis Roadmap Timeline with adjusted dates

During the 7:00 pm session of the May 2, 2023 City Council meeting, the Monterey City Council will discuss the approval of the project description for Cannabis businesses so that the Community Development Department can start Environmental Review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

This item is listed as #7 on the May 2, 2023 City Council Agenda.

Here's an updated Cannabis Roadmap Timeline, posted August 24, 2022.