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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20241104 - CC Workshop MinutesHastings, Minnesota City Council Workshop November 4, 2024 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 7:20 p.m. in the Volunteer Room at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Fox, Haus, Lawrence, Leifeld, Pemble, and Vihrachoff Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha Assistant City Administrator Kelly Murtaugh Community Development Director John Hinzman City Attorney Kori Land Mayor Fasbender called the workshop to order at 7:20 pm and welcomed councilmembers for follow up on the Cannabis zoning and registration ordinance. Land indicated the intent for the workshop is to review and affirm zoning and discuss registration and events. Zoning Codes Land redirected the conversation to address zoning in terms of uses rather than businesses. Lower potency, cannabis retail, manufacturing/processing, and cultivation are the noted uses. Land then reviewed the types of use and eligible zone in the city and the permit required. Low potency edibles have a current buffer of 500’ between uses with no other buffers. The eligible zoning districts are C3, C4, and DC. Cannabis Uses/Retail Sales is proposed as follows: 1000’ between businesses; 500’ from schools, 1000’commercial day cares, 500’ from residential treatment facilities, 500’ from residential, 1000’ from attraction in a park where minors congregate. Possible exemption for Downtown Core. Council discussion on buffer distance options and impact on the city. Discussion about putting greater buffers to start and see how things develop with an option to reduce buffers in future if desired. Discussion about whether buffers discourage businesses from opening in the city. If a business came in asking for a variance in the buffer, that can be considered by Council. Discussion about reducing all buffers to 500’ and retaining the 1000’ between businesses. Further discussion about retaining the larger buffer but allow the buffer to end at a highway. Cannabis manufacturing, cultivation and warehousing can be in zoning districts I1 and I2 with buffer zones as follows: 1000’ from schools, 500’ residential, 500” from parks. There was general agreement among councilmembers. Cultivation requires 20 contiguous acres and must be 1000’ from any other cultivator and is restricted to zones A, I1, and I2. No other buffers. Registration Ordinance Current licensees will retain licenses and renew until OCM actually gets to licensing. Then the city will need to register the businesses. Some transition effort will need to be in place to assist current businesses. Registration process for businesses will be as follows: business applies to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), OCM vets the application and grants preliminary approval, OCM sends zoning confirmation request to the City, the City responds within 30 days (compliant/non- compliant), and if compliant, OCM issues the license, and the business must register with the City. The city can charge ½ of license fee charged by the State (or up to $500/$1000). It is recommended to add a provision that the registrant be current on payment of all other City fees and charges. Discussion on fees and consensus about charging the top of what is allowed. The City can limit retail, mezzo- and microbusiness retail operations to 1 per 12,500 in population. The ability to limit does not extend to lower-potency edible retailers or medical cannabis businesses. The Event Organizer requires a permit and city council approval. The recommendation is that events are not allowed on public property, with a security plan approved by the Police Chief, the number of days of the event defined, pay an escrow fee for unforeseen expenses incurred by the City, and address on-site consumption intent. Discussion on the distinction between a Cannabis Event Organizer versus a special event typically supported by the City. Discussion about vendor interest in participating in special events as currently defined by the City. Land recommended adding an Odor ordinance amendment to the public nuisance section of city code. This could be part of a registration application for certain cannabis uses and would provide for administrative penalties or criminal action for noncompliance. The next steps include first and second readings at upcoming council meetings. ADJOURNMENT Workshop adjourned at 8:40 p.m.