The Venice Neighborhood Council Board will hear a resolution that opposes new regulations for controlling medical marijuana at its Board Meeting on November 17, 2009. The new regulations, described as “overly-burdensome” in the resolution proposed for adoption by the VNC, were proposed by the LA City Attorney’s office and are now being debated by the LA City Council.
At a Town Hall on the subject held November 5, 2009, the VNC heard from stakeholders that the proposed regulations would create security problems for medical marijuana dispensaries (because they required marijuana to be grown in the same building it was distributed from) and that they were too restrictive, failing to meet the needs of patients for accessibility and quality. The resolution will be voted on at the Venice Neighborhood Council’s November 17th Board Meeting, starting at 7:00pm in the Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
The comments recorded at the Town Hall can be viewed at: http://venicenc.org/files/091105_MedMarijuanaTownHallComments.pdf. The City Attorney’s proposed regulations can be found at: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2008/08-0923_RPT_ATTY_10-20-09.pdf.
In other business, the Council will consider new language regarding LA City Council Member Bill Rosendahl’s motion on establishment of parking areas for people sleeping in their vehicles. The VNC unconditionally endorsed Rosendahl’s plan in October but is now being asked to suggest to the City Councilman that he revise his motion, leaving the City’s ban on live-in vehicles parking on City streets intact.
The VNC Board will also be asked to pass budget revisions supporting Neighborhood Council elections in April. While the elections will be run by the City Clerk, the City failed to provide the Clerk’s office with funding to recruit candidates and let residents know about the election. The budget revisions will shift funds from the VNC’s annual budget to address this problem.
In addition, candidates for the vacant VNC Board seat will address the Board in favor of their appointment and the Council will be asked to support the Ballona Lagoon Restoration Project, in progress just south of Washington on the Grand Canal. In old business, several items brought to the Board by its Land Use and Planning Committee and postponed from last month will be heard, as well as a discussion on a proposed one-year moratorium on approving new applications for off-site alcohol sales.
Snacks and coffee will be provided.
A detailed agenda will be posted on the internet at www.VeniceNC.org and at posting places in the community.
There is no charge for this event. It is open to all Venice stakeholders and the public. Comments are encouraged.
What: Venice Neighborhood Council Board Meeting
Where: Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd (enter from Westminster)
When: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Contact: Outreach@VeniceNC.org, 310.606.2015
