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1/25/2016 <br /> ordinance and on file with the City Clerk. The report details numerous violent crimes <br /> that occurred throughout the state in and around medical marijuana establishments; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office issued a May 2014 <br /> memorandum entitled "Issues Surrounding Marijuana in Santa Clara County," which <br /> outlined many of the negative secondary effects resulting from marijuana cultivation; a <br /> copy of this memorandum is attached to the staff report presented to the City Council <br /> with this ordinance and on file with the City Clerk. According the memorandum, <br /> marijuana cultivation sites were often associated with illegal construction, haphazard <br /> electrical wiring, electricity theft, fires, mold and fungus problems, diversion of public <br /> water, pollution of waterways, firearm violations, crimes, and organized crime and street <br /> gang involvement; and <br /> WHEREAS, news stories regarding adverse impacts of inedical marijuana <br /> businesses, including dispensaries and cultivation sites, are attached to the staff report <br /> presented to the City Council with this ordinance and on file with the City Clerk. As <br /> detailed in these stories, marijuana establishments and cultivation sites are frequent <br /> targets of violent crimes, including robberies and assaults; and <br /> WHEREAS, it is reasonable to conclude that marijuana cultivation sites and <br /> commercial cannabis activities would cause similar adverse impacts on the public <br /> health, safety, and welfare in Redwood City. Furthermore, if the City lost the ability to <br /> regulate or prohibit marijuana cultivation as a result of Health and Safety Code section <br /> 11362.777(c)(4), it would lose the ability to protect the public health, safety, and welfare <br /> from the negative secondary impacts of marijuana cultivation sites, as detailed above; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the City <br /> Council desires to amend Redwood City Zoning Ordinance Article 59 to address, in <br /> express terms marijuana cultivation facilities and commercial cannabis activities. The <br /> City Council hereby determines that the Zoning Ordinance is in need of further review <br /> and possible revision to protect the public against potential negative health, safety, and <br /> welfare impacts and to address the new marijuana business models recognized under <br /> MMRSA; and <br /> WHEREAS, the compacted time frame in Health and Safety Code section <br /> 11362.777(c)(4) for adopting a marijuana cultivation regulation or ordinance does not <br /> provide sufficient time to consider and adopt a regular zoning code amendment, which <br /> includes public notice, consideration by the Planning Commission, and first and second <br /> readings before the City Council. As a result of the impending March 1, 2016 deadline <br /> ATTY/ORD.420/MORATORIUM ON MARUUANA CULTIVATION FACILITIES Ord.2419 <br /> REV:01-21-16 RL FORMERLY MUFF#301 <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br />