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CHAMBER REDWOOD CITY SAN MATEO COUNTY August 23, 2020 Honorable Mayor Diane Howard Member of the City Council City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 Honorable Mayor and City Council Members: RE: Study session on storefront retail cannabis sales The Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce has been tracking the ongoing issue of a city -supported cannabis industry in the City of Redwood City since voters approved Proposition 64 by wide margins in Redwood City and San Mateo County. The Chamber has appreciated the City Council, Planning Commission, and City staff at every level for their responsible balance of community engagement, public safety, public policy development, and economic development throughout this process. The Chamber has highlighted this issue at previous Progress Seminars and participated in education tours with many of you through the Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance. I am confident that Redwood City can take the next step of allowing retail cannabis sales without sacrificing the character, safety, or nearby uses in any zoning district. Further, as we continue to witness the devastating impacts that COVID-19 is having on Redwood City's local economy and our small businesses — especially retail — we need to consider the positive impact that retail cannabis will have on Redwood City's general fund and filing retails spaces across town left empty by the current recession. In advance of your study session, I respectfully submit the following public comment on behalf of the Chamber for your consideration and direction to City staff and the Planning Commission as they develop a formal policy: Staff Report Question to City Council Chamber Public Comment Question 1: Should the City permit up to six cannabis Agree with and support staff recommendation. retail storefront businesses? Staff recommends allowing up to six storefront cannabis retailers, equal to the current six non -storefront retailers in Redwood City. This should allow for sustainable business operations even as other communities eventually allow storefront sales, while avoiding undue impacts on other retail businesses in the community and avoiding clustering of cannabis retail businesses. Question 2: Should cannabis retail storefront businesses Agree with and support staff recommendation. be permitted to conduct delivery services as part of their cannabis business permit? Staff recommends that the City allow cannabis retail storefront businesses to conduct deliveries.