PHOTO BY JENNIFER COLTON
[quote style=”2″]City Stresses Action Is Not a Ban[/quote]
The city of Umatilla has blocked medical marijuana facilities for the next year but could work with the facilities in the future.
On Tuesday night, the Umatilla City Council unanimously declared a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana facilities and declared an emergency to have the ordinance go into effect immediately. Unlike the recent action taken in the city of Hermiston, Umatilla City Manager Bob Ward stressed the ordinance is not a ban on the facilities.
“This is not a temporary ban,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the city council and the community to come up with a way for how medical marijuana dispensaries will be regulated after May 2015. “This gives us breathing room.”
Michael Parker, of Columbia Basin Compassion Center, spoke out at the meeting. Parker said the center, a medical marijuana dispensary located between Hermiston and Umatilla, has served more than 2,000 patients with medical marijuana. Those served include more than 100 cancer patients and have an average age of 45.
“It’s not a small need in our community for medical marijuana,” Parker said. “I hope you consider working with people to get these facilities back open.”
Ward said the city will now begin the process of adopting regulations for medical marijuana facilities. The moratorium will give the city time to both draft its own regulations and see how the state rules progress. Ward pointed to ongoing debate at the state level as a need for a moratorium; the state continues to hash out guidelines for dispensaries, such as whether they would be limited to only plant sales or if it would only ban sweetened products that could appeal to children.
Tree ordinance
On Tuesday, the council also adopted Ordinance 789, which establishes a tree management program and creates a tree board to oversee the program. The tree management strategy establishes “best practices” for the planting, maintenance and removal of trees.
The ordinance will primarily impact public property, such as parks and streets, but can refer to trees on public property if they are a hazard to the public, such as if a tree is diseased or blocking a road or sidewalk.
The ordinance is also one requirement to receive a “Tree City USA” designation.
“It’s not the best, but it’s better than what we’ve got,” resident John Nichols said. “It should, properly implemented, be good for the city of Umatilla.”
Councilor Resigns
During the meeting, the council also accepted the resignation of longtime member Bill Meade.
“He served a very long time. He had good input on everything we did in this room,” Councilman George Fenton said. “I personally will miss him very much.”
Meade has served on the Umatilla City Council since August 2005. The city is accepting applications for the open position. Council members will interview candidates before their next meeting, April 15.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a $7,500 grant to the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce from the Transient Room Tax. The bulk of the award will go to Landing Days, including $5,000 for the fireworks show.
• Approved a proclamation honoring those at Two Rivers Correctional Institution. The proclamation is typically read by the mayor, but in Mayor Pat Lafferty’s absence, the council approved the proclamation by vote.
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