DESERT HOT SPRINGS MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLANS UP IN SMOKE

The Desert Hot Springs Planning Commission weighed in this week on
two key issues affecting the city's future: medical marijuana and its
art-in-public places program.

The commission voted 3-2 on Tuesday to recommend banning medical
marijuana dispensaries. The commission had tied 2-2 on the issue at a
previous meeting, one that Chairman John Gerardi had been unable to attend.

The commission also voted 3-1-1 to recommend a new fee structure for
the city's proposed art-in-public-places program. Commissioner John
Aguilar dissented, and commissioner Ron Stewart abstained.

The commission recommended a fee of 0.5 percent on the value of new
residential projects, and 0.75 percent on the value of new commercial
projects, according to a city release.

The City Council had asked the commission to revisit the art fees
with more information on other valley cities' art programs.

That fee structure is projected to create more than $33 million in
funding for new art in the city over the next 20-25 years, the release stated.

However, Fred Bell, director of the Building Industry Association's
desert chapter, called that projection low and said Thursday the city
staff is "under-forecasting revenues."

Bell said the fee structure would generate closer to $42 million for city art.

Bell and city officials have wrangled in recent weeks over the art in
public places fee proposal as well as proposed developer impact fee hikes.