ZIP-TIE MARIJUANA FEE ADOPTED

Sheriff Tom Allman's voluntary medical marijuana zip tie fee of $25
per plant was added to the master fee schedule by a unanimous vote of
the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

County Counsel Jeanine Nadel said the details of the change in county
code were still being debated in committee, but that the board could
adopt the fee separately.

"In the meantime since it didn't appear we were going to have the
ordinance resolved before July," she said, "we decided to bring the
zip ties in to the master fee process so that zip ties can go on sale
by July 1."

Fourth District Supervisor Kendall Smith said the committee would
bring forward its recommendations, but that it wouldn't be until after
the start of the 2009/10 fiscal year.

"We're only talking about a $25 fee here," she said. "We're not
talking about a lot of moneySThe specific language will be in there
and we will tie this all together."

Allman said he didn't have a problem with the action and that work on
the finer points of the issue would continue.

"I don't have a dog in this fight," he said. "I think it's an
innovative way for Mendocino County to take the lead yet again."

Board Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor John Pinches said the fee
would likely later be modified for veterans and disabled patients, but
that details would be forthcoming at a later date.

"The only thing we're doing here is adopting the fee," he said. "You
now have your zip tie program in place."