RANCHO MIRAGE CITY LEADERS AGAIN DELAY POT DISPENSARIES DEBATE

The Rancho Mirage City Council put off debate and a vote on a
proposal to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the city for a
third time Thursday, fueling frustration among residents on either
side of the issue. Mayor Richard Kite said during the meeting that he
would not be calling for public comments on the topic after receiving
legal advice that the residents' comments had to be made at the same
meeting the council discussed it, "which will not be today."

Rancho Mirage resident Rick Smith, who described himself as
"diametrically opposed" to allowing dispensaries into town, said he
would have liked to have known he wouldn't be able to speak before
sitting through an hour and a half of council meeting.

He also said he didn't really understand the rationale for
prohibiting comments before the council had had a chance to talk.
"The whole point of the meeting is to make sure our input will be
heard, that's the most important part of this process."

The posted meeting agenda said that City Attorney Steve Quintanilla
had requested the discussion be "continued," or postponed, to the
Dec. 2 meeting but didn't indicate what effect that might have on the
public's ability to comment.

The council headed into a closed executive session, reserved for
matters involving legal advice on issues that have or could wind up
in court, after Thursday's public meeting ended, including,
apparently, regulation of dispensaries.

Councilman Scott Hines said residents concerned the issue could be
decided one way or another before they'd had a chance to have their
say can take their comments directly to council members and many of
them had already done so.

He said anyone who objected to discussion being sent behind closed
doors, at least for now, should be talking to those trying to bring
dispensaries into Rancho Mirage under California's medical marijuana
law, approved by voters in 1997.

"It's the industry threatening to file a lawsuit which is driving it
behind closed doors," he said.

The council had been on track to vote on an ordinance that would
likely limit the overall number of dispensaries in the city to two,
and requires them to be located at least 1,000 feet away from
residential areas.

One dispensary opened up briefly in the city before shutting down in
accordance with a 45-day moratorium imposed by the City Council and
since then extended by another 45 days.

Before that, Rancho Mirage had no laws governing marijuana outlets,
but rejected business permit applications from that and two other
dispensaries wishing to set up shop. Attorney Jeff Lake, who
represents all three, has said they haven't ruled out filing a lawsuit.

In other action, the council:

Approved spending $214,000 to upgrade audio and video equipment in
the council chambers. The upgrade should, among other things, allow
the city to stream meetings live on its website, and should be
completed by next February.

Voted to delay previously approved impact fee increases for 2010 to
November 2011.

Approved a $15,000 sponsorship for next March's Virginia Waring
International Piano Competition.