EL CENTRO MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES, BUDGET APPROVED

Medical Marijuana Ordinance Approved

Medical marijuana dispensaries will officially be allowed in El
Centro.

The City Council approved an ordinance to allow up to two dispensaries
to operate within the city limits after more than a year of discussion.

The dispensaries will be allowed on two portions of Imperial Avenue -
from Ocotillo Drive to Ross Avenue, and from Pico Avenue to the
northern city limits - and two portions of South Fourth Street - from
Interstate 8 to Ross Avenue, and from Heil to Olive avenues.

Two questions remained for the council from last month's discussion
having to do with dealing with edible medical marijuana products and
mobile dispensaries.

Food with medical marijuana can be sold in dispensaries, but there
can't be a kitchen on site, said Planning Director Norma Villacana.
There were issues from the county Public Health Department perspective
because groups like the Federal Drug Administration don't recognize
marijuana as food additives.

Mobile dispensaries will also be allowed, but only under specific
instances, she said. Mobile dispensaries are required to be lawful
medical cannabis dispensary in another jurisdiction and have an El
Centro business license. If a mobile dispensary wants to be in El
Centro it would have to be one of the two dispensaries allowed in the
city.

The ordinance to allow dispensaries was approved with a 5-0
vote.

$105.7 million budget approved

Through major losses in revenue and pending cuts at the state level,
the city of El Centro has a balanced $105.7 million budget.

The City Council approved its budget during a meeting Tuesday that
lasted almost to midnight.

The balanced budget presented includes no layoffs or furloughs, said
Finance Director Leticia Salcido.

The general fund makes up about $23.7 million of the total, she said.
Most of that, about 62 percent, is for public safety.

There are both short and long term issues that look like they will
have an affect on the budget, she said.

Short term issues include a reduction in revenue, possible affects
from state budget cuts and required payments the city is having to
make, Salcido said.

Long term challenges to the budget include an anticipated $2.5 million
increase in operational cost because of projects currently under
construction or planned in the next few years, she said. There are
also anticipated increase in retirement costs.

If the economy continues to decline, the city will have to reduce its
costs, Salcido said. However the city is already at minimum levels.

The city would have to either reduce services or cut employees, she
said.

Though sales tax are expected to go up a little, federal trends are
going down, said Councilman Jon Edney. It's a 'perilous situation.'

"I'm very concerned," he said. "We have nothing left
open."

There's not one dollar that isn't being put toward something, except
reserves, he said. It's going to be a difficult time.

Mayor Pro Tem Sedalia Sanders was more positive about the
budget.

"I guess I'm just the eternal optimist, and I think it will get
better," she said.

She said she sees a lot of hope in the budget, especially with some of
the project coming through like the aquatic center and third fire station.

"I see a lot of hope. I really do," she said. "We're talking about
things that will enhance the quality of life for the residents of this
community."