LIVE OAK COUNCIL CONSIDERS BANNING OUTDOOR MARIJUANA GROWS

A ban on growing medical marijuana outdoors - spurred by concerns
about the odor of the plant and crimes cultivation can lead to - will
be discussed Tuesday by the Live Oak City Council.

"My main concern is public safety," Mayor Gary Baland
said.

He cited crimes connected with outdoor marijuana grows in others
communities that include theft of plants and said, "It's not a good
thing."

Jim Goodwin, city manager for Live Oak, said indoor cultivation would
remain legal under the measure. Residents have raised concerns about
outdoor fields, he said.

"There is conversation in the community," Goodwin said.

"Our phones in City Hall have not been ringing off the wall," Goodwin
added, but said, "We've had some calls."

Peter Carr, city administrator for Biggs in Butte County, said the
community adopted a ban on outdoor medical marijuana cultivation about
a year ago. Carr said the measure has worked well and that Biggs has
had 100 percent compliance.

The ordinance declares that "the sight and smell of marijuana is a
public nuisance," Carr said.

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Council meeting:

- -Live Oak City Council.
- -WHAT: Study session.
- -WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday
- -WHERE: City Hall, 9955 Live Oak Blvd.