MARIJUANA GROW HOUSES, CLINICS ON COUNCIL AGENDA TONIGHT

How to regulate marijuana grow houses and clinics will be back before
the Arcata City Council tonight.

The council is scheduled to develop a marijuana task force that will
make recommendations to the Arcata Planning Commission and council on
land-use regulations.

At the Oct. 3 meeting, the council directed city staff to establish a
task force to determine land-use standards for marijuana grow houses
and clinics.

The decision to develop a task force followed discussion of how to
regulate medical marijuana clinics in commercial and central business
district zones, as well as discussion of what land-use standards
should consist of for residential "accessory use" and growing.

After hearing a range of testimony on the issue, the council voted to
approve a task force to seek further input from the community to help
determine the city's role in regulation.

At tonight's meeting, the council will focus on developing the scope
of work and time line for the task force, and will consider
categories of participants as well as initiate recruiting.

In other business, the council will consider adopting a resolution to
place the Utility Users Tax Measure on the ballot for the Feb. 5,
2008, election, and a resolution requesting the county consolidate
the tax measure with the county's general election.

The utility user tax is accumulated through sewer, water,
electricity, gas, cable and telephone services, generating $700,000
to the general fund yearly.

Additionally, the council will hold a public hearing regarding the
Los Harbors development project, located on the former Twin Harbors
Mill site at the southeast corner of 10th and Q streets.

The hearing will focus on adding a planned development combining zone
designation, approving a planned development permit and a major
subdivision map and adopting a mitigated negative declaration of
environmental impact.

The Arcata City Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at
City Hall.