ENGLISH'S LAST WORDS

FAIRFIELD - Plenty of issues face the City Council this week, but
it's likely Councilman John English will steal the show at a meeting Tuesday.

English, who has said he'll resign after the meeting, has been at the
center of attention following his felony drug conviction earlier this
month. He plans to give his exit speech during the councilmembers'
comment period at the beginning of the meeting.

English didn't step down immediately after his conviction because he
wanted to make a last stand at a public meeting. Earlier this week he
said he doesn't know exactly what he'll say.

"I haven't finalized any of my ideas," he said. "But I do want to
point out some of the things I've done while on the City Council."

After that, the City Council will get on with the usual business of
awarding contracts and ratifying new strategies.

The council will hold a hearing on whether to extend a moratorium on
medical marijuana clinics in Fairfield. Last month, the council
banned medical marijuana dispensaries for 45 days to give city staff
time to research legal issues.

Some people have asked the city for permission to open Fairfield's
first pot shop, but a recent Supreme Court decision that reinforced
federal laws against using the popular drug has blurred a state law
that allows medical patients to use marijuana legally.

"The city expects that these inquiries will continue despite the
(Supreme Court) decision," according to the proposed ordinance.

City staff recommended a one-year ban on medical marijuana clinics in
the hope that it will provide enough time for the courts to clear the
haze surrounding the legality of such facilities. It will also buy
time for city planners to decide where those types of businesses
could operate in the city.

"Some of the potential issues that must be addressed if the city
chooses to permit medical marijuana clinics include . . . number of
clinics, security, proximity to schools, churches and other
'sensitive' users and crime," the staff report stated.

Also, the council will discuss a new Economic Development Strategy
for recruiting and retaining businesses. The strategy was due last
year, but has undergone several revisions that held up the process.

In general, it calls for more emphasis on redeveloping core
commercial districts such as downtown and North Texas Street. Until
recently, economic developers have focused on outlying areas such as
lower Green Valley and Cordelia.

Other items on the agenda include awarding contracts for road
improvements at the intersection of Dover Avenue and Air Base
Parkway, at the intersection of Travis Boulevard and Second Street,
and to add a traffic signal at the intersection of Hilborn Road, Lyon
Road and the I-80 westbound offramp.

At a Glance

Who: Fairfield City Council

What: A meeting to discuss Councilman John English's resignation,
medical marijuana clinics, road improvements and economic development
strategies.

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday

Where: Council Chamber at the Fairfield Civic Center, 1000 Webster St.

Info: 428-7400