REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 21, 2020
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Quad Knopf, Inc., to prepare an Environmental Impact Report evaluating the proposed regulation and permitting of commercial cannabis activities not to exceed the amount of $300,000.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Quad Knopf, Inc., to complete an Environmental Impact Report evaluating the Proposed Regulation and Permitting of Commercial Cannabis Activities and authorize the execution of related documents by the Planning and Development Director or designee. The Second Amendment would extend the contract term length until December 31, 2020 with no additional budget increase.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed EIR will complete a programmatic assessment of the addition of Cannabis to the City’s Development Code to allow cannabis operations within the City. The scope of work will comply with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines.
BACKGROUND
On December 14, 2017, the Fresno City Council directed staff to initiate the process to amend the zoning code to allow medicinal cannabis operations, cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, testing, distribution, delivery, and dispensaries within the City. Subsequently, in March 2018, the Director initiated an amendment to the zoning code to allow for adult use cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, testing, and distribution - but not adult use retail sales or delivery. On December 13, 2018, the Fresno City Council adopted a cannabis regulatory ordinance which includes requirements for medicinal and adult use cannabis permits, operation requirements, location restrictions, and application requirements.
The proposed EIR will complete a programmatic assessment of the addition of Cannabis to the City’s Development Code to allow cannabis operations within the City. The scope of work will comply with Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines.
This Second Amendment will allow for an extension of the contract term length to December 31, 2020. Currently, the Consultants have completed the draft EIR. This Amendment will accommodate the required Public Draft Review Period, response to any comments received, revision and publishing of the final EIR, through adoption by Planning Commission and City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This approval is not a project for the purposes of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This amendment has no fiscal impact.
Attachment: Second Amendment