REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
BY: JENNIFER RUIZ, Project Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Commercial Cannabis Activity:
Approve a No-Cost Extension Agreement Amendment with Make Green Go LLC for Cannabis Social Equity Business Technical Assistance to October 31, 2022.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the No-Cost Extension of the Contract with Make Green Go LLC for Cannabis Social Equity Business Technical Assistance to October 31, 2022.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends approval of First Amendment with MGG and authorization for the City Manager or designee to enter into such agreement. The contract amendment will allow the City to continue to provide technical assistance support during the application process for cannabis social equity applicants pursuant to FMC 9-3316(b)(6)(vi).
BACKGROUND
Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) Section 9-3316(b)(6)(vi) states, "If qualified as an equity applicant, the equity applicant's fees shall be waived and commercial cannabis business permit application assistance and compliance assistance shall be given. An equity applicant shall also be provided any other assistance as required by state law, as may be amended." The cannabis social equity applicants from the first and second application rounds are still working on the conditional use permits and other final requirements in pursuit of the final commercial cannabis business permit.
On August 1, 2021, the City entered into a contract with MGG after conducting an RFP process. As part of their technical assistance contract, MGG has provided live webinars with social equity applicants and industry experts on: Business Plans, Capitalization and Location, Interviews, Safety and Security Plans, Marketing, Compliance, and other topics. They have provided direct one-on-one support to applicants on topics such as: business plans, finding compliant locations, grant oppor...
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