Information about the draft of Alma’s medical marijuana ordinance has been received by the city commission.
The commission received it from the planning commission during its meeting Tuesday but the ordinance has not yet been formally introduced, said Aeric Ripley, Assistant City Manager and Downtown Development Authority Director, on Thursday.
At its April 24 meeting, the commission will discuss setting a date and time for a public hearing on the ordinance.
“If they don’t set a public hearing, the only other option they have is they’re not going to do anything,” Ripley said.
If the public hearing at the city commission level takes place, the commission will then introduce a final ordinance, then hold a second reading at a later meeting before it can vote to formally adopt the ordinance.
Approximately 15 people spoke Tuesday during the meeting’s public comment portion, he said.
“Not one person spoke for it,” Ripley said.
People from Alma, those who have Alma addresses but live outside the city, and Breckenridge residents spoke.
The draft ordinance underwent changes made by the planning commission after a public hearing last month.
RELATED: Alma planners change medicinal pot ordinance, send back to city commission
The number of dispensary facility licenses is now limited to up to three, while no more than two licenses can be distributed for grower, processer, secure transporter and safety compliance laboratories.
The most recent draft reads that all facilities must be 300 feet from any single-family residences, a single-family residential zoning district, city park, or kindergarten through 12th grade school.
Also at the meeting:
• the commission went into executive session with city manager Matt Schooley to discuss his new city manager contract.
Once the commission exited the executive session, it voted unanimously to approve the contract;
• a public hearing has been set for 6 p.m. on May 8 to review the proposed fiscal year 2018-19 city budget and proposed millage rates;
• a $69,915.63 payment was made to Gametime/Sinclair Recreation for the second purchase of playground equipment for the Rebuilding Alma’s Wright Dream Park from the funds held by the city as the fiduciary of the Rebuild Alma’s Wright Dream Park Committee; and
• a $560,671 bid from McGuirk Sand and Gravel, Inc. from Mt. Pleasant was approved for construction work on Ely Street and Euclid Avenue.
The next city commission meeting is at 6 p.m. on April 24 in the commissioners’ room at the Alma Municipal Building at 525 E. Superior St. A work session precedes it at 5:30 p.m.