Loading...
City Council Ordinance 783Ordinance No. 783 CITY OF MONTICELLO WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA AN INTERIM ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING THC NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Monticello does ordain: SECTION 1. BACKGROUND. 1. By enacting 2022 Session Law Chapter 98, Article 13, the Minnesota Legislature amended Minn. Stat. § 151.72 and permitted the sale of edible and nonedible cannabinoid products that contain no more than 0.3% and more than 0.0% of Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC ("Products Containing THC'). 2. The new law does enact some requirements for labeling and testing, but the law provides no parameters regulating production, compliance checks, or sales of Products Containing THC. The new law does not prohibit local regulation. 3. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.355, subd. 4, the City is authorized to enact by ordinance a moratorium to regulate, restrict or prohibit any use within the jurisdiction to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Specifically, the City is authorized to enact a moratorium ordinance to allow it to undertake a study to determine whether to adopt any regulations or restrictions, including siting and location of uses, sales, testing, manufacturing and distribution of Products Containing THC. 4. Pursuant to its general police powers, including but not limited to, Minn. Stat. § 421.221, subd. 32, the City may enact and enforce regulations or restrictions on Products Containing THC within the City to protect the public safety, health, and welfare, including restrictions and a moratorium on the land use location of sales, testing, manufacturing, and distribution, during the pendency of a study to determine the need for police power regulations, including but not necessarily limited to licensing and permitting. SECTION 2. FINDINGS. 1. The City Council finds there is a need to study Products Containing THC and uses and businesses related thereto, in order to assess the necessity for and efficacy of regulation and restrictions relating to the manufacturing and distribution of Products Containing THC, including through licensing or zoning ordinances, in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents. 2. The study will allow the City Council to determine the appropriate changes, if any, that it should make to City ordinances. 2228490 3. The City Council, therefore, finds that there is a need to adopt a City-wide moratorium of the manufacturing and distribution of Products Containing THC within the City while City staff studies the issue. SECTION 3. MORATORIUM. 1. No individual, establishment, organization, or business may manufacture, or distribute Products Containing THC for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. 2. The City shall not issue any license or permit related to manufacturing or distribution of Products Containing THC for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. No license or permit application, of any kind, by any individual, establishment, organization, or businesses involved in the proposed manufacturing, or distribution of Products Containing THC within the City of Monticello shall be accepted or considered for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. 3. Planning or zoning applications related to Products Containing THC or applications from individuals, establishments, organizations, or businesses involved in the proposed manufacturing or distribution of Products Containing THC within the City of Monticello shall not be accepted or considered for twelve (12) months from the effective date of this ordinance. 4. This moratorium does not apply to the selling, testing, manufacturing, or distributing of Products Containing THC related to the Medical Cannabis Program as administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, provided that such activity is done in accordance with the regulations and laws of Minnesota regarding Medical Cannabis. SECTION 4. STUDY. The City Council directs City staff to study the need for local regulation regarding the manufacturing or distribution of Products Containing THC within the City of Monticello. Staff must also study the need for creating or amending zoning ordinances, licensing ordinances, or any other ordinances to protect the citizens of Monticello from any potential negative impacts of Products Containing THC. Upon completion of the study, the City Council, together with such commission as the City Council deems appropriate or, as may be required by law, will consider the advisability of adopting new ordinances or amending its current ordinances. SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT. The City may enforce this Ordinance by mandamus, injunctive relief, or other appropriate civil remedy in any court of competent jurisdiction. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Administrator, in consultation with the City Attorney, to initiate any legal action deemed necessary to secure compliance with this Ordinance. A violation of this Ordinance is also subject to the City's general penalty in City Code § 10.99. SECTION 6. TERM. Unless earlier rescinded by the City Council, the moratorium established under this Ordinance shall remain in effect until twelve (12) months from its effective date, at which point, it will automatically expire. 2228490 SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance is in full force and effect from August 22, 2022 after passage by the City Council. ADOPTED by the Monticello City Council 22nd day of August, 2022. G Lloyd Hilgart, `MayoriZ Date: ATTEST SUhreib&f, City Clerk ate: Ayes: Davidson, Fair, Gabler, Hilgart, and Murdoff Nays: None 2228490