COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

SHERIFF’S OFFICE


 

DATE:

May 29, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 16, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Greg Munks

SUBJECT:

Application Fee for Business License for Medical Marijuana Collectives.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution setting a $100 application fee and renewal fee for a business license to operate medical marijuana collective in the unincorporated area of the County of San Mateo.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Basic health and safety for all.

Goals:

# 7 - Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors; and

# 8 - Help vulnerable people -- the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth, and others -- achieve a better quality of life.

Regulation of medical marijuana cooperatives and collectives will maintain and enhance the public safety of visitor and residents, and will help vulnerable people achieve a better quality of life. The application fee will compensate the County for the process of issuing the business license and monitoring compliance with the conditions of the license.

 

BACKGROUND:

On May 6, 2009, the Board adopted an ordinance that regulates medical marijuana collectives in the unincorporated area of the County. The ordinance provides for and requires business licenses for medical marijuana collectives. Consistent with the ordinance, the license application includes a series of conditions that must be met and findings that must be made. The applications will be received and processed by the Sheriff’s Office, and considered and decided by the License Board.

 

DISCUSSION:

Under chapter 5.04 of the Ordinance Code, applications for County business licenses typically include an application fee. Over the past month, we have worked on developing the forms and mapping the process of considering applications and issuing licenses. Because the application process will require considerable background investigation and processing to determine compliance with the ordinance, we recommend that the initial fee for application for a business license for a medical marijuana collective be set at $100.00 per year. We also recommend that in order to ensure continued compliance with the conditions of the ordinance, the application fee for a yearly renewal for the license should also be set at $100.00.

If, in the course of processing the application, it is determined that the application fee does not cover the cost of processing the license application, we will return to the Board to request an increase in the fee.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

Over the next year, we will be able to determine whether the fee compensates the County for the cost of processing the license applications and monitoring compliance. In the event the fee is insufficient to meet these costs, we may request that the fee be increased.