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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2018)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 29 MARIJUANA: City held first of several workshops Continued from page 1 adopt regulations regard- ing time, place and manner (TPM) of marijuana produc- tion, processing and/or dis- tribution. The City will also probably have to change its Development Code to account for cannabis-related activities. The Council is poised to undertake a series of work- shops on the subject, some of which will likely invite testi- mony from the public. Erin Herburger, who owns and operates Cascade Trailstop Market in Sisters with her husband, Drew, told the Council, “I see the ben- efits of allowing these sales as glaringly obvious.” She noted that revenue from taxes on marijuana sales support a variety of public ser- vices, and that many people in Sisters drive to Bend to obtain marijuana. She believes that a local dispensary would have benefits — and that protocols are in place to prevent sales to minors. “The need is there, and my input is to keep it local,” she said. In 2014, voters in Sisters rejected a measure that would have allowed medical mari- juana in Sisters. However, in 2015, voters in the City pre- cinct showed a 51 percent approval of the state measure legalizing medical marijuana, according to City Manager Brant Kucera. “I think the tide has shifted to a higher per- centage of acceptance from four years ago,” said Council President Nancy Connolly. Connolly said she sur- veyed about 30 local resi- dents of varying demo- graphics, and found the large majority in favor of allow- ing some form of reg- ulated commerce. The shape that commerce would take can be regulated by the time, place and manner rules the City Council will establish. Those rules can reg- ulate location, hours of opera- tion and the manner of opera- tion and/or public access. City Attorney Jeremy Green said he can provide TMP guidelines from the state and from other cities in Oregon and then the Council can refine them and tailor them to suit Sisters’ particular needs. “What’s good for Bend is not necessarily good for Sisters,” he said. “I really don’t want to pre- suppose what’s going to work for you guys.” Councilor Andrea Blum said that she is setting aside any personal biases she might have and looking at canna- bis as an agricultural product. She sees a dispensary as a “market” analogous to a food stand or shop. “Processors I looked at (as) that’s the cannery,” she said. She is not certain that processing is appropriate for Sisters, and if so it would fit best in the industrial park. She requested a m a p t h a t would lay out what might go where. State law allows cities to impose a tax of up to 3 per- cent on marijuana retailers. Such a tax would have to be approved by voters in a gen- eral election — possibly in November. City Manager Kucera recommended that the City Council seek the full amount. “I would recommend that you put 3 percent on ballot,” he said. “It will easily pass. Don’t shortchange yourself; this is a new revenue source for us.” The City Council will hold another workshop on the sub- ject on Wednesday, February 14, at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall. HOWELLS REALTY GROUP Phil Arends 541-420-9997 phil@blackbutte.com PEAK PROPERTIES PARTNERSHIP Dick Howells 541-408-6818 Black Butte Ranch, Sisters Area, rahowells@blackbutte.com and Central Oregon Let our 40+ years of combined experience work for you. Whether you are buying or selling, call us for a no-obligation consultation. www.realestateinsisters.com | 220 S. Ash St., Sisters .81 AC. BUILDING LOT IN CAMP SHERMAN — Serving all of Central Oregon — Metolius Meadows amenities: pool, tennis, boat/trailer storage. $295,000 Call Winfield Durham, Broker, at 541-420-9801 Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon 625 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters Sandy Goodsell Principal Broker Jonathan Hicks Broker ABR, CDPE, CIAS, GRI, SRES 541-480-0183 865-335-6104 LICENSED BROKERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON goodsellandhickssellcentralor.com Hope for a child. Change for a nation. a nonprofit charity that provides fully guided and outfitted trips for disabled Veterans at no charge more than 2,000 veterans were served last year All guides and board members are disabled veterans. There are no paid employees. Warfighter Outfitters is 100% volunteer-based and only spends donor dollars on basic operating costs of fuel and food. All operating costs are funded by donor dollars. There are a million perfectly understandable reasons not to help. Thankfully, love trumps them all. $37 a month. All the difference in the world. Sponsor a child with a local organization at HopeAfricaKids.com This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper. Would you consider making a donation to Warfighter Outfitters today? warfighteroutfitters.org Warfighter Outfitters • 541-719-0565 • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
