During its Tuesday meeting, the Cortez City Council will hold a public hearing on whether to approve a retail marijuana license for the town’s sixth dispensary, among other action items.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, after a 5:30 p.m. workshop with discussions on the city’s long-range goals, water conservation and other issues. In the regular meeting, the council will hold a quasi-judicial public hearing on a proposed marijuana dispensary doing business as Chronic Therapy LLC, take final votes on several ordinances that received initial approval at the last meeting and consider awarding bids for a remodel on the police department building and other 2018 projects. Both the workshop and the regular meeting are open to the public.
On Jan. 9, the council voted to schedule a public hearing on the marijuana shop, which would operate out of the current Lotsa Pasta building on 1020 S. Broadway. According to a memo from City Attorney Mike Green, it has met all distance and zoning requirements for a retail marijuana store. If approved, it would become Cortez’s sixth dispensary.
Also in January, the Cortez City Council joined about 100 elected Colorado officials who signed an open letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions protesting his decision earlier that month to rescind the Cole Memorandum, a policy directing federal attorneys not to make retail marijuana businesses a priority for prosecution in states where they are legal. The letter, which was published as a full-page ad in The Washington Post on Jan. 31, says the Cole Memo “outlined important public safety protections while providing clear direction to our jurisdictions,” and calls for a bipartisan task force to help align state and federal policies on marijuana. Mancos Mayor Queenie Barz decided not to sign such a letter. Dolores does not host marijuana shops.
Other items on the City Council agenda include a bid for the Cortez Police Department heating, air conditioning and ventilation replacement, one of this year’s biggest planned construction projects. General Services director Rick Smith has recommended awarding the project to Garrh’s Inc., the lowest bidder, for $265,111.
The council will also consider awarding a bid for supplemental snow removal to Daniel’s Concrete and Excavation, and will vote on final readings of an ordinance establishing the procedure for an emergency declaration and an ordinance prohibiting unauthorized entry at Conquistador Golf Course. The council approved first readings of both ordinances in January.
Other actionDuring the workshop and meeting, the council will also:
Introduce three new city employees.Discuss a minor library reorganization.Hear an update on the city’s long-range goals from City Manager Shane Hale.Discuss the potential sale of a city-owned office building in the Industrial Park.Discuss the status of the city’s water supply.Vote on whether to appoint Robert Rime to the Planning and Zoning Commission.Vote on a resolution that would approve a property lease between the city and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.Vote on a third-party beneficiary funding agreement with the Montezuma Inspire Coalition.Hold a public comment period.