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Minutes for the City Council Study Session
May 19, 2014
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MINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 19, 2014
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way
Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room.
Councilor Morris, Marsh, Lemhouse, Slattery, and Rosenthal were present. Councilor Voisin arrived at
5:34 p.m.
1. Look Ahead review
City Administrator Dave Kanner reviewed items on the Look Ahead. City Attorney Dave Lohman
addressed the medical marijuana ordinance coming before Council June 17, 2014 and distributed a
document of possible marijuana facility requirements for Council to consider.
2. Recommendation of the Downtown Beautification Committee to remove the kiosk from the
Plaza
City Administrator Dave Kanner explained there were three options for the kiosk at the Plaza. One would
leave it where it was currently, the second was remove the structure and not replace it, and the third was
having staff suggest alternative locations to Council. Replacing the kiosk roof was scheduled for 2018-
2019 and currently replacing the roof now or removing the structure would cost approximately $4,000.
Council directed staff to develop alternatives for the kiosk, post the topic on the website for discussion,
and bring the results to a future meeting for further discussion.
3. Discussion of options for local taxation of marijuana
City Administrator Dave Kanner explained Council needed to provide direction on whether to draft an
ordinance taxing marijuana. If Council was interested in the ordinance, he recommended a gross receipts
tax for easier administration. Ballot measure language contained a local preemption that the legislative
delegation would have to grandfather Ashland in if the measure passed recreational marijuana use. Staff
also recommended the ordinance indicate marijuana in general and not distinguish it from medical
marijuana.
City Attorney Dave Lohman explained the ordinance could have a two-tiered system regarding medical
and recreational marijuana or set the rates by resolution. Council wanted options that taxed medical
marijuana at 0% or a nominal amount and up to 25% for recreational marijuana and information on taxing
growers, producers, and distributors. Council also wanted legal analysis and the economic impact of
certain type of taxes in addition to tax options. Staff noted the City could have a value added tax on the
dispensary and the provider. Council could also allow the entity to retain 5% of the 5% tax collected for
administering their records. Council directed staff to proceed on drafting an ordinance.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Smith
Assistant to the City Recorder