New Antioch Council holds busy first meeting, extends marijuana ban

Hears from Save the Yard supporters about proposed downtown park and event center

By Nick Goodrich

On Tuesday, December 13th, the Antioch City Council held its first meeting with a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.

As a result of the November elections, Dr. Sean Wright oversaw his first council meeting, having unseated Wade Harper as Antioch’s Mayor, and Lamar Thorpe replaced Lori Ogorchock as Mayor Pro Tem. Wilson was re-elected to the council, and Ogorchock and Tony Tiscareno continue in their roles as council members.

Wright appeared comfortable and confident throughout the meeting, as the newly formed city council oversaw a number of public hearings, heard from residents about the historic Antioch Lumber Company lot, and grappled with the extending restrictions on marijuana within city limits.

Public Comments

The ongoing saga of the city’s deal to build townhomes on the site of downtown Antioch’s Beede Lumber Yard continued into the new council, as “Save the Yard” supporters once again showed up in force to protest the city’s decision to forego a park and event center on the site.

The council members were also nominated and appointed to various assignments representing the council on city committees and the city on regional committees.

Hoping to convince the new Council to reverse the direction of its predecessor, Leigh Ballesteros of Celebrate Antioch asked for the opportunity to privately build and manage the proposed park and event center for two years.

Celebrate Antioch’s goal, to prove to the Council that a new event center could be built and maintained with limited costs to the city, would require Antioch to cancel its deal with City Ventures, which currently gives the developer exclusive negotiation rights for the former Beede parcel.

Ballesteros noted that Celebrate Antioch already has much of the necessary funding for its project, and a plan in place to ensure its success.

Joy Motts, Celebrate Antioch’s Treasurer and Fundraising Chair, read from the City’s General Plan, which designates Antioch’s downtown waterfront as a possible “town square” and gathering place.

“Fulfill the wishes of the people you represent,” she told the council. “It’s time to talk about the Antioch Rivertown Town Square.”

Rick Stadtlander, Save the Yard’s Director of Fundraising, also pointed out that townhomes would detract from Antioch’s beautiful waterfront view.

Stadtlander spoke of his two grown sons, who have become disenchanted with Antioch and intend to leave, as an example of Antioch’s struggles in making the city an attractive and desirable place to live.

“The people don’t support homes on the Lumber Yard,” he said. “A park and event center will attract many more people, and their wallets.”

Interim Urgency Marijuana Ordinance Extended

The first public hearing overseen by the new Council involved the city’s policy on marijuana use, after the passing of Proposition 64 in November.

The council’s initial ordinance, adopted on November 8th, put a freeze on the status of all non-medical marijuana use within Antioch for a period of 45 days, while the city decided how to proceed on its marijuana policy, going forward.

On Tuesday, they chose to extend the interim ordinance for a period of 10 months and 15 days, with an expiration date slated for October 2017.

The continuation of the ordinance extends the ban on marijuana dispensaries and deliveries, prohibits outdoor cultivation for personal use, and essentially allows for no commercial activities involving the drug until Prop 64 takes full effect in January of 2018.

Under Prop 64, cities cannot prohibit indoor cultivation for personal use, but can “reasonably regulate” it. The Council directed city staff to explore ways to regulate indoor growing without outright discouraging or banning it, which is now illegal under California state law.

Despite a spirited discussion, the Council was united in its sentiment that recreational marijuana should be postponed in Antioch for as long as possible.

The council called on Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando during the hearing to share his opinion.

Cantando was firmly of the opinion that Antioch should hold off on allowing non-medical marijuana until required to by state law in 2018. He cited a potential increase in crime as a major reason, in a city already plagued by a high crime rate and understaffed Police Department.

Cantando was also concerned by the difficulties he believed other states were experiencing after legalizing recreational marijuana.

“I think that we should postpone this for as long as we can,” he told the council.

Tiscareno and Thorpe, while not entirely in support of legalization, did note that most voting precincts in Antioch showed heavy support for Prop 64, with 65% of residents voting in favor of the measure.

Tiscareno also raised the question of increased tax revenue as a result of regulations, which the city could be missing out on for the next 10 months if the current ordinance stands.

Several Antioch residents stepped up to share their opinions, as well.

Mark Jordan, a real estate broker in Antioch, suggested that the city add cultivation to the rental registration process, and can perhaps add fees to growers. Brian Eloff noted Colorado’s $2.3 billion increase in tax revenue since it legalized recreational marijuana in 2012.

Ogorchock was the most firmly opposed to legalization, and stated it was “a quality of life issue” for Antioch residents.

Wright weighed in as well, calling it a “complicated issue” and electing to stand with Chief Cantando’s opinion for the time being.

A 4/5 vote from Council was required to prolong the ordinance, but wasn’t needed as they voted unanimously in favor of extending it.

The City can revisit the ordinance and choose to end it at any time until it expires in 2017.


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