Sonoma commercial cannabis moratorium extended; Sebastiani fundraising deadline extended

The City of Sonoma’s “clip” on commercial cannabis activity will hold firm for the foreseeable future, as the City Council on Monday extended its moratorium on pot sales for another six months.

The council voted 4-1 at its Oct. 22 meeting to place its third extension of an urgency ordinance banning marijuana sales, with an exception for medical cannabis delivery service from licensed businesses based outside the city limits. The current moratorium was set to expire Nov. 5.

Such an extension required four votes from the five-member City Council. Prior to the council’s consideration of the extension, City Attorney Jeff Walter cautioned members that if the moratorium was not renewed, a window would open after Nov. 5 in which “there would be no rules in the City of Sonoma governing commercial cannabis operations” and potential cannabis dispensary operators could apply to the state Bureau of Cannabis Control for a license to operate within the city.

“This will create some uncertainty and confusion,” said Walter.

Despite her support for allowing a dispensary to operate in Sonoma, Councilmember Amy Harrington said she would “begrudgingly” support a third and final extension, but only for six months.

“I don’t support letting this moratorium expire and having no regulations,” said Harrington, about her preference for a six-month extension over the staff-recommended 12 months. “But this has to end and I don’t want to drag it out for another year.”

Councilmember Rachel Hundley, the lone dissenting vote, said she was willing to let the moratorium expire as, she said, “the time for action has long passed on this subject.”

“I think that having a moratorium that never ends also creates confusion and uncertainty,” she said, echoing Walter’s comment.

The six-month extension of the moratorium on commercial cannabis, however, was approved 4-1. City Manager Cathy Capriola told the council she expects to bring a permanent ordinance to the council for consideration within the next 60 days.

In other action at the Oct. 22 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a one-year extension of a fundraising deadline for the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation. The Foundation, which has been raising funds to pay for needed ADA upgrades, had lobbied for the deadline extension in order to raise additional funds for a grander renovation that would include not only the ADA upgrades, but additional seating, a second screening room, food service, a multi-purpose room, among other improvements.

Local architecture firm Ross Drulis Cusenbery, Inc., has been contracted to produce plans for both the renovation and new construction.

The new lease terms give the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation until January 2020 to determine whether the nonprofit can raise the funds needed for the renovations – and then until January 2021 to actually complete the renovations.

Email Jason at jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.