Burlington’s city council will hold a public hearing during its regular meeting Monday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the main conference room at Burlington Community and Education Center, 340 S. 14th St., to give citizens an opportunity to offer input about a proposed ordinance regarding the regulation, licensure, zoning and other impacts surrounding retail sale of marijuana within the city.
City council would like to listen to citizen ideas and comments on language and topics addressed within the proposed ordinance.
This public hearing is not to dispute whether to allow retail marijuana stores and sales in city limits. The decision to pass Initiative 1-B is up to the people’s vote on Election Day, Tuesday, April 5.
Initiative 1-B is titled An Initiated Measure Allowing for a Special Tax on Retail Marijuana Sales and Allowing for the Retail Marijuana Stores in Burlington.
Individuals who would like to speak at the public hearing must sign in, and each will have three minutes to speak at the microphone.
Please note, an ordinance to change city code will only be necessary upon the passing of Initiative 1-B, which will allow for retail marijuana stores and retail marijuana sales in the city passes at the election.
Should Initiative 1-B fail, the ordinance will be unnecessary.
This proposed ordinance may be found in this issue of The Record.
What is Initiative 1-B?
For those who have not heard, Initiative 1-B evolved after a group of citizens circulated a petition around town asking for signatures in support of changing current municipal ordinances to allow for retail marijuana stores and retail sales of marijuana and marijuana products inside city limits.
The group garnered more than the required number of signatures from registered voters needed to put the initiative on the April 5 ballot.
Should Initiative 1-B pass, city council must be prepared to regulate retail marijuana stores and sales in the city, and areas of the Burlington Municipal Code must be revised.
The city has drafted proposed ordinance language to address city codes prohibiting retail marijuana stores and retail marijuana sales inside city limits.
Along with Initiative 1-B comes a proposed eight percent tax on all retail marijuana sales and sales of retail marijuana products.