Licensing fees for medical marijuana will be focus of Monday meeting

An ordinance establishing licensing fees for medical marijuana businesses is on the agenda of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors’ meeting Monday.

If the board approves, medical marijuana cultivation facilities will pay the city an initial business license fee of $50,000 and thereafter $50,000 a year for renewal. Medical marijuana dispensaries would pay $7,500 for an initial license and renew each year for $11,250 plus 25 percent of their average inventory for the preceding 12 months.

The ordinance also establishes other rules for medical pot businesses, including fines for noncompliance with licensing requirements.

An emergency clause is attached to the measure, allowing a vote on it after only one reading if two-thirds of the board give permission.

At the request of Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell, the board tabled the ordinance at its July 5 meeting because City Manager Kenny Haskin was unable to attend. Penney-Bell said it would be better to delay the vote until Haskin was present

to answer any questions.

The board is also expected to vote on an ordinance that would set new rules regarding what action items are allowed on meeting agendas.

To put an item on the agenda, a board member would have to submit it to the city manager by 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the meeting. Any item submitted less than seven days before the meeting would not be included on the agenda.

Submitted items would be distributed to the city attorney and city government department heads for comment. The city manager would then consider any staff comments and, by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the meeting, categorize the item as either “staff recommends approval” or “staff does not recommend approval.”

Any item not recommended for approval would not be included on the meeting agenda. Instead, the city manager would schedule a workshop on the item within 30 days. If after the workshop at least two board members endorse the item, it would be considered at the next meeting.

Any matter voted on could not be reconsidered for 180 days unless two-thirds of the board voted to allow revisiting it earlier.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board will discuss an ordinance proposed by Ward 2 Director Laney Harris that would establish a Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Board.

The agenda includes a citizen communication time, during which residents may address the board on any subject for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is at City Hall,

216 Walnut St.

On Twitter: @RealKarlRichter