The city of Moreno Valley has begun to accept applications for commercial businesses. The city is also known as a General Law City. A General Law city is one that is limited to government structures and powers. However, the local government may only exercise those powers that the state grants to it.
The city of Moreno Valley and its council officials have made it clear that any current dispensaries that are in operations are doing so in violation of the state law and regulations. In the last 18 months the City Attorney’s Office and Code Enforcement have located and closed down 12 of these dispensaries.
Back in October of 2017 the city stated that the application process for commercial cannabis businesses would begin in the Spring of 2018. That time has now come and businesses can officially start applying. Here are a few of the things in accordance to Ordinance 296 Section 5.05.090 a business should know when getting ready to apply:
- Each applicant will pay an application fee that has been established by the City Council.
- There is a Review Criteria that each business will be held to. It includes a review, ranking and scoring. The City Manager or his/her designee will make the final determination.
- The ordinance also stats that the city reserves the right to reject any or all applications. The city is also able to modify, postpone or cancel any request for applications or the entire program.
- Anyone applying assumes the risk that all or any part of the program may be cancelled at any time.
- The City also reserves the right to request and obtain additional information from any candidate that submits an application.
- There are three main reasons why an application can or may be rejected:
The proposal was received after the designated time and date.
The proposal does not contain the elements, exhibits, required by the city or it is not in the required format.
Proposal considered not fully responsive to this request for permit application.
The city has begun establishing fees for applications. These fees will help to cover the application, processing, inspections, and the monitoring of commercial cannabis activity throughout the city. These fees will also cover any needed increase in police presence for safety issues that directly relate to commercial cannabis businesses.
The application process opened on Tuesday April 2nd and the city of Moreno Valley will continue to accept commercial cannabis applications until May.