MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH
MARIJUANA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
I.
SPECIAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17,2015
CALL TO ORDER; ROLL CALL
The meeting of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Marijuana Advisory Committee was
called to order at 6 p.m. by ChairWilliams for the purpose of conducting a special meeting.
Board members present and establishing a quorum were:
Ms. Sara Williams, Chair
Mr. Darryl Dreher
Mr. Mark Rempel
Ms. Crystal Nygard
Mr. Lance Ketterling
Ms. Lisa Albert-Konecky
Mr. John Anderson
Mr. John Norris
Mr. Link Fannon
Ms. Rebecca Rein
Ms. Edna DeVries
Mr. Lebron McPhail
Staff in attendance were:
Ms. Brenda J. Henry, CMC, Assistant Clerk
Mr. Alex Strawn, Development Services Manager
II.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ChairWilliams queried if there were any changes to the agenda.
GENERAL CONSENT:
III.
The agenda was approved as presented without objection.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
(There were no minutes presented.)
IV.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
The following person spoke to concerns that the Committee does not take their work seriously:
Mr. Johnny Furlong.
The following person spoketo concerns with the public process: Mr. Eugene Carl Haberman.
The following person spoke in support of an increased square footage for cultivation facilities:
Ms. Jan Bass.
The following person spoke in support of marijuanause: Ms. Sandra Adams.
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The following person spoke to concerns with some of the proposed amendments to the draft land
use regulations: Ms. Tina Smith.
The following person provided suggested amendments to the draft land use regulations: Mr. Tim
Hale.
Ms. Henry advised the Committee how the public hearing would proceed.
MOTION:
Mr. Norris moved to add an additional public hearing to the agenda immediately
preceding Board Comments.
The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The motion failed with Mr. Dreher, Ms. Williams, Ms. Albert-Konecky,
Mr. Norris, and Mr. Montano in support.
(Mr. Anderson exited the meeting.)
V.
ITEMS OF BUSLNESS
1.
PUBLIC HEARING (Three minutes per person)
A.
An Ordinance Amending MSB 17.60 To Include Permit Requirements And Standards
For Marijuana Related Facilities.
The title of the legislation was read into the record.
Chair Williams opened the public hearing.
The following person spoke to concerns with the public process: Mr. Eugene Carl Haberman.
The following person spoke to concerns with the proposed square footage for cultivation
facilities: Mr. Johnny Furlong.
The following person spoke to concerns with where the proposed legislation would be located in
Borough code: Mr. Nick Miller.
The following person spoke in support of the use of marijuana: Ms. Sandra Adams.
Chair Williams queried if there was anyone else in the audience would like to speak.
There being no one else present and with no objection from the Committee, the public hearing
closed and discussion moved to the Committee.
MOTION:
Ms. DeVries moved a primary amendment to the proposed definition of
marijuana, page 1 of the ordinance, by striking it in its entirety and inserting the
following in its place: "Marijuana means all parts of the plant of the genus
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cannabis whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any
part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, derivative, mixture, or
preparation of the plant, its seeds or its resin, including marijuana concentrate.
"Marijuana" does not include fiber produced from the stalks, cake made from the
seeds of the plant, sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination,
or the weight of any other ingredient combined with marijuana to prepare topical
or oral administration, food, drink or other products."
The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The primary amendment passed without objection.
MOTION:
Ms. Rein moved a primary amendment to the definition of marijuana dispensary,
page 2 of the ordinance, by striking the proposed definition of marijuana
dispensary and inserting the following in its place: "Marijuana retail facility
means an entity licensed to purchase marijuana or a marijuana product from a
marijuana cultivation facility or marijuana product manufacturing facility and to
sell marijuana and any approved marijuana product to a consumer."
The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The primary amendment passed without objection.
MOTION:
Mr. Drehermoved a primary amendment by inserting the following definition to
the proposed ordinance "Marijuana Product Manufacturing Facility means an
entity licensed to purchase marijuana; manufacture, prepare and package any
approved marijuana product; and sell marijuana and marijuana products to any
other marijuana product manufacturing facility or marijuana retail facility, but not
to a consumer."
The motion was seconded.
WITHDRAWAL:
Mr. Dreher moved to withdraw his motion.
GENERAL CONSENT:
MOTION:
There was no objection noted and the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. Fannon moved a primary amendment to the title of MSB 17.60.160, page 6 of
the ordinance, by striking the title in its entirety and inserting "Standards for
Marijuana Retail Facilities" in its place.
The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The primary amendment passed without objection.
MOTION:
Ms. Rein moved a primary amendment to the proposed MSB 17.60.030(A)(4) by
striking the current proposed definition in its entirety and inserting the following
in its place: "(4) Marijuana retail facility as licensed under A.S. 17.38."
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The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The primary amendment passed without objection.
MOTION:
Mr. Dreher moved a primary amendment to the proposed MSB 17.60.030(A),
page 3 of the ordinance, by inserting a new no. 6 to read: (6) private social clubs
where marijuana is consumed but not sold."
The motion was seconded.
VOTE:
The primary amendment failed with Mr. Dreher, Ms. Williams, Mr. Norris and
Mr. Montano in support.
Chair Williams queried if the body wanted to continue to make amendments on the draft
legislation or if they would like to continue the legislation to the next meeting.
Ms. Henry queried if the body would like to schedule the next meeting for November 5, 2015, at
6 p.m.
Chair Williams queried if there was any objection.
There was no objection noted.
MOTION:
Ms. Rein moved to postpone the draft ordinance to a time certain of
November 5, 2015, at 6 p.m.
The motion was seconded.
Ms. DeVries queried if the legislation would reflect the amendments that were made this
evening, when it is included in the next packet.
Ms. Henry advised that it would and that it would be very clear what changes the body made to
the draft ordinance.
VOTE:
VI.
The motion passed without objection.
BOARD COMMENTS
Mr. Dreher:
•
•
spoke to the volume of information that is included in the packets; and
stated that he participates in the meetings because it is important to him and he does not take
participation lightly.
Mr. Rempel stated that the body made good progress today.
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Ms. Nygard:
• thanked Ms. Williams for bringing forward amendments for the body to consider;
• thanked the public for bringing their concerns to the meeting;
• spoke in support of capitalism; and
© thanked Mr. Strawn for answering questions of the body.
Ms. Albert-Konecky:
• noted that there were comments of the public that the bodydoes not take theirjob seriously;
•
stated that she takes her job on the Committeevery seriously;
• spoke to the volumes of information that is provided to the body that are unbearably long;
and
•
spoke to her concerns that marijuana stay out of the hands of people who are under the age of
21.
Mr. Montano:
•
•
thanked the public for providing testimony; and
stated that this has been the most productivemeeting that the body has had.
Mr. Norris:
© summarized his life experiences, which include havingserved in the military;
• stated that he considers working with the Committee one of the most important things he has
participated in;
© stated that he is grateful for the opportunity to do so;
© commented that this has been the best meeting thus far; and
• thanked the public for providing testimony.
Mr. Gravely:
•
thanked the public for their testimony;
•
•
stated that the Committee does take their work veryseriously;
showed the very large notebook that contains the packets of information that the Committee
has been provided;
•
•
stated that he will be unavailable for the November meeting;
spoke in opposition to restricting the size of cultivation facilities; and
•
stated that the enterprises can figure out for themselves what is economical to do.
Ms. DeVries:
© thanked the public for participating; and
• opined it was a good meeting.
Chair Williams:
© noted that there will be a marijuana handlers permit and that those regulations are being
crafted by industry experts;
© summarized the time line for the State's propose regulations; and
© thanked the body for the meeting.
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VII.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH
MARIJUANA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SARA WILLIAMS, Committee Chair
ATTEST:
BRENDA J. HENRYL CMC, Assistant pijferk
Minutes Approved: 11/05/15
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