The City started in 2018 with a task force made up of many members of the community.
One of the prior objectives included in the City Council’s adopted Strategic Plan included the City
Manager’s appointment of a Cannabis Steering Committee (CSC) comprised of law enforcement,
RBUSD, BCHD, and outside interest groups to review best practices for commercial use regulations
of cannabis, including storefront siting, taxation, delivery, and development agreement options, and
to prepare a report for Planning Commission and City Council consideration. Members of the
Redondo Beach Police Department, Fire Department, Community Development Department, and the
City Treasurer’s Office met jointly in support of the work of the CSC.
The CSC met a total of 12 times from November 2018 through October 2021, with their final
recommendations presented to City Council on October 5, 2021. After discussion of the CSC’s work
and recommendations, City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance based on the
recommendations of the CSC for regulating cannabis licenses in Redondo Beach. Additionally, the
Council directed that the Galleria site be included as a permitted location and the taxation or ultimate
developer’s fee rate be set at 5%. The Council also directed staff to prepare maps with the siting
parameters recommended by the CSC, and that the maps include buffers for alcohol sales sites and
safe routes to schools.
At the January 18, 2022 meeting, City Council reviewed the potential buffer maps and provided
additional direction for Planning Commission review. The Council asked that the ordinances, maps,
and commercial licensee selection process, once drafted, be reviewed by the Planning Commission
for recommendations to the City Council and that a community outreach process also be conducted.
The draft ordinances were prepared by the Community Development Department and City Attorney’s
Office, and are before the Planning Commission for review and recommendation to City Council. The
key provisions incorporated in the draft ordinances, including the recommendations from the CSC
that City Council agreed to, are as follows:
· Personal Cultivation. Continue to allow for outdoor personal cultivation as currently regulated
for a maximum of 6 plants allowed indoors and in yard area if secured and not visible from
surrounding sites.
· Allow Licensed Activity. Permit licensed cannabis businesses with recommended
restrictions (see remaining items in the list below).
· License Types. Allow only storefront retailer licenses (Type 10) and non-storefront retailer
delivery licenses (Type 9) or a combination of the two on one site. Prohibit delivery services
that originate from other cities if a non-storefront delivery license is issued in Redondo Beach.
· Zoning Provisions. Limit cannabis license sites to commercial and industrial zones. Prohibit
licenses in coastal commercial, residential, and public/institutional zones. (CSC had initially
recommended prohibiting in regional commercial zone where Galleria is located, but City
Council directed staff to add that as an acceptable zone). Require discretionary Conditional
Use Permit (CUP) approval.
· Buffers. Maintain a 600-foot radius from elementary schools, day cares, and youth centers
(per State’s mandate). Increase the buffer zone to a 1500-foot radius from high schools and
middle schools. School buffers to include private schools. City Council requested that
Planning Commission consider implications of buffer around residential.
· Number and Location of Licenses. Allow up to two (2) sites within the City, with a maximum
of one site per district. Establish a 1000-foot buffer between cannabis licensed sites.
· Hours of Operation. The State allows retail activities between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10
p.m. Local jurisdictions can be more restrictive. Limit hours to the following:
o Storefront Retail Sales – 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
o Non-storefront Delivery – 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
· Security. In addition to State security requirements, include the following security measures:
o All security personnel to be vetted through the Redondo Beach Police Department
(RBPD) or a certified 3rd party.
o Regarding surveillance, the licensee must provide real time direct access to all
surveillance.
o Alarm systems to be set to send real time immediate messages to RBPD.
o Regarding safety, requirements to better define “secure storage of cannabis and
cannabis products” as well as onsite revenue.
o The licensee to provide measures to ensure a minor doesn’t enter, requiring ID checks
and providing appropriate signage.
o For delivery, licensee to provide a signature for receipt and that those records be
maintained on file for auditing purposes.
· Enforcement. The CSC recommends the City implement the Cannabis Compliance and
Enforcement Program. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has created a
relatively new program entitled the Cannabis Compliance and Enforcement Program, where
the County contracts with cities that allow for cannabis activities. The program aims to further
protect public health but has the additional benefit of being an effective enforcement tool
against illegal operators who are unable to apply for the permit and subsequently violate
Public Health Department Codes.
· Tax or Fees. Establish a Developer Agreement with developer fees and consider sunsetting it
with an eventual tax measure.
· Tax or Fee Rate. Set fee at 5%. (CSC had initially recommended reviewing neighboring
jurisdictions, which the City Council did and selected 5%).
· Tax or Fee Revenue Location. General Fund.
· Property Requirement. Do not require applicant to secure property prior to the application
process.
· Selection Process. City Council to determine the licensee solicitation and selection process
at a future date separate from the Ordinance. (This may come back to Planning Commission
for input if City Council continues with that direction).
· Transfer of Ownership. Limit transferability of a developer agreement and/or license for a
set period of time.
· Adoption of Regulations. Adopt ordinances to effectuate decisions.
