(A) The Director shall establish objective review criteria consistent with this section utilizing a point system or equivalent quantitative evaluation scale. Following notification under § 6B.19, applicants shall submit a supplemental statement indicating which criteria they meet, along with evidence and/or documentation in support thereof, in a form and manner established by the Director.
(B) (1) The objective review criteria established shall include at a minimum the following elements:
(a) Community engagement;
(b) Local business partnerships; and
(c) Living wage provisions.
(2) The Director may establish additional elements in their discretion to be included in the objective review criteria in order to select qualified applicants.
(C) Within 60 days of the deadline to submit applications the Director shall evaluate each application, based upon the objective review criteria. After the initial review, ranking, and scoring under the objective review criteria, the Director will make a final determination in accordance with this section and shall so notify all applicants. There shall be no right to appeal the ranking and/or scoring of applications.
(D) Upon notification that an applicant has met the objective review criteria and is otherwise eligible to receive a CCBP, the applicant must enter into a negotiated development agreement with the city within 120 days. Failure to enter into a development agreement shall render the applicant ineligible to receive a CCBP for that property. Should an applicant become ineligible to receive a CCBP, the next highest scoring applicant, if any, shall be notified that they have 120 days to enter into a negotiated development agreement. The time periods required under this section shall not include the time required for public hearings as set forth in § 25.247 and may be extended upon mutual written agreement of the applicant and the city. There shall be no right under this chapter to appeal a decision of the City Council not to enter into a development agreement and/or any subsequent ineligibility of an applicant for a CCBP.
(E) The Director may delegate his or her duties hereunder to the TAC, or to other body established by the city to review and score applications. Members of the TAC and/or any other body shall be subject to all conflict-of-interest provisions of state and local law, including but not limited to the Political Reform Act, California Government Code § 81000 et seq.
(F) For purposes of this section, the following principals shall apply in establishing the minimum elements of objective review criteria and points to be awarded therefore:
(1) Community engagement. Shall include past, present or planned activities that demonstrate understanding of the City of Red Bluff community, its values, how the commercial cannabis business plans to integrate into the community, and involvement with local non-profits/charitable/volunteer organizations.
(2) Local business partnerships. Shall include past, present or planned partnerships with, including the procurement of goods and services from, businesses located within the city.
(3) Living wage provisions. Shall mean a binding commitment by the commercial cannabis business to provide wages to each employee that exceeds the Tehama County area median income by a minimum of 120% exclusive of any bonuses or commissions and may include a commitment to hire and retain a specified number of residents of the city, enter into a labor peace agreement below the minimum number of employees mandated by state law, and/or other employee benefits such as paid leave, health insurance and similar factors.
(G) Any permit awarded under this section may include conditions of approval requiring that the commercial cannabis business permittee comply with the objective review criteria set forth in its supplemental statement or otherwise committed to during the application process.
(Ord. 1063, passed 2-15-2022)