County supervisors Tuesday will hold a public hearing during their Election Day meeting for the extension of a marijuana cultivation ordinance.
Other items on the meeting agenda include approving an inter-agency agreement that could lead to closing a portion of Nash Road in relation to the River Parkway/Regional Park project, and appointing a new clerk of the board.
Tuesday’s meeting is set for 10 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St.
Marijuana legalization on hold
One of two public hearings will focus on extending the county’s marijuana cultivation ordinance, which supervisors unanimously approved at the Sept. 27 meeting.
The ordinance temporarily bans large-scale grows in the county, and is effective only 45 days. The ordinance can be extended after a notice and public hearing, the meeting agenda states. It can be incrementally extended for two years, but state law prohibits anything beyond that.
Supervisors will vote to extend the ordinance for 10 months and 15 days. The extension requires a four-fifths majority vote for approval.
According to the agenda, staff recommendation is as follows:
Hold a public hearing and read the title of the ordinance for the record.
Make a motion finding that adopting the ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Make a motion to accept introduction, waive further reading and adopt the ordinance extension.
Nash Road closure
Additionally, supervisors will consider authorizing the temporary closure of a one-block portion of Nash Road in relation to the proposed River Parkway and Regional Park project.
The county has worked on the creation of the park project for several years, with much of that time spent on the environmental impact report. Supervisors certified the report, work on which began in October 2013, during the board’s last meeting.
That same agenda item also covers an interagency cooperation agreement between San Benito county, the City of Hollister and the San Benito High School District.
According to the meeting agenda, county staff has been working with representatives from the city and school district to draft the proposed agreement. The agreement would allow the county to move forward with developing the park project.
The resolution states that the closure of Nash Road is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
Because Nash Road falls within the jurisdiction of both San Benito County and the City of Hollister, a joint action is required in order to close the street, according to the agenda. If approved, the temporary closure of a one-block portion near the high school would be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The school district is responsible for constructing the improvements needed to effect the closure, in addition to the signs required to notify the public.
New board clerk
Supervisors expect a new employee behind organization of meeting agendas like the one for Tuesday, as they will consider a consent agenda item that would appoint county employee Chase Graves as the clerk of the board, according to the agenda.
The clerk position has been vacant since Louie Valdez was promoted to a management analyst role in July. Valdez has served as clerk during the vacancy, in addition to his new position.
Graves, a recent law school graduate, currently works as a paralegal in the county counsel’s office.
The meeting agenda states Graves, if appointed, would be at a pay grade of $24.6683 hourly. With a 40-hour week, that would come to a base salary of $51,310.
If approved, the appointment would be effective the day of the meeting.
