Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "city code"

Weighing in on the medical marijuana dispensary 'freeze'

2011-11-17T02:01:57Z

With an 8-1 vote Tuesday, the City Council put a nine-month hold on the application and permit process for medical marijuana dispensaries, bringing everything to a standstill.

City Councilman Darrell Fong was the only dissenting vote, citing concerns that proximity of dispensaries to schools and parks is not adequately addressed in the ordinance.

The freeze left some dispensary operators and medical marijuana patients concerned for the future of dispensaries and of the ability to access medicine.

The Sacramento Press asked people for their opinion of the current state of limbo that medical marijuana dispensaries are in. Reactions from Sacramentans ranged from mild to animated – one thing they were not, however, was ambivalent.

Jeanne Larsson, 45, the director of A Therapeutic Alternative, said the City Council made the right decision Tuesday.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Larsson said. “They’re not reacting – they’re not giving a knee-jerk reaction out of fear.”

Larsson said the city and dispensary operators have a lot of time and money invested in the process, and she has nothing but praise for council members for temporarily stepping back from the situation.

“I’m pretty confident they’re going to do the best they can to make it work,” Larsson said.

Katherine Wold, a dental hygienist from Elk Grove, said she believes an effort to shut down dispensaries would be unwise.

“I think it’s ridiculous if you are allowing people to use (marijuana) for medication and don’t allow a place for them to purchase it,” Wold said. “Not everyone wants to grow their own.”

Wold, 36, said she is personally opposed to legalizing marijuana, but said that, if it is legal, it makes sense to provide access to it.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with stopping and taking a closer look at any decision, though,” Wold said. “There’s always time for reflection to make good decisions.”

Some people who spoke about Tuesday’s City Council decision saw a larger issue with medical marijuana than simply a freeze on the permit process.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that once it’s legalized, the penalty for use will go from misdemeanors to felonies,” unemployed Sacramento resident Jay Cameron said. “It used to be just a little dispute, but now it’s a battleground for police and sheriffs.”

Cameron, 48, said that, since medical marijuana is such a “big moneymaker,” he believes it will become another way for the criminal justice system to profit.

“That’s the whole reason to get all those (dispensaries) shut down in town,” Cameron said. “It’s a moneymaker for the police who make arrests – they just need to get more bodies in their cells and more tickets to be paid.”

Between “big pharmaceutical companies” and “competing” police and sheriff forces in the city, Cameron said, “medical marijuana and dispensary operations are all about money.”

Joe Cole, a local printer account representative, said the subject is something he feels passionate about.

“I think (dispensaries are) being used more as a way to get marijuana through legal channels than just to get medicine,” Cole, 54, said. “There could be a better way (to get medical marijuana), but I don’t think these dispensaries are the way to do it.”

Cole said he feels an outright ban on dispensaries would be a better way to handle the current situation unless medical marijuana is fully legalized. In that case, Cole said, it should be dispensed through doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.

“I think the doctors (prescribing marijuana) right now are in cahoots with the dispensary operators,” Cole said.

Gary Harris, 27, said his father is a medical marijuana user who has seen positive results from the use of cannabis, so he has a personal interest in the subject.

Harris, a salesman at a local bed store, said that he believes the city would make a mistake to shut dispensaries down, so taking a “wait-and-see attitude” is a good idea.

“If you close down legal dispensaries and force (marijuana sales) underground, you put money into the hands of the guys with guns and grenades,” Harris said. “That policy won’t work.”

Harris said he’d like to see the situation resolved between the state and the federal government over medical marijuana.

In the meantime, Harris said, “the best course of action is no action.”

What is your opinion about medical marijuana dispensaries in the city? Should they be allowed to operate and be regulated? Or, should Sacramento follow in the footsteps of neighboring communities – like Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova – and move toward a complete ban on dispensaries?

Make a comment below this story – we’d like to hear from you.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Ask the County Law Librarian-Bicycles and Sidewalks

2011-11-03T22:12:00Z

Q. I just moved to Sacramento and have noticed many people riding bicycles around town. Biking to work would be ideal, but I’m worried about dealing with traffic in certain areas and would be tempted to ride part of the way on sidewalks. I have a hunch this is illegal, yet I see cyclists doing this pretty often. Could I be ticketed for riding my bike on a sidewalk?

- Dan

A. Sidewalks are invariably appealing to bicyclists: smooth, level surfaces that facilitate cruising and offer a cushion of safety from approaching vehicles and their drivers, some of whom may still be using handheld devices to talk or text. Despite popular belief, sidewalks can be lawful segments of bicycle routes, but we recommend researching local county and city ordinances, relevant signage, and the area’s official bike routes before risking a potential citation, or worse. Pedestrians will always have the right-of-way on sidewalks, and cyclists should always exercise caution, especially riding in areas with heavy foot traffic.

Bike laws are generally a municipal matter, so your research should begin with the local county and city codes: the Sacramento County Code and the Sacramento City Code are available online and in print at the Sacramento County Public Law Library, or your local county law library. Sacramento County Code, Section 10.12.010 (b) states “notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a) of this section, any person may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk which is designated by the director as a part of the County bike route system and which is identified for such use by appropriate signs giving notice thereof. A bicyclist using a sidewalk as authorized by this subdivision shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian using the sidewalk.”

The Sacramento City Code is even more specific in Section 10.76.010 (A): “Except as authorized under subsection B of this section, no person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk except within a residence district or where a sidewalk is designated as part of an established bicycle route. Pedestrians shall have the right-of-way on sidewalks.” Subsection B lists exempted groups, such as medical personnel, law enforcement, and those with special permits.

Both the city and county ordinances reference “bike routes” as an exception to the prohibition of bicycles on sidewalks, and that these routes will be identified by signs. The next step, then, would be to research designated bike routes in the area and the signs that indicate their locations. Many counties and cities will have this information online; Sacramento County's website offers information on bikeways, as well as a map of existing routes. Also available on the website is the Sacramento County Bicycle Master Plan, adopted in April 2011, which includes descriptions of different bike paths and their corresponding signs. If you have additional questions, you may want to contact the transportation department of your city or county.

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian

www.saclaw.org

No longer a ‘pedestrian mall,’ K Street prepares for cars

2011-07-12T02:39:31Z

On Tuesday evening, the City Council will consider revising a local ordinance that will bring the city one step closer to seeing cars on K Street for the first time in more than 45 years.

The revised ordinance will change a city code that has been in place since the early 1960s that defined the five blocks of K Street between Eighth to 12th streets as a “pedestrian mall,” closing it to vehicular traffic.

“It was something that was happening in a lot of places back then,” said Denise Malvetti, department manager at the city’s Economic Development Department. “Cities were trying to replicate the suburban experience, and they created a lot of these pedestrian malls. It was a failed experiment, though.”

Roughly 150 cities in the U.S. installed pedestrian malls in the 1960s, Malvetti said, and now about half of those have converted back to allow street traffic.

“We’ve been working on getting cars back on K Street since late 2008,” Malvetti said. “We’ve put a lot of consideration into this project, and we did a lot of outreach to the community.”

Business owners were outspoken in saying that returning cars to K Street is vital to increasing retail activity in the area, Malvetti said, but they won’t see an instant change.

“It will likely be an incremental increase over time,” Malvetti said.

City Council recently approved numerous projects intended to revitalize the J-K-L corridor, and K Street in particular, in order to stimulate economic activity in the area and bring people back to what was once a hub of activity in the city, Malvetti said.

The “Cars on K Street” project was part of a $2.7 million construction and design project approved by City Council in April 2010.

The purpose of the project, according to a staff report, is to “increase access and visibility to businesses, promote a safe environment, stimulate additional economic activity, and improve (traffic) circulation.”

“Sacramento needs to be more pedestrian-friendly,” said Councilman Steve Cohn, “but the way that part of K Street is laid out, it wasn’t working as a pedestrian-only street.”

Cohn said returning cars to K Street makes sense because it will help with traffic flow and make it easier for people to get to the businesses along that part of K Street.

In order to allow for the reintroduction of cars on K Street from Eighth to 12th streets, the city code must be amended to remove the definition of “pedestrian mall” currently applied to those five street blocks.

According to provisions in the city charter, the council must first pass the revised ordinance for publication, and then it can finalize the approval at the following City Council meeting.

This is one of the last steps before construction can begin, Malvetti said. The Department of Transportation will bring a construction contract to City Council next week for approval, and then groundbreaking can begin within the first week of August.

Design plans for the “Cars on K Street” project include creating new crossing signals at 11th and K streets, wheelchair access at intersections and the addition of edge treatments (possibly planters or street furniture) to provide a buffer between the roadway and sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety and make the blocks more visually appealing.

“Our goal is to have cars back on K Street in early November,” Malvetti said. “It’s one more step in the revitalization of K Street.”

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Music, merriment and message in Curtis Park

2010-07-23T17:57:31Z

On Sunday, July 25th, revolutionary artist Kevin Sandbloom will headline an event that integrates great music, easy relaxation and family fun as the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association presents this year’s second Music in the Park. This free summertime concert is part of the 2010 season of events from one of the most active neighborhood associations in the state.

Each performer, activity and sponsor will reflect the event’s theme of “Health and Wellness.” This midsummer event will feature elements that are both familiar and new to the many residents and visitors who flock to the annual Curtis Park concert series.

Children will race to the stage at the start of the evening to hear legendary children’s composer and performer, “Mister Cooper,” who is returning to offer his participatory musical presentation. The creator of Songs That Teach, an original curriculum-based music program, “Mister Cooper’s” musical talent and rapport with children have made him indispensable to schools and parents throughout Sacramento. Cooper’s music, as Christie Hamm of Belle Coolidge Library says, establishes “a connection with children long after the songs are over.”

During intermission, kids can once again participate in a hula-hoop contest, and can visit Sacramento’s Health Education Council, who will be on hand to educate both kids and adults on the best ways to eat healthy and stay active. In operation since 1979, the Health Education Council’s mission is to promote well being in Sacramento’s communities through education, programming, and partnerships. Children who visit their table can also play the health trivia game, for which they’ll be awarded prizes for correct answers.

Next up on the stage will be headliner Kevin Sandbloom, who offers audiences his unique blend of music and message. A guitarist whose style is referred to as “urban delta soul,” Sandbloom’s compositions are sung in a voice, says Sean Rasul of WhoGotSoul.com, that ranges from “a smooth or raspy falsetto to a powerful and distinct tenor,” and with lyrics that are “poetic and insightful.” It’s music that reaches the gut” from a musician who is active in the world of community involvement and human rights.

Sandbloom is currently releasing an EP of songs related to the cause of social justice, with partial proceeds benefiting the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, an organization devoted to the advancement of ideals named in the United Nation’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With grooves ranging from soul and R&B to hip-hop and bossa nova, Sandbloom is the perfect centerpiece for an evening of soulful relaxation. As the online music blog Rasx Context says, “If you take the extremely talented D’Angelo and Ani DeFranco, and mix it with even more humanity, you end up with Kevin Sandbloom.”

A number of returning sponsors are partnering with Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association to help make the event possible. Since 1946, SMUD has empowered its customers with solutions that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and reduce global warming. It’s All Yoga has been voted “Best in Sacramento” twice by Sacramento News & Review. Personal trainer and nutritionist Sham Sanghera’s Inspired Wellness Boot Camp enables clients to achieve goals and maintain healthy lifestyles. For twenty-five years Miss Helen has nurtured children and provided developmental activities in the areas of music, crafts, and movement. The Law Office of R. Andrew Murray prides itself on its personal attention to clients in matters of real estate, business formation, estate planning, and bankruptcy.

These familiar sponsors are joined by Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, which, established in 1977, is a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing the arts in the region. Born at Home, an independent midwifery practice providing complete maternity care to families in Sacramento and surrounding counties. Tammy Cohen of K9 Bliss teaches dog owners the structure and consistency of communication that results in secure, blissful companions. D20 Dental, the first green dental office in Sacramento, combines the latest clinical practices and technological innovations in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Locally-owned since 1973, the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop is a trusted source of natural foods and products, and a reliable resource for consumer information.

Returning as Music in the Park’s main sponsors are Meg, Michael and Melissa Heede of RE/MAX Gold, the number one independently-owned brokerage firm in California, and City Councilmember Lauren Hammond, who is gifting SCNA with the stage that is the main setting for the event.

In accordance with city codes, alcohol will not be permitted at the event. However, an enclosed garden of fine beer and wine will be on site, with beverages available for purchase by concert attendees.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) was formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who gather frequently in its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and classrooms.

City Council to Throw Out Fair Election Ordinance

2009-03-31T19:04:00Z

Today's (Tuesday, March 31st) Sacramento city council meeting includes an item on the "consent calendar" (meaning a group of items expected to be non-controversial) that would eliminate portions of Sacramento's campaign finance law. This change would remove any fundraising limits for organizations called "independent expenditure committees" and also raise campaign contribution limits for political candidates.

What is an "independent expenditure committee," you might ask? Wikipedia defines them as: "In elections in the United States, an independent expenditure is a political activity intended to assist or oppose a specific candidate for office which is made without their cooperation, approval, or direct knowledge. Most commonly, this takes the form of advertising. In some cases, independent expenditures may far exceed direct spending by the candidates' campaigns. Groups which frequently make use of independent expenditures include political party committees, political action committees, and 527 groups."

Some examples of "independent expenditure committees" include groups like MoveOn.org or the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (527 groups) or the Democratic National Committee or Republican National Committee (political party committees.)

The full report can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=8&event_id=80&meta_id=174038

The reason given for this change is the risk of a court challenge. During the last election cycle, attorneys representing independent expenditure committees, one supporting former Mayor Fargo and one supporting current Mayor Johnson approached the city. They wanted to spend money beyond the current spending limits to support their respective candidates, and threatened to sue the city over their campaign-finance laws based on the following precedents:

N.C. Right to Life, Inc. v. Leake, 525 F.3d 274 (4th Cir 2008) and Arkansas Right to Life State PAC v. Butler, 29 F.Supp.2d 540 (W.D. Ark. 1998)

The city, faced with the threat of lawsuit, declared that the city would not enforce its spending-limit laws during the last weeks of the election. Now, the city government plans to eliminate these laws entirely. It is not being discussed as a city council issue, but passed with a series of purportedly non-controversial regulations. Its result will probably be an even greater level of influence for developers and other moneyed interests, while restricting the ability of members of the public who are not wealthy or backed by the wealthy to run for public office.

If you are interested in providing feedback to the City Council, or asking them to take this item off of today's consent calendar, please call the City Council members at the numbers below. The item in question is Item 5 on the consent calendar: Ordinance Amendment: Ordinance Amending and Repealing Various Sections of Title 2 of the Sacramento City Code Relating to the City's Campaign Chapters (Contributions and Spending)

Kevin Johnson
Mayor
Mayor's Office
916-808-5300

Ray Tretheway

Ray Tretheway
District 1
916-808-7001

Sandy Sheedy
District 2
916-808-7002

Steve Cohn
District 3
916-808-7003

Robert King Fong
District 4
916-808-7004

Lauren Hammond
District 5
916-808-7005

Kevin McCarty
District 6
916-808-7006

Robbie Waters
District 7
916-808-7007

Bonnie Pannell
District 8
916-808-7008