Redondo Beach City council holds off on cannabis stores, votes for survey
by Garth Meyer A standing closing argument from Zein Obagi, Jr., a second to his motion from new city councilman Chadwick Castle, an invitation for a counter motion declined by Scott Behrendt, and a substitute motion from Brad Waller led to fingers on the chin for Paige Kaluderovic and a decision to spend $40,000 for a city survey of whether to open retail cannabis stores in Redondo Beach. The 4-1 vote late Tuesday night, July 1, Obagi against, came after two hours of public input, much of it opposed to retail stores here, and 55 online comments tilted heavily against. It was the latest vote in a now, eight-year process to answer the question, will Redondo Beach permit storefront retail cannabis? The previous city council passed an ordinance in February to set the final parameters for how and where the stores may operate. Voters approved a tax rate two years ago. At the start of this week’s meeting, City Manager Mike Witzansky prefaced the matter. He and city staff, he said, recommended that the council begin to take applications for permits, referring to the amount of staff time invested. He noted that Culver City is reporting annual tax revenue of $600,000 from its one store…
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