Manteca will allow the legal storefront sales of marijuana starting in 2022 unless two weeks from now a council member changes their mind.

The City Council Tuesday with Dave Breitenbucher and Jose Nuño dissenting approved an ordinance to allow legal retail sales. It becomes official in January if the council approves the second reading of the ordinance scheduled for Dec. 21.

It took five motions for the council to make a decision to cap a year-long vetting process involving numerous community workshops and hearings.

A bid by Nuño to allow only medicinal and not recreational sales was rejected after only securing Breitenbucher’s support. Nuno’s failed motion also sought to increase the separation from a marijuana retailer and a school from the proposed 600 feet to 1,000 feet.

Cantu made a motion to allow for retail storefront sales along with industrial marijuana grows, cannabis testing facilities, and Manteca-based delivery only pot businesses. It died, however, for lack of a second.

The motion that finally passed increased the distance from the proposed 200 feet to 600 feet separation between a parcel where places of religious assembly, drug rehab and homeless shelters, youth center, commercial day care facilities, libraries, and parks are located and any potential retail marijuana storefront.

Schools remained at 600 feet.

Both Breitenbucher and Nuño thanked their colleagues for adding distance although they went ahead and cast votes against the successful motion.

The motion that passed dropped any specific required separation from nearby residential uses.

Councilman Gary Singh emphasized repeatedly that any applicant for an exact site that is allowed within the parameters of the ordinance still must gain council approval before moving forward. That means if there are concerns with isolating potential impacts of a storefront site from nearby residential property or other uses the council could reject a use permit.

The decision came after the council heard 23 people — including at least six pastors — speak against allowing legal pot sales in The Family City. Four spoke in favor of the  ordinance. An additional speaker was on the fence noting positive medicinal uses but pointing out how it has created serious issues for some users.

The council decision came after the Planning Commission last month on a 4-1 vote, with commissioner Leonard Smith dissenting, opposed allowing storefront cannabis sales in Manteca.

Earlier Nuño quizzed Manteca Police Captain Stephen Schluer on the manpower that would be needed by the police to enforce the provisions of the marijuana ordinance. Schuler shared the department was looking at the need to add a lieutenant, a code enforcement officer, and two police officers dedicated to street crimes.

Schluer, in responding to a question, noted the additional positions would also handle other issues with the two street crimes officers also going after illegal drug activity.

In a response to a council question, City Manager Toby Wells indicated there was  no preliminary cost estimate for additional police staffing. Wells did offer it typically costs between $175,000 to $200,000 for the overall salary, health benefits, retirement contributions, workmen’s compensation, and gear costs for an entry level police officer.

Given that and the cost of a lieutenant and a code enforcement officer but not including potential overtime rank and file positions are eligible for, the staffing costs could easily exceed $750,000 a year.

Wells did note the positions wouldn’t all be added all at once and would be phased in as permits are issued for dispensaries.

Based on promises council members that advocated for allowing legal marijuana sales in Manteca, the holders of retail cannibals permits would cover the cost of needed enforcement and monitoring  of regulations as well as generate additional funds beyond the one cent general sales tax and the half cent public safety tax to help fund municipal services.

That will likely be covered in one-on-one negotiations with applicants for the three permits  that will be allowed when it comes to the “community benefits” they will pay for being allowed to do business in Manteca.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com