Column: Medina offers update on EDC funds, cannabis, retreat

On Feb. 5, the San Benito County Board Of Supervisors met in open session. The board appointed the following to the Long Term Care Commission: Mitchell Matthews, Pauline Valdivia, Patsy Pence, Creighton Mevdivil, John Beleutz, David Reikowski, Clay Kempf and Rumi Saikia for the period of January 2019 to January 2023. We also appointed Patrick Fancher to the Fish & Game Advisory Commission as a District #4 representative effective February 5, 2019, along with appointing Emanuel Gonzalez to the Behavioral Health Board for the Term of Feb. 5, 2019 to Feb. 5, 2022 and Nelda Escamilla to the Parks & Recreation Commission as a District #5 representative for the period of Feb. 5, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2020. I would like to thank everyone who volunteers for all these commissions and if there is anyone out there that has an interest in volunteering please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

We had a young lady by the name of Samantha Slykas provide us with a presentation about bullying and safety awareness for all ages. On March 2 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Veterans Hall (649 San Benito St.) she will be holding a workshop open to anyone and if you have any questions please call 831-637-2303.

On the consent agenda staff recommended a $35,000 allocation to the Economic Development Corporation but this item was pulled and we discussed the possibility to increase this funding. We will bring this back to the board on February 19th. Personally I would like to see our funding allocation much higher than $35,000. In December of 2017 we allocated $120,000 for a lobbyist and we did not renew her contract therefore I feel allocating additional funding to the EDC would help bring businesses into our community. We must increase the middle to high paying jobs in our community which in turn will keep our residents from commuting out of town. We also will need to work together with the City Of Hollister in order to ensure we support and provide guidance to the EDC. Prior to any commitment to the EDC we must have a strategic plan with details and measurable to ensure we are receiving a return on our EDC investment.

During public hearing we discussed:
1) The schedule of proposed fees and fee deposits related to the cannabis business regulatory program as authorized by Ordinance No. 974, specifically with regard to the cannabis business permit application; and
2) Consider adoption of a resolution setting forth a new Cannabis Business Permit Application Fee, Zoning Verification Fee, Background Check Fee, Appeal Fee, and the applicable fee deposits for the San Benito County Cannabis Business Regulatory Program; and
3) Consider adoption of a resolution designating the Agricultural Commissioner to serve as the County Administrative Officer’s designee, who shall be authorized to build and manage the Cannabis Business Regulatory Program, including, but not limited to, preparing the necessary forms, promulgating any necessary rules, regulations, and standards governing application requirements and processes, soliciting applications, conducting evaluations of the cannabis business applicants, as well as, the cannabis employee-applicants, and otherwise implementing the Cannabis Business Permit and Cannabis Employee Work Permit processes and requirements.

I have provided you with a link which will explain this in detail.
https://sanbenito.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/CoverSheet.aspx?ItemID=3759&MeetingID=289

The Board Of Supervisors will be meeting on February 14th and 15th for a special board meeting/retreat. The location of this meeting is 2301 Technology Parkway, 2nd floor from 9AM to 5PM. We will also have our regular board meeting on Tuesday, February 19th at 9AM located at our chambers 481 Fourth Street.

In closing as the chair of the board I will make myself available to anyone and my commitment is to represent all residents. I am available by e-mail [email protected] , text or phone 831-801-4784. Thank you for allowing me to represent San Benito County.