Legislation regarding marijuana shops, lounges to be discussed at Thursday's Board of Supervisors meeting

The April Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on April 4 beginning at 8:30 am. Items on the table for discussion include a tax on tobacco vapor products, legislation regarding marijuana shop taxes, expanding hiking trail systems, upcoming legislation, and more.

The April 4 meeting will occur in the Sierra Room of the community center, located at 851 E. William Street.

A topic of interest is the request of the board to back certain legislation submitted during this session that would affect Carson City. One of those bill is Assembly Bill 409, which discusses "establishing requirements for the issuance of a license to operate a marijuana consumption lounge by a county or city," and would prohibit County Commissioners from imposing or collecting a license tax or any other fee for regulation.

It also spells out regulations for where a "consumption lounge" could be located, and how they would be allowed to operate.

For example, the bill states that any lounge would need to be located 1,000 feet from any schools, and 300 feet from any community building. It must not be located on the property of an airport, and the consumption of marijuana can not be easily viewable from a public place.

It also discusses that a lounge would not be able to sell alcohol, or allow alcohol to be consumed on the premises, and it would be prohibited from offering any gaming services.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.

Another bill would require that certain vapor products be taxed and regulated as other tobacco products.

Senate Bill 263 establishes a license fee for retailers of cigarettes and other tobacco products and wholesale dealers of other tobacco products, and requires certain taxes imposed on vapor products to be used for certain programs related to tobacco prevention and control and public health. Retailers are to submit certain taxes on vapor products to the Department of Taxation.

Discussion and possible action on a resolution revoking a decision on a maintenance agreement better Carson City and Douglas County is also on the table. Up until this point, maintenance of Center Drive has been funded solely by Carson City. If the new resolution is adopted, responsibilities of Center Drive that are located within Douglas County would then be Douglas County's responsibility to maintain once more.

Also on the agenda are several expansion and design plans including the Carson River Trail System Phase II: the Prison Hill Trail, the Mexican Ditch Trail Extension and the West Riverbank Trail. Funds for the project are being requested for Construction Management to Lumos & Associates, Inc. for a total not to exceed $404,900.

Carson City Health and Human Services are applying for the Funds for Healthy Nevada Grant through the State of Nevada, Division of Public and Behavioral health. Funds will be awarded in annual increments over the course of two years and be used for the purposes of providing family planning and preventive health services. Funds from this grant would be used to continue the program that has been administered under Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division since 2015.

The City Manager’s office is set to discuss legislation and the Nevada Association of Counties is requesting support on nine bills it is sponsoring during the legislative session:

Senate Bill 281 authorizes the board of county commissioners of certain counties to provide for reimbursements to be made to retailers of motor vehicle fuel and special fuel for certain taxes imposed in those counties.

Assembly Bill 146 and AB 296 two separate bills which establish, among other things, creation of the Nevada Office of the Inspector General with powers and duties that include auditing, investigation, inspection and performance review designed to provide increased accountability and oversight of local government.

The Assembly bill 406 relates to the airport authority of Carson city. City staff will bring to meeting of the board of supervisors legislative bills as requested., that they believe will impact Carson city. Board of trustees of authority revises provision governing procedures concerning employment

Assembly Bill 344 makes various changes to modernize the provision of cellular coverage.

Assembly Bill AB 240 requires certain counties to meet jointly and prepare reports addressing the orderly management of growth in their region.

Assembly Bill 324 establishes provisions governing emergency 911 services.

Further Discussion and possible action regarding Carson City's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) will be on the table.

The EOP must be reviewed at a minimum of every five years or when a new senior elected or appointed official takes office. We have both newly elected and appointed officials within the city. The mayor will be signing a letter of proclamation. This guide will reflect Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County, and Storey County, about how these counties will work together and respond to emergencies and disasters of a larger scale.

Senate Bill 388 provides for the designation of certain public records and portions of public records as confidential and requires a governmental entity to grant a request to copy such records under certain circumstances.

To read the agenda in its entirety, click here.