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Santee council signs off on Phase 4 cannabis interview questions; adds vendor-default probe
Summary
City Council approved the Phase 4 interview questions and selection process for 16 retail commercial cannabis permit applicants on June 25 and added a direct question about vendor payment defaults to screen financial stability.
The Santee City Council unanimously approved the interview questions and selection procedures for Phase 4 of the city’s commercial cannabis business permit process on June 25, including a new question asking applicants whether they are currently in default or have ever defaulted on vendor payments.
Rachel Linderbrecki, Associate Planner with the Planning and Building Department, told the council staff’s recommendation: “During phase 4, city council will interview all 16 applicants and decide which, if any, may be awarded a permit.” She summarized the timeline and format: interviews on July 8 and 10 with council deliberations and selections on July 11.
Councilmembers and the vice mayor discussed adding a question to screen for financial stability after industry-wide reports of operators falling behind on vendor obligations. The vice mayor proposed a concise yes-or-no question to be included: “Are you currently in default or have you been in default with your vendors?” Council members agreed to add the language and to fold it into question 4 as needed so applicants’ answers would be on the record.
Planning staff described the broader rules: the city adopted a cannabis business permit ordinance in August 2022 and retail procedures in March 2024; staff said 16 applications advanced to Phase 4 and council has discretion to award up to four permits with up to four alternates. Each interview will last 45 minutes, with up to five minutes reserved for applicant introduction.
Councilmember Sean (Vice Mayor) and Councilmember Bridal both emphasized the importance of community trust and the need for substantive evidence beyond oral assurances. Devon Wardlow, vice president of public affairs for Embark, thanked the council: “I really just wanted to say thank you so very much to this council and for all of city staff's work to develop such a thoughtful approach to implementing retail cannabis.”
Council approved the modified seven interview questions and the selection process by unanimous vote; staff will publish the final questions and proceed with the Phase 4 interview schedule.
Next steps: staff will conduct the scheduled interviews and present the council’s selections and an adopting resolution during the July 11 deliberations.
