The Marijuana Business Commission of the City of Pontiac met in an organizational session during which commissioners were sworn in, adopted the commission’s rules and regulations, elected officers and set a hearing on an overlay-district appeal for Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. at City Hall.

The commission adopted its proposed rules and regulations by unanimous roll call and then moved through officer nominations. Commissioners appointed Carolyn Turpin as chair, Robert Ford as vice chair and selected Parath to serve as secretary. Each of the procedural votes recorded a 4-0 tally of "yeas, no nays," according to roll calls taken during the meeting.

Why it matters: the commission cannot begin hearing adult-use marijuana appeals under the new rules until the City Council approves the rules; city staff told commissioners the council will address the commission’s rules at its Nov. 10 meeting. That approval is a prerequisite to scheduling hearings under the ordinance that authorized adult-use marijuana in Pontiac and, according to staff, only one appeal is currently pending before the commission.

City staff described the timing and logistics for the pending appeal. "The next City Council meeting will be on November 10 where that will be on their agenda to approve your rules so you can have your next meeting after November 10," a city staff member said. Staff reported there is one appeal now before the commission and that four overlay districts have been defined for adult use: Woodward, Gateway, Downtown (Cesar Chavez) and Walton Boulevard.

Commissioners considered several possible hearing windows in November and December; they selected Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. at City Hall by motion and unanimous roll call. Staff said the preferred schedule is as soon as possible after City Council approval because the Woodward Overlay District cannot move forward while the appeal remains unresolved.

The meeting was largely procedural: commissioners took the oath of office, approved the agenda, adopted the commission rules and elected officers. There were no members of the public present for comment, and the commission adjourned after completing its business.

The commission’s adopted rules and the Nov. 13 hearing date are now subject to the City Council’s administrative step to approve the rules on Nov. 10 before the commission can hear the pending appeal.