Council pauses retail cannabis RFA, orders professional community survey before starting permit process

The Redondo Beach City Council on July 1 directed staff to commission a professional public-opinion survey of city residents before releasing a request for applications (RFA) for commercial retail cannabis permits. The decision followed more than two hours of public comment — largely opposed — and lengthy council debate about timing, health and enforcement concerns and the city's ordinance.

Staff presented background on the March 11 ordinances that allow limited retail cannabis under defined buffers and restrictions. Jane Chung, the city’s permit administrator for the effort, described the planned RFA timeline: staff would return with two resolutions on July 15 to set process integrity guidelines and the application fee schedule; if the council then authorized…