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Council advances fire-code update and approves amended Cannabis Express development agreement
Summary
Council gave first reading to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments and approved an amended development agreement with Cannabis Express Inc. for a dispensary; both items passed in the meeting and will proceed to required subsequent steps.
The Porterville City Council moved two ordinance items forward on the agenda: first, staff recommended adopting the 2025 California Fire Code by reference with limited local amendments to Porterville Municipal Code chapter 12, article 1; second, the council approved a second reading of an amended and restated development agreement with Cannabis Express Inc. for a cannabis dispensary.
Fire Marshal Dignam (presenting) said the state-mandated 2025 California Fire Code becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026, and recommended the city adopt it by reference while keeping a handful of local administrative provisions and previously established local standards—among them a 300-foot hydrant-spacing provision for multifamily, mixed-use and commercial areas and a 20-foot single fire-lane gate requirement to improve apparatus access. The mayor asked whether the shorter hydrant spacing was unique; the marshal answered it reflected an existing local practice dating to before his tenure and related to preconnect hose lengths and engine operations.
After public comment and council questions about hydrant spacing, gate widths and addressing on rear facades (4‑inch lettering for building addresses to aid response), the council voted to give the ordinance first reading by title, order it printed and schedule the second reading at the next regular meeting (vote recorded 5–0).
On a separate item, the city attorney read the title and presented the second-reading ordinance approving an amended and restated development agreement between the City of Porterville and Cannabis Express Inc. regarding a cannabis dispensary. Councilmember Beltran moved to approve the second reading by title, the motion was seconded and the council recorded a 5–0 vote to advance the ordinance.
Both items proceed under standard ordinance procedure: the fire-code ordinance will return for second reading and formal adoption at the next regular meeting so it can take effect before Jan. 1, 2026; the development agreement ordinance advanced after the second-reading approval.
What’s next: staff will return with the printed fire-code ordinance for second reading and final adoption; the Cannabis Express development agreement will be processed per ordinance adoption steps and recorded as required.
