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Council pauses decision on two dispensary applicants after staff flags incomplete applications
Summary
Staff recommended issuing the single available dispensary permit to the highest sealed-bid guarantor, but council continued both hearings to July 13 after staff and council identified missing live-scan fingerprinting, absent owners/managers for vetting, and other application clarifications; guarantees listed were $225,000 (Herbs Diner) and $301,000 (Off The Charts).
The City Council opened public hearings on two sealed-bid applications for the single available retail cannabis dispensary permit and agreed to continue both items to the July 13 meeting so applicants could complete required vetting.
City staff described the bid process under the council’s recently adopted resolution and said both applications were materially complete on paper: Herbs Diner (proposed at 9535 Artesia Blvd., former Deli by Caliva) submitted a $225,000 12‑month guarantee and estimated it could open in about 12 weeks; OTC Bellflower LLC dba Off The Charts (proposed at 8846 Alondra Blvd.) submitted a $301,000 guarantee and projected a 5–6 month timeline to start operations.
Staff and police said they reviewed and accepted security plans for both proposals. Sergeant Ferguson and Mr. McInerney reported the required camera, retention and security-guard provisions met Title 14 requirements after the applicants clarified entrances and guard placement.
However, during applicant presentations and council Q&A staff raised compliance gaps: several individuals described as participating in management had not completed required live-scan fingerprinting, and key owners or daily operators were not present for vetting. Mr. Lee told the council that under the city’s application rules an individual who will “participat[e] in the direction, control, or management of a permittee” must be live-scanned; if operators who will participate in management have not completed live-scan, the application is non‑responsive.
Kamran Vegar and Zahoor Lalji spoke for Herbs Diner, emphasizing local ties and a plan to open quickly. Matthew Jones represented Off The Charts and described a multi-store operator’s experience and a plan to open in roughly 8–12 weeks once building permits are stamped. Both applicants said they accepted the city’s 8.5% cannabis privilege tax rate and described plans to secure off-site parking and to upgrade a neighborhood trash enclosure as required by staff.
After staff and members expressed concerns about incomplete vetting and absent live-scan results, Mayor moved to continue both public hearings to a date certain. The council voted 5–0 to continue Items 12C and 12D to July 13 so applicants could complete live-scan, submit missing documentation and permit staff to re-verify bank, fingerprinting and management information.
What’s next: Both applicants will be asked to provide completed live scans and any missing documentation before the council takes a final decision on which applicant, if any, receives the dispensary CBP.
