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Council presses attorney on county cannabis JPA language, asks draft of parks smoking ban
Summary
City staff warned that Wright County JPA language could impose 1,000‑foot cannabis buffers that would supersede local zoning; council instructed the attorney to clarify that county buffers not apply to cities with zoning authority and asked the attorney to draft a parks smoking ordinance if council wishes to proceed.
Staff briefed the council on a Wright County joint‑power agreement for cannabis enforcement and said draft language might apply county buffer rules (up to 1,000 feet) even where cities have more restrictive zoning. Council members worried broad county buffers could effectively prohibit cannabis businesses in much of town.
The planner cited a proposed 400‑foot buffer measured from the primary entrance of one building to another, which staff said would be workable within city zoning. Council asked the city attorney to press for clearer language in the JPA specifying that county buffer rules should not supersede municipal zoning ordinances for cities with zoning authority.
Staff also raised the question of prohibiting smoking (tobacco and cannabis products) in parks and other city property. Several council members favored a parks‑only prohibition rather than a city‑wide ban, and noted enforcement would be handled by Wright County under the proposed code changes; staff was directed to ask the attorney to draft an ordinance for council consideration and to plan signage for parks.
What happens next: staff will relay council concerns to the city attorney for JPA language changes and will request a draft parks smoking ordinance for future consideration.
