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Council pauses prior cannabis selection, opens path for competing applicant
Summary
The Bellflower City Council adopted a one-time exemption to pause the existing cannabis permit selection and allowed another applicant — Herbst Diner — a chance to apply; council also directed staff to open a two-week application window and to waive Herbst Diner's application fee if it applies.
The Bellflower City Council on Aug. 10 adopted Resolution 26-30, a one-time exemption pausing the current cannabis permit selection process to allow consideration of another qualified applicant.
Mayor Santinez disclosed ex parte communications and then heard from competing applicants and community members. Tock Sato, president and owner of Steezy, asked the council to let his firm submit a bid, saying, "We are the largest and most successful cannabis company in California by a very large margin... We also did $650,000,000 in revenue last year." Union representative Andrew Hauserman urged the council to consider operators with unionized workforces, saying union partnerships deliver higher standards for wages and benefits for local workers. Opponents, including Mark Risk, urged the council to reject adding dispensaries, citing concerns about crime, DUI and community character.
After public comment and staff analysis, the council voted to adopt the exemption. Councilmember Ray Dunton moved adoption; roll call recorded Morse Aye, Sanchez No, Dunton Aye, Santinez No and the clerk announced the motion carried. The council then directed staff to open a two-week application period and waived the application fee for Herbst Diner should that operator choose to apply.
The city manager told the council that reopening the full application process without the exemption would likely take ‘‘3 months minimum’’ because of application, hearing and review timelines. Councilmembers framed the vote as balancing fairness to prior applicants with the benefits of competition and potential revenue stability.
What happens next: staff will open the two-week application period, process any applications that meet the requirements, and return to council with the results and any recommended permits.
