Medical Marijuana Proposal, Procedural Issue Lead To Discussions For Ste. Genevieve Aldermen

About 35 minutes were spent on the final few items on the agenda at last Thursday night’s regular Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen meeting.

After a work session and a five-minute reorganizational meeting during which new Ward 3 Alderman Mike Raney was sworn in, the board was on its next-to-last agenda item 50 minutes into the regular meeting.

That item, a bill amending definitions of districts and district regulations in the city’s zoning regulations, prompted considerable discussion when it came up for a vote.

The bill followed up on a special Planning and Zoning meeting April 18 and a Board of Aldermen work session March 28 dealing with the zoning of medical marijuana.

“It is what most municipalities are adopting,” community development administrator David Bova said. “From a zoning perspective, I think you need to consider the residential folks and not putting these places next to them.”

The bill was passed on first reading, 5-1.

SECOND READINGS ARE DISCUSSED

The final agenda item was the board’s second-reading policy. Normally a bill is read once at a meeting and, if passed, is read and voted on a second time at the following meeting. If it is an urgent or time-sensitive need, a motion is made for a second reading to follow immediately after the first reading. If passed, the bill becomes an ordinance.

Toma said he had been asked about the city’s policy on second readings. He said he had to admit, “We don’t really have one.”

“The general rule is that we don’t do the second reading as a matter of convenience,” he said. “We usually do it when time is of the essence.”

As an example, he used field operations supervisor Gary Roth’s need for  a new piece of equipment, which was located on sale for a limited amount of time.

Toma asked if the board wanted to adopt specific standards on when to go ahead with a second reading immediately after a first reading. Toma asked Bishop for his opinion.

“You can adopt guidelines or policies,” Bishop said, but he warned the board not to restrict its ability to pass future ordinances.

See complete story in the May 1 edition to the Herald.