NEVADA CITY, Calif. July 22, 2016 – Before Tuesday’s highly anticipated Board of Supervisors meeting and the possible repealing of the current version of the urgency ordinance, here’s a look back at the milestones of Measure W.
January 12, 2016 – The Nevada County BOS passes a complete ban on outdoor cultivation of marijuana in Nevada County by a 4-1 vote. After adopting the ordinance, the BOS approves a ballot measure for the June ballot, telling residents “You’ll get to vote on this.”
January 14, 2016 – After analyzing the ballot measure, YubaNet confirms that a No vote on the ballot measure would not overturn the outdoor growing ban. Dan Miller, Chair of the BOS, issues the following statement after the story is published: “We are setting up a meeting with county counsel to get clarification on the ballot measure. Our understanding was a ‘yes’ on the ballot measure would uphold the provisions of the emergency ordinance and a ‘no’ vote would rescind the emergency ordinance and we would return to the previous ordinance. We will, however, confirm this with county counsel. In any event, thanks for raising the question because the intent is to allow the citizens to decide what they want. “
January 21, 2016 – County Counsel Alison Barratt-Green, in a meeting with the media, states that her office will bring either a resolution stating the intent of the Board to the Feb. 9th meeting or a revision of the actual ballot question.
February 2, 2016 – District 4 Supervisor Hank Weston attends a town hall meeting convened in North San Juan. Should the ballot measure fail, the BOS will repeal the outdoor growing ban and come up with new regulations, Weston states at the meeting.
February 9, 2016 – The BOS unanimously passes a resolution clarifying Measure W and the BOS’ intention which reads, in part:
If the Ballot Measure is not approved by a majority of the registered voters voting on the measure, it is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to reject the Ballot Measure, to repeal the ban on outdoor cultivation of marijuana and to consider and adopt other outdoor regulations at the next available meeting after the results of the election have been certified by the County Elections Official.
February 29, 2016 – The impartial analysis, as well as the arguments and rebuttals for and against Measure W are published by the Elections Office. Later that afternoon, Attorney Heather Burke filed a writ on behalf of Forrest Hurd challenging Measure W.
March 8, 2016 – Nevada County Superior Court Judge Candace Heidelberger rules the impartial analysis of Measure W is flawed and directs the county to it.
March 17, 2016 – Judge Heidelberger finds the new impartial analysis is adequate.
June 7, 2016 – At the end of election night, Measure W is headed for defeat.
June 15, 2016 – The first meeting between county officials and stakeholders to craft new regulations takes place. The stakeholders suggested relocating cultivation to AG zoned parcels to get it out of the residential areas. “We need to address the concerns of people who are surrounded by grows… we feel comfortable to put in the AG or Forest Residential zones.”
June 27, 2016 – Stakeholders and county officials meet for the second time to discuss an interim ordinance replacing the current outdoor growing ban on marijuana.
July 5, 2016 – The Nevada County Elections Office completes the official canvass and publishes the final election results. Measure W fails by a 59.45% to 40.55% countywide.
YubaNet’s detailed analysis of the votes by supervisorial districts shows Measure W failing in 4 out of 5 districts and only passes in District 2 by a 51.79% to 48.21%.
- District 1, which includes Nevada City, rejects Measure W by 6,959 to 4,299 votes or 62% to 38%.
- District 2, which includes Lake of the Pines, votes in favor of Measure W by 4,751 to 4,422 votes or 51.79% to 48.21%.
- District 3, centered around Grass Valley, rejects Measure W by 4,515 to 2,872 votes or 61.12% to 38.88%.
- District 4, which includes Penn Valley and North San Juan, rejects Measure W by 5,893 to 3,994 votes or 59.60% to 40.40%.
- District 5, the eastern portion of the county and Truckee, rejects Measure W by 4,507 to 2,150 votes or 68% to 32%.
July 12, 2016 – The last meeting between county officials and stakeholders ended on a disappointing note for patient and growers’ representatives.
July 21, 2016 – The proposed ordinance to replace the current outdoor marijuana growing ban in Nevada County is released.