CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
Brian Dossey, City Manager
The City Council adopted the 2017-2019 Strategic Plan in October 2016, directing staff on the goals and priority programs for the next two years. At the February 14th City Council meeting, staff presented the annual Strategic Plan update. Staff updated the Council on the five Priority Program Areas; Significant Mandates, Town Operations, Economic Development, Financial Planning, and Quality of Life. Staff was pleased to report the many accomplishments over the past year, and set goals for the remainder of 2018. For more details about the Strategic Plan Update please go to https://www.colma.ca.gov/strategic-plan.
Get Us Moving Colma! Actually, its “Get Us Moving San Mateo.” As you know, solving the traffic issue is one of the County’s biggest challenges over the next several years, and they would like to hear from you. San Mateo County, SamTrans, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and several partner agencies and groups are looking for help in developing a transportation funding plan for San Mateo County. Get Us Moving San Mateo County would like your input on what you think are the County’s most critical needs. Please share your thoughts by participating in their survey at www.GetUsMovingSMC.com, and help build the roadmap for better and faster transportation in San Mateo County.
Lastly, I would like to remind all Colma Residents that the new parking permit program has been in effect since January 1, 2018. Residents who still have a green parking permit that expires on December 31, 2019 needs to go to the Police Department to get the new gold permit. Also, guest parking permits are no longer valid. Temporary parking permits for guests can be requested online at https://www.colma.ca.gov/parking-permits/.
Colma Police department update
Kirk Stratton, Chief of Police
Recreational use of marijuana became legal in California on January 1, 2018. The regulations contained in proposition 64 can be very confusing when it comes to State and Federal Laws, and jurisdictions have the authority to regulate any cannabis activity such as commercial dispensaries, agriculture, edibles, and recreational use in public spaces. As the City Manager wrote in last month’s Livewire, the City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting commercial cannabis ventures in the Town of Colma.
New laws effective January 1, 2018 also make it illegal for those under 21 years of age to possess marijuana. The link below provides legislative information about cannabis: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11357.&lawCode=HSC
The following vehicle code laws pertaining to marijuana are also enforceable by the Colma Police Department:
- Vehicle Code 23220(a)- Prohibits a person from drinking alcohol or smoking or ingesting marijuana or any marijuana product while driving a vehicle on off-highway lands, as described in Vehicle Code 23220(c).
- Vehicle Code 23220(b)- Prohibits a person from drinking alcohol or smoking or ingesting marijuana or any marijuana products while riding as a passenger in a vehicle being driven on off-highway lands, as described in Vehicle Code 23220(c).
- Vehicle Code 23221(a)- Prohibits a person from drinking alcohol or smoking or ingesting marijuana or any marijuana product while driving a vehicle upon a highway.
- Vehicle Code 23221(b)- Prohibits a person from drinking alcohol or smoking or ingesting marijuana or any marijuana product while riding as a passenger in a vehicle being driven upon a highway.
Penalties for violating these and other marijuana laws may be imprisonment in county jail for up to six months and / or a fine up to $500.