Council Opposes Pot Proposition, But Not One That Delays Greenhouse-Gas Law

The City Council took positions Tuesday on two measures on the November ballot, listening to almost two hours of testimony about Proposition 23 before voting not to oppose the measure that would suspend California's landmark greenhouse-gas law.

Councilmembers had requested two of the measures be placed on its agenda, and Benicia Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli had asked them in August to oppose Proposition 19, which would legalize and tax marijuana.

Councilmember Mark Hughes said  he opposes the two propositions and supports Measure C, the school district parcel tax measure, but voted against taking a position on the three measures.

"I think it's inappropriate," he said before the vote on Proposition 23. "Let the voters decide."

Vice Mayor Alan Schwartzman and Councilmember Mike Ioakimedes agreed with Hughes on Proposition 23 and the resolution opposing it was defeated 3-2. They both cited the local impact in joining a 4-1 vote endorsing Measure C. Ioakimedes also spoke of Proposition 19's potential local effect and joined Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and Councilmember Tom Campbell in voting 3-2 to oppose the measure.

The 18 members of the audience who spoke about the Proposition 23 resolution were evenly divided, while three in the audience were in favor of Measure C. Two people supported opposition of Proposition 19. Some of the 18 speakers were visitors to Benicia affiliated with the campaigns for and against Proposition 23 -- a measure partly funded by Valero Corp. -- while others were residents concerned that the council could be "blackmailed" by Valero.

That concern arose because of staff reports that representatives of the Valero Benicia refinery have indicated the city's position on the measure could affect whether the company will lease the city a piece of its land. The land, at the southwest corner of Rose Drive and East Second Street, is slated to be used for the city's fledgling solar energy and conservation project, whose construction contract was approved by the council later in the evening.

"There is no blackmail going on," Chris Howe, Valero community relations, told the council. "There never has been a discussion about some lease or a document that would not be signed."

Howe conceded later that the topic was discussed at a meeting between refinery officials and city staff, but said the company has not made a decision about the proposed lease.

Measure C and Proposition 23 were the only two items pulled for discussion from the consent calendar of Tuesday's agenda. Three other items, including a new contract for city department heads, were approved unanimously without discussion.