California voters passed Proposition 64, legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

“Marijuana is regulated the same as alcohol,” Ripon Police Chief Ed Ormonde recently said. “You have to be age 21 or older to use it.”

Nor can it be used in public.

He added that possessing, growing, and distributing cannabis is still a federal crime under the Controlled Substance Act.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Ormonde is scheduled to be on hand to discuss with elected leaders an amendment to the Ripon Municipal Code that calls for prohibiting all outdoor cultivation of marijuana for personal use while establishing the limitations on indoor cultivation on the matter.

They’ll also look at amending the chapter that “prohibits the opening, establishment and operation of all businesses engaged in commercial marijuana activities within the City of Ripon” during the 6 p.m. open session in the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.

Council will also go over the following:

uCertify the council committee appointments and task forces.

uAuthorize staff to implement the use of Blue Sombrero as the Parks and Recreation Department’s website provider. In doing so, Mayor Dean Uecker would be authorized to sign the Vantiv Merchant Agreement for use of online payments.

uApprove a change order on the CNG Expansion and Bus Shelter Project, consisting of reinforced structure over an existing concrete irrigation pipe and ornamental wrought iron fencing with an electronic gate. The project is funded via Proposition IB grants, with cost to T&S West not to exceed $76,000.

uPossibly approve the staff-recommended changes to the ordinance, allowing alcohol consumption – in this case, beer and wine – as part of organized performance-based events at the Mistlin Sports Amphitheater along with downtown dining in downtown Main Street between Acacia Avenue and Nourse Avenue.

uApprove a first reading and introduction to an ordinance amendment that prohibits camping along the Stanislaus River and storing personal property in streets and public areas within the City.

uDiscuss and consider an analysis of excessive water use for residential customer by Tom Pavletic of Municipal Financial Services. He’s also scheduled to talk about how a water use penalty can be applied to those customers and the impact it can have on a customer utility bill.

uConsider approving the Pavement Management Report, which identifies the overall pavement Condition Index for Ripon streets and roads.

uConsider changes to the Spring Clean-up program.

uDiscuss the regional (Ripon Multi-Modal Station), local (South San Joaquin Irrigation District Surface Water Supply) and endorsement (Ripon Community Athletic Foundation’s Stadium) projects to be submitted for the upcoming San Joaquin Council of Governments One Voice Advocacy trip to Washington D.C.

For more information, call Ripon City Hall at 209.599.2108 or log on to www.cityofripon.org.