Council gives green light to red-light, speed cameras
Existing medical marijuana businesses in Colorado Springs will be able to start registering with the city today after the City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to approve an ordinance that gives the budding industry temporary operating permits.
The ordinance allows growers and sellers to meet a July 1 registration deadline in order to qualify for a state business license under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Bill Ritter.
“We’re really excited that it went through,” said Tanya Garduno, director of the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council.
“In this industry, we’re scared all the time of what’s happening and what’s going to try to put us out of business, so getting one step closer to legitimacy is just awesome,” she said.
Approval of the ordinance comes amid talks of a possible ballot initiative asking Colorado Springs voters whether dispensaries should be prohibited within city limits.
Saying “there may in fact be something on the ballot in April,” Mayor Lionel Rivera advised members of the industry to follow state and local laws.
“It’s incumbent upon the industry between now and the city election to make sure you run a very professional industry,” said Rivera, who voted in support of the ordinance.
Councilmen Darryl Glenn, Scott Hente and Randy Purvis cast the dissenting votes.
OTHER BUSINESS:
The council gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that will allow the police department to roll out red-light cameras at four busy intersections.
The vote was 5-4, with Glenn, Purvis, Tom Gallagher and Sean Paige opposed.
Installation of the cameras will start in August if the council gives final approval June 22.
Under a proposed timeline, red-light runners will get warnings before citations are issued around Oct. 18.
The ordinance also governs violations detected by photo radar, cameras that snap pictures of speeders, but police have not said when that program will be implemented.
The red-light cameras will be installed at the following four intersections:
• Northbound Nevada Avenue at Bijou Street
• Eastbound Barnes Road at Oro Blanco Drive
• Westbound Platte Avenue at Murray Boulevard
• Westbound Platte Avenue at Circle Drive
Police Cmdr. Brian Grady said the city may install more red-light cameras at other intersections in the future but that it wanted to start with four intersections to determine the impact the program would have on Municipal Court.
Also on Tuesday, the council voted 6-3 to approve bringing back a Human Relations Commission, which the city eliminated in 1995.
“It’s mainly going to be about bringing the community together,” said Joe Barrera, who chaired a task force to restart the commission.
“We’ve been too divided. We’ve had a bad reputation for intolerance and non-acceptance,” he said. “Well, we’re about changing that now.”
Gallagher, Glenn and Rivera cast the dissenting votes. Rivera is the only Hispanic on council, and Glenn is the only black.
View Red-light cameras in a larger map
