MLT continues moratorium on pot gardens

  • By Katie Murdoch Herald writer
  • Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7:48pm

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The City Council voted 7-0 on Feb. 6 to renew a moratorium on collective gardens for medical marijuana.

A new state law allows qualified patients to create community gardens for growing medicinal marijuana. But a number of cities, including Mountlake Terrace, are using moratoriums to buy time as they determine how legalizing medical marijuana would affect local laws and zoning, and how state rules might conflict with federal rules.

During a Feb. 2 work session, Councilwoman Michelle Robles said the law is unclear.

“There’s no clarity in the language,” Robles said. “The rules are a little too unclear to endorse it.”

Councilwoman Kyoko Matsumoto Wright leaned toward waiting to make a decision after the federal government makes a decision.

“I know people who need this for pain relief,” Matsumoto Wright said. “I know there are people who abuse it, but I don’t want to deny people who really need it.”

Community survey results

Mountlake Terrace is an excellent or good place to live, according to 80 percent of residents who responded to a community satisfaction survey.

The results of the survey were presented to the City Council during a Feb. 2 study session.

“Overall, we’re trending in the right direction,” said Scott Hugill, assistant city manager.

But there’s room for improvement.

Less than half of those who responded, 47 percent, rated the city’s overall appearance as “excellent” or “good.”

The city’s overall image and reputation has been low; however public opinion has improved since 2007, City Clerk Virginia Olsen said.

“We do acknowledge there’s more work to be done in this area,” Olsen said.

Code enforcement also ranked low, but only 13 percent of residents said rundown buildings and junk cars were problems, which is lower than the national benchmark.

Surveys were mailed to 1,200 Mountlake Terrace residents last fall. Of those, 325 people (29 percent) responded.

City officials will apply the feedback to the city’s goals, budget and levels of service.

This was the city’s third community satisfaction survey and was offered in partnership with the Boulder, Colo.-based National Citizen Survey program.

The complete report of survey results is available on the city’s website at www.cityofmlt.com.

Civic Center ‘yes’ campaign

The results of the community survey show the city would benefit from a “yes” campaign before going back to the voters to support a new Civic Center should the council decide to take that route, Hugill said.

More than half of those surveyed, 60 percent, said they would support a new Civic Center. But that doesn’t guarantee a “yes” vote as people are still uncertain about the economy, Hugill said.

Less than half, 45 percent, said they are familiar with the original $37.5 million proposal. Even fewer, 38 percent, are familiar with the scaled-back version coming in at $25 million.

The council was open to hearing from the voters again before putting a measure on the ballot.

Matsumoto Wright said a “yes” campaign would help city leaders decide whether to move forward with a six-year property tax levy lid lift to continue paying rent on a temporary City Hall or a 30-year capital bond to build the Civic Center.

“If we stay here, it’s more money down the toilet,” Mayor Jerry Smith said.

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