HomeMy WebLinkAboutC-20-2 SLO Cultivations-Cresco RedactedApplicant (Entity) Information
Application Type
Proposed Location
Commercial Cannabis Business
Permit Application
C-20-2
Submitted On: Dec 01, 2020
Applicant
Erin Alexander
erina@crescolabs.com
Applicant (Entity) Name:
SLO Cultivation, Inc.
DBA:
Cresco California
Physical Address:City:
Carpinteria
State:
CA
Zip Code:
93013
Primary Contact Same as Above?
Yes
Primary Contact Name:
David Gacom
Primary Contact Title:
Regional President, West
Primary Contact Phone:
Primary Contact Email:
david.gacom@crescolabs.com
HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS APPLICATION APPLIED FOR
ANY OTHER CANNABIS PERMIT IN THE CITY OF FRESNO?:
No
Select one or more of the following categories. For each
category, indicate whether you are applying for Adult-Use (“A”)
or/and Medicinal (“M”) or both
Both
Please make one selection for permit type. If making multiple
applications, please submit a new application for each permit
type and proposed location.
Permit Type
Retail (Storefront)
Business Formation Documentation:
Corporation
Property Owner Name:
Rezil LLC
Proposed Location Address:
736 Fulton
City:
Fresno
State:
CA
Zip Code:
93721
Property Owner Phone:
559-260-6006
Property Owner Email:Assessor's Parcel Number (APN):
468-256-08
Proposed Location Square Footage:
Supporting Information
Application Certification
Owner Information
25000
List all fictitious business names the applicant is operating under including the address where each business is located:
The Applicant is not operating under any fictitious business names. For a complete license list, please see Criteria 1_ Business
Plan.
Has the Applicant or any of its owners been the subject of any
administrative action, including but not limited to suspension,
denial, or revocation of a cannabis business license at any time
during the past three (3) years?
No
Is the Applicant or any of its owners currently involved in an
application process in any other jurisdiction?
Yes
If so, please list and explain:
SLO Cultivation, Inc. dba Cresco California applied for a Cannabis Retail Storefront License in Santa Barbara County, CA in
November 2020.
I hereby certify, under penalty of perjury, on behalf of myself
and all owners, managers and supervisors identified in this
application that the statements and information furnished in this
application and the attached exhibits present the data and
information required for this initial evaluation to the best of my
ability, and that the facts, statements, and information
presented are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and
belief. I understand that a misrepresentation of fact is cause for
rejection of this application, denial of the permit, or revocation
of a permit issued.
In addition, I understand that the filing of this application grants
the City of Fresno permission to reproduce submitted materials
for distribution to staff, Commission, Board and City Council
Members, and other Agencies to process the application.
Nothing in this consent, however, shall entitle any person to
make use of the intellectual property in plans, exhibits, and
photographs for any purpose unrelated to the City's
consideration of this application.
Furthermore, by submitting this application, I understand and
agree that any business resulting from an approval shall be
maintained and operated in accordance with requirements of
the City of Fresno Municipal Code and State law. Under penalty
of perjury, I hereby declare that the information contained in
within and submitted with the application is true, complete, and
accurate. Iunderstand that a misrepresentation of the facts is
cause for rejection of this application, denial of a permit or
revocation of an issued permit. A denial or revocation on these
grounds shall not be appealable (FMC 9-3319(d)).
Name and Digital Signature
true
Title
Regional President, West
Please note: the issuance of a permit will be determined based
on the application you submit and any major changes to your
business or proposal (i.e. ownership, location, etc.) after your
application is submitted may result in a denial.
All applications submitted are considered public documents for
Public Records Act request purposes.
For details about the information required as part of the
application process, see the Application Procedures &
Guidelines, City of Fresno Municipal Code Article 33 and any
additional requirements to complete the application process. All
documents can be found online via this link.
For questions please contact the City Manager’s Office at
559.621.5555.
Business Name: SLO Cultivation/Cresco
Application #: C-20-2
CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT APPLICATION REVIEW - RETAIL Points
Possible
All or
None Exceptional Good Acceptable
Applicant
Score
Evaluation Notes (Explain each time points are
deducted)
SECTION 1: BUSINESS PLAN 300 Points Possible for Section 1
Resume:
Resumes Provided for All Owners: Score 5 5 5
Resumes Provided in 2-page Format: Score 2 2 2
Education: (select highest academic level among ownership team, cannabis specific education
separately)
Cannabis specific education/training (accredited)2 2 -
High School Degree Reported: Score 4 4 -
Bachelor's Degree Reported: Score 6 6 -
Master's Degree or Higher Reported: Score 8 8 8
Experience: (among ownership team, select one at highest level)
Regulated Cannabis Retail Ownership Experience CA 13 13 13
Regulated Cannabis Retail Experience CA (management level or below): Score 10 10 -
Other Retail Business Experience Reported, More than 5 years: or 8 8 -
Other Retail Business Experience Reported, Less than 5 Years: Score 5 5 -
1.1 Sub-Total:30 28
Construction Cost Estimate:
Construction Cost Estimate Provided: Score 8 8 6 4 6 Needs more detail
Construction Contingency Factor Included: Score 6 6 6
All Labor, Trades, Materials, Supplies and Permits and other Cost Factors Identified: Score 6 6 4 2 4 Needs more detail
Reference Data Provided for Unit Cost Factors: Score 5 5 3 1 3 Some explanation provided, not detailed
Operation and Maintenance Cost Estimates:
Operation and Maintenance Cost Estimate Provided: Score 8 8 6 4 6
Needs more detail on salary/personnel related
expenses
All Labor, Trades, Materials, Supplies, Utilities, and other Cost Factors Identified: Score 6 6 4 2 4 Fairly detailed except salary catagories
Annual Cost Escalators for Operating Costs Provided: Score 6 6 4 2 4 Some costs escalated but no explanation
Reference Data Provided for Unit Cost Factors: Score 5 5 3 1 3 Some explanation provided, not detailed
1.2 Sub-Total:50 36
Proof of Capitalization Specific to one or more Owners: Score 5 5 -
Proof of Capitalization Specific to Business Name/Address: Score 5 5 5
Proof of Capitalization Sufficient to Cover Proforma (3 months) and Construction Costs: Score 15 15 0
Capitalization for but they estimate
in start up costs.
1.1 Owner qualifications. Resumes are not to exceed two (2) pages per owner. (30 points possible)
1.2 A budget for construction, operation, and maintenance, compensation of employees, equipment costs, utility cost, and other operation costs.(50 points possible)
1.3 Proof of capitalization in the form of documentation of cash or other liquid assets on hand, Letters of Credit or other equivalent assets which can be verified by the City. (50 Points Possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Certified Audited Financial Report Provided for one or more Owners: Score 5 5 -
Score one of the following for a maximum 20 points:
Capital source is 100% liquid (cash in owners bank, no debt obligation)20 20 -
Capital souce is debt obligation (letter of credit/loan from individual or institution) 10 10 10
Capital consists of non-liquid assets (i.e. real property)8 8 -
Capital consists of a mixture of liquid and non-liquid assets 15 15 -
1.3 Sub-Total:50 15
Three Years of Data Provided: Score
10 10 8 6 8
Very detailed in some respects, but costs such as
payroll and operating expenses not very detailed.
Total Gross Revenue Estimates Provided:3 3 3
Total Gross Revenue by Product Type (flower and manufactured) Identified:3 3 3
Total Personnel Costs Provided:5 5 4 3 3 Needs more detail
Total Property Rental or Purchase Costs Provided:2 2 2 Listed as facility expenses
Total Utilities Costs Provided:2 2
May be considered under facility expenses but not
explained or enumerated
Total Cannabis Product Purchase Expense Provided 2 2 2
All Contract Services Identified:2 2
Annual Net Revenue Identified:3 2 2
Annual Cost Escalators Identified:4 4 3 2 3
Can see some costs increase year over year but no
explanation
Annual Estimated Sales Tax Payments to State Provided:2 2 2 Just listed as tax
Annual Estimated Sale Tax Payments to City of Fresno Provided:5 2 0 Not specifically listed
Annual Business Tax License and Cannabis Permit Fee Provided:2 2 2 In one area lists excise tax
Annual Net Income Provided:5 5 5
Scoring Guidance: full points for realistic figures for all three years. Dock points for severe
miscalculations, unrealistic estimates, or providing less than the request three years.
1.4 Sub-Total:50 35
Hours of Operation Provided: Score 5 5 5
Hours of Operation Provided for all 7 days of the week: Score 3 3 0 Did not specify days of the week
Hours of Operation Provided for Holidays: Score 2 2 0 Holidays not specified.
Opening and Closing Procedures Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 8
Did not discuss security process for opening/closing
facility.
Scoring Guidance: full points for describing information in detail. Dock points for leaving information out
or not providing enough detail.
1.5 Sub-Total:20 13
1.6.1 Fully describe the day-to-day operations if your applying for a retail permit:
1.6 Daily operations. With as much detail as possible, the Business Plan should describe the day-to-day operations which meet industry best practices. This should include at a minimum the following criteria for each permit type in
which you are applying for a permit. (100 points possible)
1.4 Pro forma for at least three years of operation.
1.5 Fully describe hours of operation and opening and closing procedures. (20 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
i. Describe customer check-in procedures.20 20 15 10 15
Does not describe how it will verify medical
marijuana prescriptions - 18 years+
II. Identify location and procedures for receiving deliveries during business hours.10 10 8 6 10
iii. Identify the name of the Point-of-sale system to be used and the number of Point-of-Sale locations.10 10 10 Biotrack, 9 POS locations
iv. The estimated number of customers to be served per hour/day.20 20 15 10 10
865 customers per day- doesn't describe per hour
or method of estimation
v. Describe the proposed product line to be sold and estimate the percentage of sales of flower and
manufactured products.20 20 15 10 20
vi. If proposed, describe delivery service procedures, number of vehicles and product security during
transportation. (if no delivery service application must state this clearly for full points)20 20 15 10 20
1.6 Sub-Total:100 85
Section 1 Total:300 212
SECTION 2: SOCIAL POLICY AND LOCAL ENTERPRISE 400 Points Possible for Section 2
Description of Commitment to pay a Living Wage provided: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Definition of Living Wage Provided: Score 5 5 4 3 5
Living Wage Defined as Greater than Minimum Wage: Score 5 5 5
2.1 Sub-Total:20 20
Wages and Salary
CCB Entry-Level Hourly Wage Greater than Minimum Wage 5 5 5
CCB Entry-Level Annual Salary Greater than Median Household Income ($50,432)5 5 0
Health Care Benefits
CCB Offers Medical Coverage to All Employees: Score 5 5 5
CCB Offers Dental Coverage to All Employees: Score 3 3 3
CCB Offers Vision Coverage to All Employees: Score 3 3 3
CCB Offers Health Reimbursement Account for Qualified Medical Expenses: Score 1 1 1
Employee Pays $0 for Employee Medical Premium: Score 3 3 0 premium amount unspecified
Employee Pays $0 for Employee Dental Premium: Score 2 2 0
Employee Pays $0 for Employee Vision Premium: Score 2 2 0
Employee Pays less than $500 per month for Family Health Care Coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision):
Score 2 2 0
Leave Benefits
Number of Paid Vacation/PTO Days Per Year: (10+ days = excep; 6-9 days = Good; 3-5 days Acceptable)5 5 4 3 5
Number of Paid Holidays Per Year: (10 or more paid holidays = excep; 4-10 = Good; 1-3 Acceptable)5 5 4 3 0 holidays not specified
Number of days paid time off for Sick/Medical time: (7+ days= Exceptional, 4-6 days = Good, 3 days =
acceptable (8 hour day))5 5 4 3 3 per State requirements
Retirement
2.1 Describe whether the Commercial Cannabis Business is committed to offering employees a Living Wage. (20 points possible)
Scoring Guidance: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06019
2.2 Briefly describe benefits provided to employees such as health care, vacation, and medical leave, to the degree they are offered as part of employment. (50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Offers employee retirement plan 2 2 2
Offers company match for employee retirement plan 2 2 2 up to match annually
2.2 Sub-Total:50 29
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for Certificates: Score 3 3 0 Tuition reimbursement unspecified
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for associate degrees: Score 3 3 0
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for bachelor's degrees: Score 3 3 0
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for master's degrees: Score 3 3 0
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for Specialized Commercial Cannabis Business Operations
Training: Score 3 3 0
CCB Offers General Training for Health and Safety, Workplace Environment, Customer Service, etc. 5 5 4 3 5
2.3 Sub-Total:20 5
General Recruitment Plan Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Social Policy Recruitment Plan Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Recruitment Plan Includes Demographic Data for District, City or County: Score 10 10 8 6 0 No such data provided
Recruitment Plan Includes List of CBOs, Non-Profits and Public-Agency Hiring Partners: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Recruitment Plan Includes Hiring Targets (percentages) by Demographic Groups: Score 10 10 8 6 0 No hiring target outside of FMC commitment
2.4 Sub-Total:50 30
Owners
Number of Owners:2 entities, 1 individual
Number of Owners that live within the City of Fresno:0
Number of Owners that live in the County of Fresno:0
Number of Owners that Own a Business in the City of Fresno:0
51%+ ownership interest percent of the Owners live or own a business in the City: Score 80 80 0
51%+ ownership interest percent of the Owners live or own a business in the County: Score 40 40 0
Less than 50 percent of the Owners live or own a business in the Cityf no owners are local, score zero)20 20 0
Managers
Number of Managers (salaried, non-owners)unspecified
Number of Managers that live in the City of Fresno:0
Number of Managers that Own a Business in the City of Fresno:0
100 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 20 20 0 0
75 to 99 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 15 15 0 0
2.3 Describe compensation to and opportunities for continuing education and employee training.(20 points possible)
2.4 Describe the Commercial Cannabis Business plan to recruit individuals who meet the criteria listed in the Social Policy Section 9-3316 (b) (1) of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) and the percentage of local employees it hires. (50
points possible)
2.5 Describe the extent to which the Commercial Cannabis Business will be a locally managed enterprise whose owners and /or managers reside within or own a commercial business within the City of Fresno, for at least one year prior
to March 2, 2020.(80 points possible)
Data, non-scored. Write response in Evaluation Notes
column.
IF full points achieved for Ownership category, don't score managers.
Section is total of 80 points possible.
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative: CCB offers in-house training and intends to partner with local colleges to offer access to cannabis-specific courses.
Criteria Narrative:
Data, non-scored. Write response in Evaluation Notes
column.
50 to 74 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 10 10 0 0
Less than 50 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 5 5 0
2.5 Sub-Total:80 0
Responsibilities Described for All Titles/Positions: Score 20 20 15 10 15
Does not specify the number of employees hired
within each position.
2.6 Sub-Total:20 15
Does CCB have more than five employees: 5 5 5 Starting with 14 total employees
CCB has signed a peace agreement: Score 5 5 5 Signed with Teamsters
2.7 Sub-Total:10 10
Work Force Plan Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Commitment to Local Hire Provided:10 10 8 6 10 Committed to Exceeding role
Commitment to Offer Apprenticeships Provided:10 10 8 6 10
Commitment paying for continuing education provided 10 10 8 6 6
provided in-house paid regular salaries. No
committment to paying for outside CE.
Description of commitment to paying a living wage provide. (Score same as sec. 2.1)10 10 8 6 10
2.8 Sub-Total:50 46
CCB is willing to serve as Social Equity Business Incubator: Score 100 100 80 60 100 Existing SEED Community Incubator
Mentorship and Training: Score yes
Equipment Donation: Score
Shelf Space: Score
Legal Assistance: Score
Finance Services Assistance: Score yes
Other Technical Assistance: Score Financial assistance (non-equity)
Scoring Guidance: full points for willingness to serve with detailed plan offering at least three aspects
mentioned above or of similar benefit. Less points for willingness to serve but vague or unclear
commitment. Zero points if there is no clear commitment to serve as Incubator.
2.9 Sub-Total:100 100
Data to inform score on first line of this section. Write
response in Evaluation Notes column.
2.8.3. Commitment to pay a living wage to its employees
2.6 Describe the number of employees, title/position and their respected responsibilities.(20 points possible)
2.7 Describe whether the CCB has five (5) or more employees and whether it has signed a labor peace agreement allowing employees to unionize without interference. (10 points possible)
2.8 Provide a workforce plan that includes at a minimum the following provisions: (50 points possible)
2.8.1. Commitment for 30% of employees to be local hires; the business must show that it has either hired or made a good faith effort to hire bona fide residents of Fresno who have not established residency after the submission of an
application for employment with the applicant/permittee.
2.8.2. Commitment to offer apprenticeships and/or compensation for continuing education in the field; and
Criteria Narrative: one specified manager lives in the County of Fresno
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
2.9 Describe whether the business is willing to serve as a Social Equity Business Incubator by offering support to local cannabis social equity businesses in the form of mentorship, training, equipment donation, a percentage of shelf
space dedicated to Fresno equity business products, legal assistance, financial services assistance, or other technical assistance support.(100 points possible)
Section 2 Total:400 255
SECTION 3: NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY PLAN 300 Points Possible for Section 3
CCB will document complaints (time of complaint, nature of complaint, resolution of complaint): Score 10 10 8 6 10
CCB will established a dedicated contact person to receive complaints: Score 10 10 10
CCB will establish a dedicated phone number to receive complaints: Score 5 5 5
CCB will establish a dedicated email address to receive complaints: Score 5 5 5
CCB will establish a response time standard for returning complaint calls and emails: Score 5 5 5
CCB will schedule or participate in periodic community meetings to engage with residents about the CCB
operation: Score 10 10 10
Other measure unique to business (i.e. website complaint form)5 5 0 Info not provided.
Scoring Guidance: full points for detailed proactive plan addressing all aspects mentioned. Dock points
for leaving out aspect, vagueness, or reactive plans.
3.1 Sub-Total:50 45
CCB will maintain a listserv of community residents to update and information residents of business
operations.
10 10 0 Info not provided.
CCB will schedule or attend periodic community meetings (at least annually) to engage with residents
about the CCB operation: Score 10 10 10
CCB will prepare a community outreach and engagement plan: Score 50 50 40 30 50
CCB will issue periodic Newsletters to community providing information about CCB operations 10 10 0 Info not provided.
CCB will hire residents from the community work at the CCB: Score 20 20 0 Info not provided.
Scoring Guidance: full points for detailed proactive plan. Dock points for leaving out aspect, vagueness,
or reactive plans.
3.2 Sub-Total:100 60
CCB has identified sensitive receptors to nuisance odors in vicinity of business operations: Score 5 5 0 Not provided.
CCB has prepared a nuisance odor control plan: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Nuisance odor control plan identifies locations where fugitive emissions may exit the premise boundary:
Score 5 5 0 Not provided.
Nuisance odor control plan describes specific odor control measures to reduce fugitive emissions exiting
the premise boundary: Score 5 5 5
CCB has established an odor reporting system: Score 5 5 5
CCB will install a nuisance odor monitoring system: Score 10 10 0 Not provided.
3.3 Describe odor mitigation practices.(40 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
3.1 Describe how the CCB will proactively address and respond to complaints related to noise, light, odor, litter, vehicles, and pedestrian traffic.(50 points possible)
3.2 Describe how the CCB will be managed to avoid becoming a nuisance or having impacts on its neighbors and the surrounding community.(100 points possible)
3.3 Sub-Total:40 20
CCB has identified the potential sources of nuisance odors for the business operation: Score 10 10 8 6 6 Need more detail.
Scoring Guidance: full points for detailed proactive plan. Dock points for vagueness or reactive plans.
3.4 Sub-Total:10 6
Nuisance odor control plan describes specific odor control equipment: Score 10 10 8 6 6 Need more detail.
Nuisance odor control plan describes specific odor control measures/techniques: Score 10 10 8 6 6 Need more detail.
Odor control measures are identified for different nuisance odor sources: Score 10 10 10
3.5 Sub-Total:30 22
Nuisance odor control plan describes the operation, monitoring, and maintenance requirements for
odor control measures: Score 10 10 10
Nuisance odor control plan describes the staff training required for system operations, maintenance,
repair, and troubleshooting.10 10 10
3.6 Sub-Total:20 20
CCB has identified the sources of waste generated by the business operation: Score
10 10 10
CCB has prepared a source-separation plan to segregate different sources of waste generated by
business operations: Score 10 10 10
The source-separation plan identifies policy, procedures, and locations where different sources of waste
are to be collected for disposal: Score 10 10 8 6 8 need more detail
The source-separation plan describes specific measures to control the collection and disposal cannabis
waste: Score 10 10 10
The name of licensed cannabis disposal company provided: Score 10 10 0 Not provided.
3.7 Sub-Total:50 38
Section 3 Total:300 211
SECTION 4: SAFETY PLAN 300 Points Possible for Section 4
Safety Plan Prepared by Consultant: Score 10 10 10
Safey Plan Assessed by Consultant: Score (if prepared by, also give points for assessed by)10 10 10
Safety Plan Prepared for CCB Address (specific proposed location): Score 10 10 0 no mention of building
Safety Plan includes Site Plan of Premise: Score 10 10 0 no site plan
3.4 Identify potential sources of odor. (10 points possible)
3.5 Describe odor control devices and techniques employed to ensure that odors from cannabis are not detectable beyond the permitted premises. (30 points possible)
3.6 Describe all proposed staff odor training and system maintenance.(20 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
4.1 The Safety Plan shall be prepared and/or assessed by a professional fire prevention and suppression consultant. (50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
3.7 Describe the waste management plan. (50 points possible)
Safety Plan includes Building Layout Plan: Score 10 10 0 no bldg layout
4.1 Sub-Total:50 20
Written Accident/Incident Procedure Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 0 only mentioned theft in this section
Procedures Address Multiple Accident/Incident Scenarios: Score 10 10 8 6 0
Total Number of Scenarios Described: Score
Active Shooter Incident Described: Score 10 10 0
Robbery Incident Described: Score 10 10 0
4.2 Sub-Total:50 0
Evacuation Plan Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 15 moderate details
Adequate Number of Evacuation Routes Identified: Score 20 20 15 10 20
Evacuation Route Distance to Public Right of Way: Score 10 10 8 6 5 did not show overall site plan
4.3 Sub-Total:50 40
Location of Fire Suppression System Elements Identified: Score 10 10 0 no locations shown
Type of Fire Suppression System Elements Identified: Score 20 20 15 10 20
Location of Fire Extinguishers Identified: Score 10 10 10
Adequate Number of Fire Extinguisher Locations Identified: Score 10 10 8 6 10
4.4 Sub-Total:50 40
Written Procedure for Fire Emergencies Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 20
Written Procedure for Medical Emergencies Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 20
Cardiac Arrest Medical Emergency Described: Score 20 20 15 10 10 mentioned-no details
Gunshot Wound Medical Emergency Described: Score 20 20 15 10 0 not mentioned
Other Medical Emergency Conditions Described: Score 20 20 15 10 10 5 mentioned-unrelated to this area (tornado, flood)
4.5 Sub-Total:100 60
Section 4 Total:300 160
SECTION 5: SECURITY PLAN 300 Points Possible for Section 5
Security Plan Prepared by Consultant: Score 10 10 10
Security Plan Assessed by Consultant(if prepared by, also give points for assessed by): Score 10 10 10
Security Plan Prepared for CCB Address (specific proposed location): Score 10 10 10
Data-write response in Evaluation Notes Column
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
4.4 Location of fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment. (50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
4.5 Describe procedures and training for all fire and medical emergencies.(100 points possible)
5.1 The Security Plan shall be prepared and/or assessed by a professional security consultant.(50 points possible)
4.3 Describe evacuation routes. (50 points possible)
4.2 Describe accident and incident reporting procedures. (50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Security Plan includes Site Plan of Premise: Score 10 10 10
Security Plan includes Building Layout Plan: Score 10 10 10
5.1 Sub-Total:50 50
Premises (Security) Diagram Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 20
Diagram is drawn to correct scale: Score 5 5 5
Diagram provides required details for premise: Score 5 5 5
Diagram shows the location of all security cameras: Score 5 5 5
Descriptions of activities to be conducted in each area of the premise 5 5 5
Limited-Access Areas Clearly Marked: Score 5 5 0 Not clearly marked
Number and Location of All Security Cameras Identified: Score 5 5 5
5.2 Sub-Total:50 45
Intrusion Alarm and Monitoring System Identified: Score 15 15 15
Name and Contact Information for Monitoring Company Provided: Score 5 5 0 No contact information
Total Points of Entry into Premise Identified: Score 5 5 5
All Points of Entry to be Alarmed Identified:5 5 5
Type of Alarm Identified (motion, infrared, glass break, etc.): Score 10 10 10
Backup Power Supply Identified: Score 10 10 10
5.3 Sub-Total:50 45
Written Cash-Handling Procedure Provided: Score 30 30 20 15 30
Dual-Custody is Practiced for all cash handling: Score 10 10 10
Video Surveillance Used to Monitor All Cash Handling: Score 20 20 20
Armored Car Service Used for Bank Deposits: Score 10 10 10
All Cash Deposited weekly with Bank: Score 10 10 10
Onsite Vault Provided to Secure Cash Prior to Bank Deposit: Score 20 20 20
5.4 Sub-Total:100 100
5.2 Premises (Security) Diagram. In addition to diagrams submitted for other sections of the application, applicants are expected to submit a premises diagram (or site plan) which, focuses on the proposed security measures and how
they relate to the overall business. (Pursuant to CCR Title 16, Division 42, §5006. Premises Diagram).
5.2.1 The diagram shall be accurate, dimensioned and to scale (minimum scale ¼"). The scale may be smaller if the proposed location exceeds more than a 1/2-acre parcel but must not be printed on larger than an 11" x 17" sheet of
paper. (Blueprints and engineering site plans are not required at this point of the application process)
5.2.2 The diagram must be drawn to scale and clearly identify property boundaries, entrances, exits, interior partitions, walls, rooms, windows, and doorways. The activity in each room and the location of all cameras must be
identified in the diagram.
Criteria Narrative:
5.2.4 Limited-access areas, defined as areas in which cannabis goods are stored or held and only accessible to permittees, or its employees or contractors and areas used for video surveillance monitoring and storage devices
(Pursuant to CCR Title 16, Division 42, §5000 (m) Limited-Access Area and §5042 Limited-Access Area.
5.2.5 Number and location of all video surveillance cameras. (50 points possible)
5.4 Briefly describe cash handling procedures which covers day to day transactions with customers, vendors armor carrier vehicles and transporting it to the bank.(100 points possible)
5.3 Identify intrusion alarm and monitoring system including the name and contact information for the monitoring company (if the company has been selected).(50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
5.2.3 Description of cannabis activity that will be conducted in each area of the premise. Commercial cannabis activities that must be identified on the diagram/site plan may include but are not limited to the following if applicable to
the business operations; storage areas, batch sampling areas, loading/unloading of shipment areas, packaging and labeling, customer sales areas, training areas, employee break room areas, extractions, infusions, processing, and
testing areas.
CCB will use onsite security guards: Score 10 10 10
All onsite guards will be licensed and bonded: Score 10 10 10
All onsite security guards will be licensed to carry firearms: Score 10 10 10
Onsite security guards will be on duty before CCB opens for business: Score 10 10 10
Onsite security guards will be on duty after CCB closes for business: Score 10 10 10
5.5 Sub-Total:50 50
Section 5 Total:300 290
Section 1: Business Plan Total Points:300 212
Section 2: Social Policy & Local Enterprise Total Points:400 255
Section 3: Neighborhood Compatibility Total Points:300 211
Section 4: Safety Plan Total Points:300 160
Section 5: Security Plan Total Points:300 290
Total Points Achieved:1600 1128
70.50%
TOTAL SCORE
5.5 Discuss whether the CCB will utilize the services of on-site security guards. Include in the discussion: (50 points possible)
5.5.1 Number of guards.
5.5.2 Hours guards will be on-site.
Criteria Narrative:
5.5.3 Locations at which they will be positioned.
5.5.4 Guards' roles and responsibilities.
1. BUSINESS PLAN
SLO Cultivation, Inc. dba Cresco California (“the Applicant”), already a leader in the California
cannabis industry, is submitting an application for a Cannabis Retail Business license in the City
of Fresno. With over 70 employees in California already, the Applicant combines its existing local
knowledge with the national experience of Cresco Labs (“Cresco”), the Applicant’s Parent
Company and a leader in regulated cannabis. This combination has already led to the Applicant’s
25 licenses in Santa Barbara County and 2 licenses in Fresno County, resulting in the Applicant’s
products being on the shelves of 450 dispensaries across California. The Applicant will utilize
Cresco’s proven retail processes and procedures, tested in some of the most highly regulated
markets, to ensure speed-to-operation, customer satisfaction, safety and security, and community
engagement. Similar to Cresco’s current operations, the Applicant will not outsource or franchise
any part of its operation; it will own, operate, and manage the cannabis retail business license
utilizing Cresco’s infrastructure and best practices to create a successful team.
Over the past 3 years, the Applicant has been building out a best-in-class organization that puts
the California consumer and community at the heart of its business. The Applicant is part of a
vertically integrated company that is able to institute quality and control checks at each step in its
processes, ranging from grow and cultivation to processing, manufacturing, and packaging, to
distribution, and now retail, a distinct advantage in California. The Applicant believes this
integration will benefit the community, ensuring the Applicant and the community win together,
as the Applicant is able to control each step in the process, from seed to sale.
Throughout this application, the Applicant will describe why it is the best choice for the City of
Fresno: its proven track record in California regulated cannabis and its access to Cresco’s capital,
talent, and experience in other regulated cannabis jurisdictions, an unparalleled advantage in the
City of Fresno. In this section, the Applicant will describe the intended cannabis activities if
awarded a cannabis retail business license, including how it will operate in accordance with City,
state law, and other applicable regulations while contributing to and enhancing the Fresno
community.
Business Overview
The Applicant intends to operate a cannabis business retail license, operating both as a brick-and-
mortar cannabis retail business at 736-742 Fulton Street, Fresno, California, and a non-storefront
delivery service. The Applicant will own, operate, and manage its retail business and will work
directly with the City of Fresno and the residents to implement a hands-on, community-centric
business model. The Applicant made a deliberate decision to locate in Downtown Fresno based on
a variety of factors, including centralized location, access to and opportunities with the community,
and the opportunity to expand access of regulated and professional cannabis to the residents of the
City of Fresno. If granted the cannabis retail business license, the business will maintain the
following permits and authorizations: City of Fresno Commercial Cannabis Business Permit;
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Cannabis Conditional Use Permit; and Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC”) Type 10 Retailer
License, both “A” and “M” designations.
In accordance with the above, the Applicant will only sell Cannabis Goods, Cannabis Accessories,
and Branded Merchandise, as defined by the BCC. All Cannabis Goods will be procured from duly
licensed cannabis distributors. The Applicant is unique in that it is part of Cresco, which has one
of the most substantial distribution networks in California. The Applicant’s inventory will include
both adult-use and medicinal products, provided that Cannabis Goods will be sold only to persons
21 years or older as confirmed by valid photo identification, or to patients 18 years or older, who
possess a current physician’s recommendation.
Quality Assurance Activities
One of the most important facets of a cannabis business retail license is ensuring that the products
sold to purchasers have been inspected to meet rigorous quality assurance standards. The
Applicant’s quality assurance activities will ensure that all Cannabis Goods are checked prior to
sale to ensure that they are within their best-by, sell-by, and expiration dates; are labeled and
packaged in accordance with the State’s requirements; and have been laboratory tested and are
accompanied by a certificate of analysis with a matching batch number.
Storefront Sales Activities
The Applicant’s storefront sales activities include the brick-and-mortar cannabis retail business,
which will be open only to persons over the age of 21 or persons over the age of 18 who hold a
valid physician’s recommendation. All identification and recommendations will be verified by
onsite security at the point of entry (see Premises (Security) Diagram in Criteria 5). The retail area
will include displays of products for sale and will be staffed by trained Wellness Advisors
(dispensary employees) who are over the age of 21. As set forth in this application, Wellness
Advisors will receive extensive sales, safety, security, and product training and will assist
customers with selecting and purchasing products. The Applicant will ensure that all customers
and patients only purchase Cannabis Goods up to their respective daily limits as defined by the
BCC, and that all Cannabis Goods purchased will be placed in an opaque exit bag prior to the
customer’s departure. The Applicant will not allow any cannabis consumption on the premises.
Non-Storefront Sales Activities
The Applicant’s non-storefront sales will include non-storefront delivery services to valid
customers and patients. Orders will be taken through a technology platform that will clearly
identify the Applicant as the retailer, via phone, or through a web-based application. All deliveries
will be conducted by drivers at least 21 years of age, in vehicles that conform to the BCC’s
requirements.
eliveries will only be made to privately-owned physical addresses in the State of
California. Prior to completing any delivery, the driver will verify the customer’s age and identity.
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The Applicant’s Experience
The Applicant brings existing cannabis experience within California and Fresno County to its plan
for business operations – this experience alone distinguishes it from other applicants. The
Applicant is well-versed in state law as well as other applicable regulations, because of its
experience owning and operating a manufacturing and distribution facility in Mendota, California.
Upon the award of this cannabis business retail license, the Applicant will be the one of the only
operators in California that will be fully integrated, from seed to sale, which will give it a
significant advantage. In addition, the Applicant owns and operates a substantial production
facility in Carpinteria, California, furthering its California regulatory and market knowledge.
Through its operations in both Fresno County and Santa Barbara County, the Applicant has
developed significant ties to the California cannabis community and has implemented measurable
programs to ensure a holistic approach to regulated, professional cannabis.
In addition to its in-state and local experience, the Applicant also has the significant advantage of
Cresco’s experience owning, operating and managing retail, cultivation, manufacturing, and
distribution facilities across the country. Cresco is a leader in dispensary operations nationwide –
owning and internally operating over 20 dispensaries in some of the most regulated cannabis retail
markets, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Arizona with
additional dispensaries coming online in late 2020 and 2021. A few of Cresco’s key dispensary
accomplishments are: opening the first dispensary in Pennsylvania in 2018; receiving the first
dispensary certificate of operation in Ohio in 2018; and having the first adult-use sale in Illinois
on January 1, 2020. These accomplishments represent Cresco’s commitment to quick-to-market
and compliant operations. This quick-to-market approach is based on Cresco’s model to apply,
design, build-out, prepare, and operate its facilities.
Cresco’s retail model promotes a compliance-centric business, developing all standard operating
procedures (“SOPs”) in advance of dispensary operations and reviewing them for location-specific
details before inspection. Cresco has a team dedicated to new market integration that focuses on
marrying local compliance with Cresco’s successful and tested best practices. Before inspection,
the new market integration team assesses all operations and consults with local partners to ensure
the community is engaged each step of the way. Cresco is dedicated to being quick-to-market, but
will not cut corners and is committed to ensuring that all operations are thoughtfully planned out,
problem solved, and add value to both the community and business.
A comprehensive list of the Applicant’s licenses and Cresco’s licenses is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
The Applicant’s Goals and Considerations for Operations in Fresno
1. Safety and Security: As set forth in Criteria 4 and 5, the Applicant is committed to
implementing safe, secure, and discreet business operations. The Applicant has created a
robust security plan that ensures safe dispensing, delivery, cash handling, and secure access
controls. Considering the Applicant’s location in downtown Fresno, the Applicant has
leveraged Cresco’s experience operating dispensaries in heavily trafficked downtown
areas. In addition, the Applicant understands that the City of Fresno requires exceptional
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coordination between its dispensaries and the local police – experience the Applicant
brings through Cresco’s dispensary operations. The Applicant will utilize Cresco’s Retail
Security Director, plans, and experience securing dispensaries in highly regulated areas.
This experience will ensure that the Applicant’s security measures are intact and prepared
before day 1.
2. Social Policy: Leveraging Cresco’s Social Equity and Education Development (“SEED”)
program, the Applicant’s social policy plan will not only benefit its employees but will also
enhance the surrounding community. The Applicant’s social policy plan ensures that each
of its employees will make a living wage and have access to Cresco’s benefits program.
The Applicant has also created a plan for local hiring and equitable hiring to comply with
all of the City’s rules and regulations. In addition, the Applicant will utilize Cresco’s
training program to promote education among its employees. The Applicant has also signed
a Labor Peace Agreement with the Teamsters Local Union No 853. The Applicant has also
created a plan for an incubator program. For more information on the Applicant’s Social
Policy plan, please see Criteria 2.
3. Neighborhood Compatibility: The Applicant is dedicated to creating a cannabis retail
business focused on education and wellness that furthers the City of Fresno. The facility
will be a pillar of safe, and compliant cannabis business within Fresno. The Applicant will
establish its retail operations under Cresco’s Sunnyside* brand – a cannabis retail business
that professionalizes and normalizes cannabis while considering the community around it.
One of the reasons the Applicant has decided to adopt Cresco’s Sunnyside* brand is its
emphasis on education and wellness within the realm of cannabis. Sunnyside* has the
distinct advantage of being able to adjust to the community’s needs and provide the
education and peace of mind the community wants for a downtown commercial cannabis
business. In addition, the Applicant has created a community plan that focuses on what the
Applicant can do to further the community’s goals, including local sponsorships,
environmentally conscious programs, and social policy programs. For details on the
Applicant’s neighborhood compatibility plan, please see Criteria 3.
4. Community Benefits and Investment: The Applicant is dedicated to being a responsible
neighbor and trusted steward of Fresno’s community values. The Applicant will provide
local community support by aiding, participating in, and funding the work of local
nonprofits, community-based organizations, civic organizations and social service
organizations through event and program sponsorship, volunteering, providing educational
resources and both monetary and in-kind contributions. The Applicant has already
identified 5 local organizations to partner with to support its social responsibility
educational initiatives. For details on the Applicant’s social responsibility and educational
outreach, please see Criteria 7.
1.1 Owner Qualifications
The Applicant has a significant breadth of experience in California’s regulated commercial
cannabis market. The Applicant owns and operates a substantial production facility in Carpinteria,
California and a manufacturing and distribution facility in Mendota, California.
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The Applicant already has a team of experienced professionals in California prepared to execute
the Applicant’s retail vision in Fresno upon licensure. But not only does the Applicant have a team
in California, it will be able to rely on Cresco’s subject matter experts across the country to provide
a superior level of support and service to the operation. The combination of the Applicant’s local
presence and Cresco’s national retail expertise make the Applicant the best choice for the cannabis
customers and patients in Fresno.
In this section, the Applicant shares its owners’ exceptional qualifications, expertise, and
demonstrates why selecting the Applicant would be the best choice for the City of Fresno. The
Applicant’s cannabis experience is incomparable and, if selected, the proposed cannabis retail
business will be a model for retail operations in California.
The Applicant
The Applicant was founded by its current board member and California native, Kyle Hardy, in
2015 as a Proposition 215 and SB 420 compliant cultivation collective. The company was
originally known as TerraTru. Through Hardy and Alex Brown, the Applicant has been an
operational cannabis business in Santa Barbara County since 2015, after Hardy and Brown
partnered with Applicant board members Rene Van Wingerden and Ivor Van Wingerden. In 2016,
it was incorporated as a California Mutual Benefit Corporation with the express purpose of
cultivating cannabis medicine for its members’ patients in Santa Barbara County and San Luis
Obispo County. In 2018, the Applicant entered into an agreement with multi-state operator Cresco
Labs that combined the national cannabis expertise and capital of Cresco with the local expertise
and successful cultivation and distribution experience of the Applicant. The result was SLO
Cultivation Inc. dba Cresco California. 2018 was also the year that the Applicant obtained its
California cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution licenses under the California Medical and
Adult Use Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”).
The Applicant owns and operates a large facility in Carpinteria, California where it secured state-
issued provisional commercial cannabis licenses from the California Department of Food and
Agriculture (“CDFA”), including 23 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 licenses, 1 Nursery
license, and 1 Processor licenses. Located at 3861 Foothill Road, the Carpinteria facility houses
production of outdoor flower and fresh frozen. The facility currently has 130,680 square feet of
production – 60,000 square feet for flower production, 30,000 square feet for stock and
propagation, 1800 square feet for plants in the vegetative state, plus square footage dedicated to
refrigeration, office space, breakroom and storage. Carpinteria has approximately 60 plus
employees. In addition to the vast cannabis operation in Carpinteria, the Applicant’s local
employees are also actively involved in various community events and initiatives. The Applicant
will follow this model of community activity for its operations in Fresno.
The Applicant also owns, operates, and manages a manufacturing and distribution facility in
Mendota (Fresno County), California where it holds the following provisional licenses: 1
Manufacturing Type 7 license, issued by the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”)
and 1 Distribution Type 11 license, issued by the BCC. The Mendota facility is located at 1269
Marie St. and is where the Applicant produces concentrates and edibles. The facility has 11,145
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square feet: 4,200 for production, 732 square feet for storage, and 6,213 square feet for common
areas, documents, and material storage. Mendota has approximately 40 employees.
The Applicant’s Owners and Managers – Resumes
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1.2 Budget for construction, operation, and maintenance, compensation of employees, equipment costs, utility costs, and other operation costs.
Finance Plan
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Opportunity Sizing Model
Anticipated Construction and Equipment Budget
Anticipated Employee Compensation Budget
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Anticipated Maintenance, Utility, and Other Operating Costs
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1.3 Proof of Capitalization
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1.4 Pro Forma
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Sales Projections
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Capex- Depreciation Schedule
Profit and Loss Summary
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1.5. Hours of Operation and Opening and Closing Procedures
The Applicant’s proposed hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The
Applicant will always ensure that the hours of operation are approved by the City of Fresno and
announced to members of the public should they ever need to change. The Applicant will utilize
Cresco’s existing suite of SOPs, integrated with the Fresno Municipal Code (“FMC”) and BCC
regulations, to ensure Wellness Advisors are equipped with easy-to-follow and step-by-step
opening and closing procedures on day 1. The Applicant’s opening procedures include checking
employee rosters, COVID-19 screenings, cash counting, menu verification and inventory, and
preparing for deliveries. Closing procedures include closing the registers and vault, preparing all
cash for deposit, completing all inventories, verifying all Wellness Advisor closing procedures are
complete, checking out all employees, syncing and ensuring the cannabis retail
business is prepared for the next day. The Applicant will always ensure that at least 1 dispensary
manager is at the cannabis retail business for opening, and at least 1 dispensary manager and 1
Wellness Advisor are at the cannabis retail business for closing, in addition to security guards.
Opening Procedures
The Applicant’s opening procedures ensure that the cannabis retail business is ready for all daily
activities before opening. This includes checking with all Wellness Advisors scheduled that they
are prepared for their shifts and can pass a COVID-19 health screening, checking all cash from the
previous night, checking all inventory and ensuring the online menu is up-to-date, preparing for
deliveries if they should be coming in, ensuring all recordkeeping and inventory is correct in
and and checking the cannabis retail business for preparedness.
Opening Checklist for Dispensary Managers:
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Closing Procedures
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Closing Checklist for Dispensary Managers:
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1.6. Daily Operations
The Applicant’s plan for daily operations demonstrates its ability to run a cannabis retail business
on a day-to-day basis while setting the standard for industry best practices. As previously
mentioned, the Applicant will leverage Cresco’s retail experience to ensure consistent and efficient
operations. The Applicant will also utilize its experience in California to ensure compliance with
all California rules and regulations. The following section sets forth the Applicant’s plan for daily
operations, including: (1) an overview of the Applicant’s cannabis retail business brand; (2)
general rules and guidelines for the cannabis retail business; (3) marketing strategy; (4) customer
check-in procedures; (5) receiving product; (6) inventory and storage; (7) POS systems; (8) sales
procedures; (9) customer experience; (10) proposed product line; (11) retail delivery processes;
(12) energy conservation initiatives; and (13) COVID-19 procedures.
Sunnyside* Storefront
The Applicant intends to use Cresco’s Sunnyside* brand as its cannabis retail business’ storefront
name. Sunnyside* has been approved and launched in 6 states, including New York, Arizona,
Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, all of which require modest and tactful branding,
which the Applicant will utilize at its Fresno location. Cresco developed the Sunnyside* brand
with safe, secure, and discreet operations in mind. The brand bears no markings that denote that it
is a cannabis company, which not only provides for discreet purchasing but also provides a more
easily accessible and neighborhood-driven approach for new customers who are focused on the
wellness aspect of cannabis.
The façade has been
designed to explicitly
project a compliant and
secure retail business.
Customers can expect the
physical environment to be
inviting and warm, a
source of everyday
wellness. The retail
business will preserve the
brick exterior of the
building to blend in with
the local brewery district.
The interior will have a
gentle aesthetic of
. All exterior and interior design elements will be crafted
with superior materials and will be sourced locally, when possible. In addition to the exterior and
interior design elements, the Applicant will keep the sidewalk, right of ways, and location
perimeter free of litter, graffiti, and debris. The Applicant will also ensure the proposed location
is provided with adequate electricity, sewerage, disposal, water, fire protection and storm drainage
facilities for the intended purpose. (See Sec. 9-3308(e)(7)).
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The signage at the retail business will say “Sunnyside*,” will be in compliance with Sec. 9-3309(h)
of the Fresno Municipal Code (“FMC”), and will generally fit in with the surrounding
neighborhood. The Applicant will ensure that dispensary signage meets all operating requirements
set forth in Sec. 9-3309(h). In addition, the proposed location will conform to the General Plan,
any applicable specific plans, master plans, and design requirements as required by Sec. 9-
3308(e)(2). For additional information regarding the Applicant’s neighborhood compatibility plan,
please see the response to Criteria 3.
To fully comply with the FMC, the Applicant’s proposed location will be within a fully enclosed
building and cannabis will not be visible from the public right-of-way. See Sec. 9-3307(d)(1). The
proposed location, zoned Downtown Neighborhood (DTN), also complies with all applicable
zoning and related development standards as required by Sec. 9-3307(e)(3). See Zoning Inquiry
Letter. As set forth further in Criteria 3, the facility will be constructed in a manner that prevents
odors to surrounding uses, and promotes quality design and construction, and consistency with the
surrounding properties. Odors from the cannabis retail business will not be detectable from outside
the premises, and best odor control technology will be used. See Sec. 9-3308(e)(4). Further, the
Applicant has provided a neighborhood responsibility plan (see Criteria 3) so that the review
authority may find that the proposed use and its operating characteristics are not detrimental to the
public health, safety, convenience, or welfare of persons residing, working, visiting, or recreating
in the surrounding neighborhood and will not result in the creation of a nuisance as outlined by
Sec. 9-3308(e)(8).
The Applicant has selected its proposed cannabis retail business location in Downtown Fresno,
which will provide easy access for Fresno customers and is centrally located for residents. The
proposed location is in Fresno’s brewery district on Fulton Street, directly east of Chukchansi Park.
The location is central to downtown, but not in Fulton Mall, meaning there will be less foot traffic
on the cannabis retail business’s side of the neighborhood. The facility will be adequate in size and
shape to accommodate the yards, walls, fences, parking and loading facilities, landscaping, and all
items required for the development in accordance with Sec. 9-3308(e)(5). In addition, the location
is ideal to provide a quick response time from the Fresno Police Department (less than 1 mile
away), in the unlikely event it is needed. Near multiple breweries and bars, and the cannabis retail
business will be walkable from other pedestrian-friendly areas of Downtown while not being a
part of the main walkway in the neighborhood. This location provides access for residents via
vehicle, and for pedestrians over 21 who know the cannabis retail business’s location.
Community Liaison
The Applicant has designated a Community and Outreach Liaison for the Fresno dispensary in
compliance with Sec. 9-3309(m). has been Applicant’s Community Liaison for its
existing cultivation facility in California, since 2018. Stephan will expand her role for
the Applicant’s proposed retail business in Fresno. Stephan is an active member of her community
in and will further develop her connections in Fresno. Community members will be
able to contact via phone for
any concerns, questions, or community integration efforts.
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The Applicant will provide information to all businesses and residences located within
100 feet of the facility for any problems associated with the facility. See Sec. 9-3309(m)(1).
will be the Applicant’s designated emergency contact as required by Sec. 9-3309(g). See
contact information above. The Applicant will also ensure that attends meetings along
with the owner(s) and manager(s) with the City Manager and their designees to discuss costs,
benefits, and other community relations during the first year of operation, and will continue these
meetings as needed after the first year of business. Also, pursuant to Sec. 9-3309(m)(2),
along with the owner(s) and manager(s) will meet with the City Manager and his/her designees
whenever, and as frequently as requested by the City Manager and/or his/her designees.
1.6.1. Day-to-Day Retail Operations Overview
To ensure full compliance with all rules and regulations, the Applicant has outlined daily
guidelines to ensure the Applicant’s commitment to operating in a compliant manner. The
Applicant commits working with the City of Fresno to ensure efficient and secure retail operations.
The Applicant’s cannabis retail business plan utilizes SOPs, comprehensive training programs,
recordkeeping practices, and inventory control procedures to ensure oversight of the organization
and its employees. These SOPs, training documents, and records are available for the BCC upon
request. The Applicant’s guidelines for retail operations include: (1) a commitment to all rules and
regulations; (2) the retail staffing structure; (3) the Applicant’s SOPs for daily operations; and (4)
a commitment to quality sourcing for all product.
In accordance with Article 33 of the FMC, Sec. 9-3309, the Applicant will ensure:
• Cannabis is not consumed by any person on the premises of the cannabis retail business
(Sec. 9-3309(a));
• Alcoholic beverages will not be sold or consumed at the cannabis retail business (Sec. 9-
3309(b));
• Tobacco products will not be sold or consumed at the cannabis retail business (Sec. 9-
3309(c));
• No cannabis products or graphics depicting cannabis will be visible from the exterior of
the property or on any vehicles owned by the Applicant (Sec. 9-3309(d));
• Cannabis will not be stored outdoors (Sec. 9-3309(d));
• The cannabis retail business will use a point-of-sale system to track and report on all
aspects of the business including cannabis tracking, inventory data, gross sales, and other
information as the City requires (Sec. 9-3309(e));
• The point-of-sale system will be compatible with the city’s recordkeeping systems and
have the capability to produce historical transaction data (Sec. 9-3309(e));
• The point-of-sale system will be approved and authorized by the City Manager before use
(Sec. 9-3309(e));
• All products sold, distributed, or manufactured will originate from State licensees who are
in full compliance with both State and local laws (Sec. 9-3309(f));
• The Applicant provides the City Manager with an emergency contact who can be contacted
at any hour of the day (See Contact Information for above and application
portal submission) (Sec. 9-3309(g));
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• Business signage conforms to all requirements of Chapter 15, Article 26 of the Code (Sec.
9-3309(h)(1));
• No signs will obstruct any entrance, exit, or window of the building (Sec. 9-3309(h)(2));
• Each entrance will have a sign stating that consuming cannabis on premises is prohibited
(Sec. 9-3309(h)(3));
• Business identification signage will be limited to that needed for identification only and
will not contain any logos or information that identifies, advertises, or lists the services or
the products offered. Advertising shall not be visible from the exterior of the establishment
and shall be prohibited on the exterior of the establishment. The cannabis retail business
will not advertise by having a person holding a sign and advertising the business to
passersby, whether the person is on the premises or elsewhere including, but not limited
to, the public right-of-way (Sec. 9-3309(h)(4));
• Signage will be limited to identification only and will not be illuminated (Sec. 9-
3309(h)(5));
• The Applicant agrees that as an express and ongoing condition of permit issuance and
subsequent renewal, the Applicant will be prohibited from advertising any commercial
cannabis business or cannabis retail business located in the city utilizing a billboard (fixed
or mobile), bus shelter, placard, aircraft, or other similar forms of advertising, anywhere in
the State. This paragraph is not intended to place limitations on the ability of a commercial
cannabis business or cannabis retail business to advertise in other legally authorized forms,
including on the internet, in magazines, or in other similar ways. In addition, any cannabis
advertising, including such advertising that is not connected to a cannabis business
operating in the city, using any means described above, is strictly prohibited within the city
limit (Sec. 9-3309(h)(6)); and
• The Applicant will display the original copy of the business permit and business license
inside the cannabis retail business visible to the public (Sec. 9-3309(k)).
The Applicant’s retail procedures will ensure the cannabis retail business:
• Has compliant and efficient operations;
• Has no unlawful sales transactions or transfers are permitted or tolerated;
• Implements handling procedures that prevent contamination of cannabis products; and
• Has transparent retail operations.
The cannabis retail business will only dispense cannabis from the State of California and will not
obtain or transfer cannabis from a location outside of California. Cresco’s existing dispensaries in
other markets are subject to similar restrictions.
In addition, the Applicant is committed to complying with and working with the City of Fresno
and all of the FMC’s rules and regulations, including the following operating requirements as
outlined by Sec. 9-3310(a):
• The cannabis retail business will only operate for public sales between the hours between
6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time;
• The cannabis retail business will not allow physicians to be located on the premises for
evaluating patients for the issuance of a cannabis recommendation or card;
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• All persons will have their age verified before entering the premises;
• Entrances will be locked at all times and have strict control access procedures;
• The cannabis retail business will only have the quantity of cannabis readily available to
meet the daily demand for sale on-site;
• All restrooms will remain locked; and
• Delivery vehicles will be unmarked vehicles and have no markings or signage indicating
they are transporting cannabis.
Proposed Cannabis Retail Business Staffing
The Applicant has created a comprehensive staffing structure that ensures that the cannabis retail
business is always appropriately staffed. The plan (See Criteria 2 for full staffing plan) also
emphasizes local positions and leadership to meet the Applicant’s local hiring goals and provide
the community with in-house contacts for all questions and concerns. The Applicant will leverage
other corporate employees within the State of California, as well as new retailer employees
specifically allocated to the operations in Fresno. The Applicant’s Fresno cannabis retail business
team includes:
Dispensary Management: The Applicant will employ salaried Dispensary Managers who will be
responsible for the facility in total, reporting to the Director of Retail Operations. These will be
keyed employees who will have access to the cannabis retail business 24/7 and available for any
and all emergencies. These employees will also be responsible for opening and closing procedures
and making sure all cash management, recordkeeping, and inventory procedures are followed.
Lead Wellness Advisors: The Applicant will employ Lead Wellness Advisors who will be
responsible for their hourly shifts, including inventory management, delivery procedures, and the
main point of contact for any in-store and delivery issues. These employees will also be the point
employee for receiving procedures along with managers and assist Wellness Advisors with their
regular activities.
Wellness Advisors and Delivery Employees: The Applicant will employ part-time Wellness
Advisors and Delivery Employees who are the main point of contact for each customer that walks
into the cannabis retail business or receives a delivery. These employees will be responsible for
customer education and dispensing procedures.
Security Guards: The Applicant will contract Security Guards who will be responsible for ID
checking, assisting and overseeing receiving procedures and premise security, watching for theft
and diversion, and working with local law enforcement on emergencies, and other matters. For
additional staffing information, please see the Applicant’s response to Criteria 2.
Standard Operating Procedures
The Applicant will leverage Cresco’s existing and robust document management system (“DMS”)
and SOPs for its operations in Fresno. Cresco has over 4 years of experience creating and managing
retail SOPs, including document change procedures, document ownership, regulatory
requirements, training, and integrating/updating best practices. Cresco has a dedicated Quality
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Management Systems (“QMS”) team that manages all of Cresco’s SOPs for retail in all markets
in which it operates, providing the dispensary teams a singular standard on which to operate. Each
SOP is tailored to the market’s regulations while providing an overarching goal of maintaining
best practices across all locations. The Applicant will utilize Cresco’s existing SOPs to adjust for
California and City of Fresno regulations and standards to ensure that all employees have access
to a robust set of SOPs from day 1. In an effort to ensure compliance and coverage of proper SOPs,
in addition to Cresco’s SOP library, the Applicant also utilizes the compliance auditing and SOP
software platform not only provides a platform for auditing operational
compliance, but it also provides an additional full library of SOPs. In the event that an employee
feels they need additional guidance on a regulatory mandate, SOPs are routinely
monitored and updated for easy access.
Sourcing
The Applicant intends to source a significant volume of product from its own California
operations, leveraging its local connections and operations. The Applicant has an advantage
relative to its competitors; the Applicant’s retailer will be connected to one of the largest
distributors in California, ensuring a reliable
supply of high-quality products. With this license,
the Applicant will be one of the only operators that
is fully integrated from seed to sale in the state of
California, and intends to leverage its operations to
ensure that the retailer’s products reflect the
Applicant’s robust connections and operations.
Marketing
The Applicant will utilize Cresco’s rigorous
internal communications and marketing plan
which includes internal marketing reviews, a
committee review, and an industry standard review
prior to the activation of any marketing. Before any
marketing material leaves Cresco’s Marketing
Department for further review, all marketing
employees are instructed to review their material
against an internal state-by-state document that
outlines all state regulation for compliance. It also
includes 4 general points for all material to follow:
(1) no false or misleading claims; (2) does not
include pictures of minors; (3) any health claims
supported with substantive data or evidence; (4)
does not encourage recreational use of cannabis
(medical-only states). See CCR 16-42-4 5040
(2019).
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In addition, Cresco released the industry-wide marketing and advertising standards and guidelines
for all cannabis businesses nationwide. Cresco holds all of its marketing to these standards, which
goes through 6 factors to consider for each piece of marketing: Guiding Principles, Promoting
Responsible Consumption, Preventing Underage Appeal, Benefits of Cannabis Claims, Consumer-
Facing Promotional Events and Merchandise, and Code Implementation, Reporting, and
Education. These factors include 35 considerations and requirements for every piece of marketing
that is released, which are reviewed as described below.
The marketing material is then presented at a weekly meeting – the Marketing Compliance
Committee (“MCC”) meeting – with Cresco’s internal stakeholders including the Legal
Department, Compliance Department, Public Affairs Department, and Marketing Department. At
this meeting, the MCC takes all submissions for the week and grades them on a ranking scale
based on regulatory requirements, local ordinances, and general suitability for the area. The
material is also scored against the marketing and advertising standards and guidelines described
above to ensure it meets all internal standards. These safeguards ensure that no marketing material
is released that does not consider the community, internal brand standards, and regulatory
requirements. The Applicant will employ this review infrastructure for any marketing it intends to
launch in Fresno.
In line with the City’s values, the Applicant’s materials will never introduce child-friendly
imagery, or appear near schools, or places that minors congregate. Additionally, the Applicant will
adhere to all the City’s signage requirements. For more information on signage, please see the
response to Criteria 3.
As a part of its MCC review, the Applicant will ensure that all of its communications and marketing
material meets all State and local regulations:
• All marketing and advertising placements will comply with CCR 16-42-1 5040 (2019);
• No Cannabis Goods will be alcoholic products or make the impression of alcoholic
beverages as outlined by CCR 16-42-1 5040.1 (2019); and
• All marketing and advertising will be geared toward and received only by persons above
the age of 21 in accordance with CCR 16-42-1 5041 (2019);
• All branded merchandise will be approved by the BCC in compliance with CCR 16-42-1
5041.1 (2019); and
• The Applicant will not provide free cannabis goods to any person except as otherwise
outlined by CCR 16-42-3 5411 (2019).
General Marketing Strategy
In line with Cresco’s standards for marketing, Cresco also ensures that each of its brands follows
those same standards – including Cresco’s Sunnyside* storefront retail branding. The Applicant
intends to utilize the Sunnyside* brand for this facility because its standards meet the need of the
community for a safe, secure, and discreet storefront retailer. Sunnyside* focuses specifically on
providing adults who are 21+ and curious about cannabis with a comfortable place to explore and
shop. Sunnyside* began with a core belief that cannabis and wellness can work together to make
daily life better for all kinds of people. While many are open to the idea of cannabis, it can still
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feel complex and overwhelming – Sunnyside* provides the resource for learning focused on
wellness.
The Applicant will use out of home initiatives, digital, and in-store advertising, and compliant
email marketing as its marketing methods. The Applicant may run promotions, such as a Pride
Month initiative benefitting a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit, through fun discounts promoted on social
media and via email to those who have given consent. As described above, each of these potential
channels and corresponding messaging will be reviewed internally by the MCC to ensure full
regulatory compliance.
Sunnyside* focuses on making cannabis shopping simple for legal customers. Wellness Advisors
(retail employees) are trained to shed light on the potential benefits of cannabis in ways that are
relatable and easy to understand. Sunnyside*’s age-gated website features a live menu of high
quality products with simple online ordering.
The Applicant understands its customers’ needs and will provide a suite of products that include
all methods of administration to help each customer. Sunnyside* will also offer private
consultations by phone as requested, providing a simple method to learn without the pressure of
being in public. The Applicant sees itself as a source for wellness and believes that cannabis and
wellness work hand-in-hand to make everyday life better. In its social media platforms, the
Applicant features wellness-adjacent activities and inspires customers to expand their daily health
and wellness routines. The Applicant will further this mission by partnering with local wellness
groups to create unique online programming.
1.6.1.i. Customer Check-in Procedures
Ensuring that the business only sells cannabis goods to lawful customers is one of the Applicant’s
most important objectives. The Applicant has detailed procedures to ensure that only those legally
allowed to purchase cannabis goods will be permitted entry.
To enter the cannabis retail business, customers will enter check in area, where IDs will be checked
by security guards before entering the retail floor. Customers will be invited to browse the
Applicant’s e-library of
customer resources, product
offerings, and product
information on iPads or other
company-operated tablets.
The Applicant will employ
point-of-sale (“POS”)
stations, each equipped with
a computer linked to
As described
herein, will be
integrated with California’s
track-and-trace system,
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has the capability to produce historical transactional data and report on all aspects of the business
as required by Sec. 9-3309(e). The Applicant will seek City Manager approval prior to using
See Sec. 9-3309(e). The Applicant will only sell cannabis or cannabis-infused products
to a customer who has been verified to be over the age of 21, a caregiver, or a medical patient over
the age of 18 as outlined by Sec. 9-3309(i)(1).
In addition, the entrance to the cannabis retail business will have a clearly legible notice stating
that no person under the age of 21 years of age is permitted to enter the premises, unless they are
over the age of 18 and a valid medical patient. See Sec. 9-3309(i)(2), (3).
Wellness advisors will prompt everyone that enters the building to show government-issued
identification and engage in the following activities: verify the age of each customer using an
electronic reader; verify the validity of the customer’s government-issued identification card; and
offer any appropriate customer education or support materials.
Identification to enter the cannabis retail business must contain a name, photograph, and date of
birth, and will be limited to:
• A document issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government, or a political
subdivision or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, a valid motor vehicle operator's
license, that contains the name, date of birth, height, gender, and photo of the person;
• A document issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government, or a political
subdivision or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, a valid motor vehicle operator's
license, that contains the name, date of birth, height, gender, and photo of the person;
• A valid identification card issued to a member of the Armed Forces that includes the
person’s name, date of birth, and photo; or
• A valid passport issued by the United States or by a foreign government.
All employees will receive training on how to identify fraudulent, invalid, expired, or otherwise
unacceptable identification and how to reject service to unauthorized patrons. Identification must
be valid, unexpired, contain a photograph, and the date of birth of the person. A security guard
will be onsite to assist with greeting customers, accommodating mobility pathways through the
check-in area, and ensuring the customer-entry is locked and secured when not in use.
The Applicant will explain and train the check-out process extensively during new employee
orientation. The Applicant understands that this is the area where most mistakes can occur and
accordingly also is the area where the Applicant has the most safeguards in place. IDs will be
redundantly checked upon check in at the door, then again upon customer/POS check in by the
specific cashier, then verified one last time immediately prior to closing the transaction. This
articulates multiple points of verification, training, and also multiple people involved in the
verification process. Wellness advisors will be trained to prompt each customer to show
government-issued identification and engage in the following activities:
• Verify the age of each customer using an electronic reader;
• Verify the validity of the customer’s government-issued identification card; and
• Offer any appropriate customer education or support materials.
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All employees will receive training on how to identify fraudulent, invalid, expired, or otherwise
unacceptable identification and how to reject service to unauthorized patrons. Identification must
be valid, unexpired, contain a photograph, and the date of birth of the person.
The Applicant will also place an ID checking guide which features IDs from all US states and
territories. Lastly, the Applicant will also put “If you were born before…” signs at the registers,
and provide signage around the cannabis retail business prohibiting minors as well.
Customer Access
In compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5400 (2019) and as described above, the Applicant will require
customers, patients, and caregivers to produce a government-issued identification at the check-in
area to enter the cannabis retail business as described above. Limited access areas (“LAAs”) will
not be open to customers, and all interior areas of the facility require an electronic card to access.
Additionally, the Applicant will ensure at least 1 employee is physically present in the retail area
at all times when customers are in the retail area in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5402(b) (2019).
See Sec. 9-3309(i). In addition, the Applicant will ensure that its entrance will always be locked
by a “buzz-in” electronic/mechanical entry system as outlined by Sec. 9-3310(a)(4).
The Applicant will refuse to sell cannabis goods to any individual who is 18 years of age and does
not have a valid physician’s recommendation for medicinal cannabis or is not a primary caregiver
or any individual who is under 21 years of age in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5404 (2019) and
Sec. 9-3309(i)(4). The Applicant will not allow customers to be present on the licensed premises
or sell to a consumer outside of the Applicant’s business hours.
When the cannabis retail business is not open for business, the premises will be securely locked
with commercial-grade, nonresidential locks and an active alarm system. The Applicant will
ensure that only employees of the licensee and specific designated individuals are allowed to
access the premises during off hours. See CCR 16-42-3 5403 (2019).
Customer Education
The Applicant puts customer education at the heart of its business model. The goal of customer
education is straightforward: to make a rapidly evolving and expanding universe of cannabis
products understandable and accessible to the full spectrum of medical patients and adult-use
consumers, from connoisseurs to the newly “canna-curious.” To this end, the Applicant and Cresco
invest heavily in both internal and outward-facing initiatives. As detailed below, these initiatives
will allow the Applicant’s proposed cannabis retail business to be a leader in educating its
customers and empowering them to make healthy, rewarding, and responsible choices. To ensure
consistency in customer education, the Applicant will leverage Cresco's 3 primary paths to deliver
information to its retail customers: (1) Wellness Advisor (retail employees) interactions; (2) online
resources; and (3) product packaging and displays.
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Wellness Advisor Interactions
Face-to-face conversations with customers
are opportunities for dispensary employees,
known as Wellness Advisors, to share their
expertise and provide individually-tailored
guidance within the confines of state and
local regulations. To maximize the benefit
of these interactions, all Wellness Advisors
– including the Applicant’s prospective
staff for the proposed Fresno cannabis retail
business – undergo a rigorous 30-day
training course, covering cannabis
education and safety, state and local
regulations, and company operating procedures. The Applicant's Wellness Advisors will also each
receive 40 hours of on-the-job coaching within their first month of employment, supplemented by
regular product-specific trainings from the cannabis retail business's vendors.
Online Resources
Cresco has created a dedicated, age-gated website (sunnyside.shop) for its Sunnyside dispensaries.
The website features a “Learn” section, where existing customers, prospective customers, and any
other interested adults can access to a host of educational content regarding cannabis. Topics
include: (1) a glossary of common cannabis terminology; (2) characteristics of the major
cannabinoids, THC and CBD; (3) descriptions and comparisons of various product forms (flower,
edibles, topicals, etc.); and (4) an explanation of indica, sativa, and hybrid strains, and the dominant
effects generally associated with each one. The Applicant intends to leverage this model and
content for use in Fresno.
Product Packaging and Displays
Product packaging and displays are also an important component of the Applicant's customer
education strategy. Once patrons enter the display area of the proposed cannabis retail business,
they will encounter sample products, organized by type and brand, which they will have the
opportunity to inspect and physically interact with under the guidance and supervision of the
Wellness Advisors. The Applicant's objective in curating and organizing its product offerings will
be to present customers with a well-balanced and intuitive menu.
The Applicant’s status as a vertically integrated operator in California gives it an important
advantage in this regard, as it can play a direct role in shaping the Applicant’s product selection.
The Applicant will utilize customer needs and community feedback when selecting and altering
its product lineup based on sales metrics, product requests, and other comments.
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Potency, Effects, and Varieties of Products
Safe, consistent, and rewarding cannabis
experiences start with selecting the right
product and thoroughly understanding its
characteristics prior to consumption. This
will only become more important as the
diversity of available cannabis products and
consumption methods continues to expand.
Training for the Applicant’s retail
employees will therefore focus heavily on
matching consumer needs with appropriate
products and – most importantly – ensuring
that consumption instructions and potency
are clearly communicated. Additionally,
the Applicant’s standard operating procedures include quality assurance protocols to ensure that
all products sold in the cannabis retail business are prominently and accurately labeled with: (1) a
clear, concise description of their contents; (2) their potency, i.e. THC and CBD levels; and (3) for
non-flower products, instructions on proper dosing and use.
In-Store Signage
Drawing on the collective knowledge and experience of Cresco’s operational dispensaries
throughout the country, the retail
design team has developed an in-
store signage system that
compliments the work of its Wellness
Advisors and helps guide customers
through the dispensaries’ display
areas. The signage categorizes
products by type and brand, and
includes prompts that encourage
customer questions. In addition to
displaying Sunnyside’s in-store
signage, the Applicant may use
brand-specific displays and signage,
once they pass quality assurance
reviews for accuracy and compliance.
Informational Markings on Packages
The Applicant will conduct thorough inspections to verify that every product it receives conforms
to all state laws, regulations, and best practices for labeling. This verification process is a part of
the Applicant’s receiving procedures outlined herein. This will encompass checking for
compliance with the California Department of Public Health’s (“CDPH”) labeling requirements,
including that products clearly display: 1) the nature of their contents; 2) the identity and contact
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information of their cultivator or manufacturer; 3) their net weight; 4) a unique track-and-trace
identifier; 5) their cannabinoid contents; and 6) their date of packaging for retail sale.
Health Warnings
When used responsibly, cannabis has the potential to improve and enrich the lives of both medical
patients and adult-use consumers. However, as with any mood-altering substance, it can also be
misused. Cresco Labs and the Applicant are dedicated to minimizing this risk, by ensuring that
every cannabis product sold in the proposed cannabis retail business displays California’s
universal symbol and government warning on its outer packaging:
GOVERNMENT WARNING: THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS
CANNABIS, A SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.
CANNABIS PRODUCTS MAY ONLY BE POSSESSED OR
CONSUMED BY PERSONS 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
UNLESS THE PERSON IS A QUALIFIED PATIENT. THE
INTOXICATING EFFECTS OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS
MAY BE DELAYED UP TO TWO HOURS. CANNABIS USE
WHILE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING MAY BE
HARMFUL. CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS
IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE AND OPERATE
MACHINERY. PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION.
The Applicant will also require all inhalable products to carry a Proposition 65 carcinogen
warning. Any product not conforming to these specifications will be re-labeled, returned, or
destroyed, consistent with BCC and CDPH regulations.
Customer Education and Wait Times
The Applicant understands that demand will vary depending on the day and time and will adjust
staffing and inventory resources according to demand. Sales records will be comprehensive, and
employees will use reports generated by to predict rush hours, forecast discounted
inventory, and allocate labor hours to handle peak demand. The cannabis retail business will have
a rapid check-in system and a large sales area, allowing customers and potential customers to
browse inside the cannabis retail business for a longer duration. For additional information
regarding the layout, please see Criteria 6.
The duration of transactions is dependent on many factors, including whether a customer knows
what products they want to purchase before entering the cannabis retail business, the depth of the
one-on-one employee-consultation that all customers will have on each visit, and the overall design
of the facility. The Applicant will ensure that each of its Wellness Advisors is trained on how to
handle peak demand and large amounts of customers. Wellness Advisors will be trained on
providing thorough but efficient education, ensuring that each customer receives the time and
attention they need to understand and feel comfortable about the product they choose.
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1.6.1.ii. Receiving Product
The Applicant has a suite of receiving and unloading
protocols ready for compliant operations on the first
day of operations. Employees will adhere to strict
unloading/loading protocols and regulations pursuant
to CCR 16-42-3 5422 (2019) and CCR 16-42-3 5423
(2019) related to receiving cannabis products
including physical reception of the cannabis,
inventory logging, recordkeeping, and secure storage.
Loading and unloading cannabis products will occur
away from point of sale (“POS”) areas and only a
limited number of employees will participate in
receiving cannabis from secure transporters in
accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5422(c) (2019).
Receiving will only happen in an area that is being
recorded on the Applicant’s cameras, in the presence
of at least 2 employees including a manager, plus
security personnel, and between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time in compliance with CCR
16-42-3 5422(b) (2019). For a visual understanding of where receiving activities will occur, please
see Criteria 6, Receiving/Eradication Room.
The Applicant already has an active account within California’s track-and-trace system,
for its cultivation, distribution, and manufacturing operations and it will create and
maintain an active and functional account for its cannabis retail business license prior to engaging
in any retailer activity. The Applicant intends to use as its internal automated data
processing and point of sale system. Cresco has experience in other markets using and
integrating it with METRC. Employees will input the following data into and
as necessary:
1. Name and type of the cannabis products;
2. Unique identifier of the cannabis products;
3. Amount of the cannabis products, by weight or count, and total sale price wholesale cost
of the cannabis products, as applicable;
4. Date and time of the activity or transaction;
5. Name and license number of other licensees involved in the activity or transaction;
6. If cannabis products are being destroyed or disposed of:
a. The name of the employee performing the destruction or disposal;
b. The reason for destruction or and disposal; and
c. The name of the entity collecting and processing the disposal of cannabis waste;
7. Description for any adjustments made in including, but not limited to:
a. Spoilage or fouling of the cannabis products; and
b. Any event resulting in damage, exposure, or compromise of the cannabis products.
8. Any other information as required by any other applicable licensing authorities.
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Product Packaging and Labeling
The Applicant will inspect and
verify inventory shipments prior to
order acceptance as described
above, including visual inspection
of product and confirmation of
compliant packaging, labeling, use
and dosage information. The
Applicant will evaluate
compliance with regulatory
requirements, adherence to
internal quality assurance and
quality control standards, and
accuracy of the order. This
includes ensuring all packaging is
accurate and matches the manifest,
that all product appears to be in
quality condition,
packaging/product has not deteriorated or been adulterated, and that inventory is accurately
reflected on the manifest. The Applicant will only accept Cannabis Goods from a licensed
distributor and will not engage in any packaging or labeling of Cannabis Goods in accordance with
CCR 16-42-3 5412(a), (b) (2019). The Applicant will also not accept any Cannabis Goods from a
distributor that are not packaged for final sale in full compliance with BCC regulations. In addition,
the Applicant’s Receiving Manager will verify that the government warning label requirements,
as well as the required “For Medical Use” labeling for medicinal products, is correct pursuant to
CCR 16-42-1 5032 (d), (e) (2019).
In accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5406 (2019), the Applicant’s verification process will ensure that
the following is verified before acceptance, including but not limited to: the name, license number,
contact number, and address of the manufacturer/cultivator that sent the batch; the entry date into
the distributor’s inventory storage; the unique identifier, batch number, quantity/weight, and
description; the government warning; a list of all product ingredients; instructions for use; the
county of origin (only if 100% of cannabis used was grown in that county); and the allergen
warning.
The Applicant will also ensure cannabinoid content information is correct, checking for accurate
labeling in a text size of no less than 6-point font on either the informational panel or primary
panel, including: if the product is an edible, and a cannabis concentrate for which the manufacturer
has established serving designations, it should have the THC and CBD content expressed in both
milligrams per serving and milligrams per package; for topical cannabis product and cannabis
concentrate without servings, it should have THC and CBD content expressed in milligrams per
package; and for packages of pre-rolls or cannabis flower that do not include cannabinoids other
than those naturally occurring in the plant material, cannabinoid content expressed as a percentage.
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Package labeling helps customers identify their product and use, to ensure that they are giving
themselves proper dosage and desired effect. The Applicant will verify that all packaging is child
resistant, tamper-evident, opaque if the product is edible, re-sealable if the product has multiple
usage, and is designed to minimize oxygen exposure to protect from contamination, deterioration
and spoilage in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5413(b) (2019). In addition, the Applicant will
ensure that the packaging does not imitate any package used for products typically marketed to
children. All purchased cannabis goods will be placed in an opaque exit package before they leave
the facility pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5413(c) (2019).
Storage and Inventory Management
Cresco has been successful in adopting and applying best practices for cannabis storage in its other
dispensaries. The Applicant also has had similar success in its California cultivation, distribution,
and manufacturing facilities. The Applicant intends to utilize Cresco’s quality practices with
respect to storing cannabis goods in a retail environment, including ensuring the storage areas have
adequate lighting, ventilation, temperature, humidity control and equipment, including personal
protective equipment. The cannabis retail business has been designed to promote secure and
sanitized storage of all products at the facility. See CCR 16-42-1 5033 (2019). For more
information on the design and layout of the cannabis retail business, please see the Applicant’s
response to Criteria 3 and 6.
The Applicant will institute the first-in-first-out inventory principle where the oldest inventory will
be dispensed first to ensure inventory is not depleted prior to the expiration of the product. This
basic principle will eliminate unnecessary waste, encourage proper inventory rotation, and ensure
product potency and consistency. To further the Applicant’s storage best practices, the Applicant
will utilize Cresco’s practices to train all employees in sales practices, product storage
requirements, and integration, and security protocols to prevent
diversion and loss of product. This training will be conducted regularly utilizing the learning
management software (“LMS”) which will be reinforced by facility management.
Storage
The Applicant has designed its cannabis retail business in a way to ensure that the inventory storage
is in the most secure and environmentally controlled location, to prevent diversion, contamination,
and deterioration. During receiving procedures,
See CCR 16-
42-1 5033 (2019).
The Applicant will also train all employees on proper handling and storage procedures. As required
by the BCC, the Applicant will also securely store all facility waste before final disposal. Disposal
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will be performed in designated areas. Waste disposal areas will remain under 24/7 video
surveillance from at least 2 angles. All cannabis intended for disposal will be clearly labeled as
such and will be segregated from all cannabis that is approved for distribution, thus ensuring that
no product intended for disposal accidentally gets dispensed.
To ensure accurate tracking and diversion deterrence,
Vault Specifications
The vault will comply with all regulations required by the BCC.
Inventories
The Applicant will conduct regular inventory reviews and comprehensive inventories on a
predefined schedule at the facility, including daily inventory; every 30 days pursuant to CCR 16-
42-1 5051(a) (2019); and annually. Each inventory will generate a written or electronic record
which includes the date, a summary of the inventory findings, and the names, signatures and titles
or positions of the individuals who conducted the inventory count. To conduct an inventory audit,
employees will: compare physical inventory counts conducted with records in and
immediately act to reconcile inventory discrepancies; produce an inventory audit
report; conduct a discrepancy investigation, should one occur, to identify the source of the
discrepancy, and take corrective action; if diversion, significant discrepancy, or other reportable
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activity occurs, notify the BCC pursuant to CCR 16-42-1 5051(b) (2019) and CCR 16-42-3
5424(e) (2019); record and maintain findings from discrepancy investigations and resolutions in
compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5424(c) (2019); and notify the BCC of all corrective actions taken.
Acquiring Cannabis Goods
The Applicant tracks inventory from product arrival at the cannabis retail business to sale to the
customer. The Applicant will employ security protocols for operating the inventory control system
and accessing restricted access areas, such as the product vault, limited access areas, and the
receiving area. For additional information regarding the Applicant’s security plan, please see
response to Criteria 5. Consistent with Cresco’s current receipt/delivery process, a manager or
designee will immediately record all new inventory into and as it arrives
and store inventory in the locked product vault. Secure receipt protocols reflect a combination of
the BCC’s rules and Cresco’s experience. The layout of the cannabis retail business is designed
with secure receipt in mind, with all inventorying out of customer’s view.
Only a limited number of employees will participate in receiving cannabis from
licensed distributors. See CCR 16-42-3 5422(c) (2019).
Employees will adhere to strict unloading/loading protocols including physical reception of
product, inventory logging, recordkeeping, and secure storage pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5422
(2019) and CCR 16-42-3 5423 (2019). Receiving will only happen in an area that is being recorded
on the Applicant’s cameras, in the presence of at least 2 employees including a manager, plus
security personnel, and between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time in compliance
with CCR 16-42-3 5422(b) (2019). The Applicant will keep and maintain an accurate record of its
inventory in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5423 (2019).
Before accepting products, a manager will ensure that the cannabis products received are as
described in the shipping manifest, and will record acceptance, receipt, and acknowledgment of
the cannabis products in in compliance with CCR 16-42-1 5049(b)(6)(B) (2019).
Delivery records will outline all products being delivered to the Applicant, including quantity,
variety, strain, batch number, where the product is coming from, and when the product is being
delivered in compliance with CCR 16-42-1 5049(a) (2019). If there are any discrepancies between
the type, quantity, or quality of cannabis received by the Applicant, employees will record and
document the discrepancy in and in compliance with CCR 16-42-1
5049(b)(6)(C). See CCR 16-42-1 5052.1 (2019). The Applicant will keep every manifest for 7
years and make it available to the BCC upon request.
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Ability to Reconcile On-Hand Inventory with the Records in the Track and Trace Database
The Applicant will ensure that an employee conducts daily inventory reconciliation documenting
and balancing cannabis inventory by confirming and inventories match
the amount of physical product at the cannabis retail business. As a part of the Applicant’s opening
and closing procedures outlined above, each morning and evening a manager will count and
reconcile inventory. The Applicant will conduct additional inventories and reconciliation
throughout the day as needed. The Applicant will notify the BCC of any reportable activity or
significant discrepancy as defined by CCR 16-42-1 5034 (2019) in regard to inventory
reconciliation in compliance with CCR 16-42-1 5051(b) (2019) and CCR 16-42-3 5424(e), (d)
(2019). All employees will report all discrepancies identified during daily inventory reconciliation,
wholesale inventory acquisition reconciliation, and inventory audits, including diversion, theft,
loss, or any criminal action to the Store Manager who will escalate to the Security Director if
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criminal activity is suspected. The employee who discovered the discrepancy will provide findings
or other records that evidence or otherwise pertain to the discrepancy. The Applicant will keep all
inventory adjustment documentation at the cannabis retail business for 7 years from the date
performed. If the Applicant identifies an imbalance in the amount of cannabis after the daily
inventory reconciliation due to mistake, a manager will determine how the imbalance occurred
and immediately upon discovery take and document corrective action. If the Applicant cannot
identify the reason for the inventory imbalance within 24 hours after first discovery, it will
immediately inform the BCC in writing of the imbalance and the corrective action taken to date.
If the Applicant identifies an imbalance in the amount of cannabis after the daily inventory
reconciliation or through other means due to theft, criminal activity, or suspected criminal activity,
it will immediately determine how the reduction occurred and take and document corrective action.
The Applicant will inform the BCC and the City Manager within 12 to 24 hours after discovering
any theft, loss, or criminal activity as required by CCR 16-42-1 5036(a)(1) (2019) and Sec. 9-
3310(b)(5).
Recordkeeping
Robust recordkeeping practices are the cornerstone of successful cannabis retail business
operations. Keeping detailed and accurate records assists the BCC, the City, and the Applicant in
their respective roles. Records provide the BCC and City with verifiable support that the Applicant
is conducting its operations to meet the highest compliance standards and is dispensing product in
a safe and compliant manner. Records assist the Applicant in tracking inventory and waste
disposal, managing security and surveillance operations and finances, among other things. The
Applicant will maintain documentation related inventory tracking, including but not limited to
records stored in both in a secure, locked location at the cannabis
retail business for 7 years from the date on the document. All documents related to the Applicant’s
involvement with the systems will be available to the BCC for review upon request. In addition,
the Applicant will keep all necessary books and records required to render a full account of all
commercial cannabis operations conducted at its facility for the year to date and the 7 years prior,
as required by the licensing authorities. See CCR 16-42-1 5037 (2019).
The BCC and other licensing authorities may inspect the licensed premises and examine any
records related to commercial cannabis activity owned or created by the Applicant, and upon
request, will be granted full access to inspect all records as necessary to perform official
government functions and duties. As required by Sec. 9-3331(d), subject to any restrictions under
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) regulations, the Applicant will
allow the City to have access to the business's books, records, accounts, together with any other
data or documents relevant to its permitted commercial cannabis activities, for the purpose of
conducting an audit or examination. Books, records, accounts, and any and all relevant data or
documents will be produced no later than 24 hours after receipt of the City's request, unless
otherwise stipulated by the City. The City may require the materials to be submitted in an
electronic format that is compatible with the City's software and hardware. If requested, the
Applicant will provide and deliver all requested records and documents directly to the BCC and
other authorities for review.
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Facility Records
Required records include, but are not limited to, the following: financial records including bank
statements, sales invoices, receipts, tax records, and all records required by the California
Department of Tax and Fee Administration; personnel records; training records; contracts with
other licensees regarding commercial cannabis activity; permits, licenses, and other local
authorizations to conduct the licensee’s commercial cannabis activity; security records; destruction
records; documentation and data; all other documents prepared or executed by an
owner or assignees in connection with the licensed commercial cannabis business.
The Applicant will regularly adapt its written policies and procedures for maintenance of records
to comply with the regulations set forth by the BCC. The Applicant will also track all changes to
records, consistent with industry standards. This tracking procedure will apply to all records,
including but not limited to, bylaws, consents, manual and/or computerized records of assets and
liabilities, audits, monetary transactions, journals, ledgers, and supporting documents, including
agreements, checks, invoices, receipts, and vouchers. The Applicant will keep these records in a
manner consistent with CCR 16-42-1 5037 (2019) for a minimum of 7 years.
Financial Records
In addition, the Applicant will maintain required records including, but not limited to revenues,
expenses, assets, and liabilities, in an electronic format available upon request to the City of
Fresno. The Applicant will report the number of sales during the previous 12-month period on a
per-month basis to the City of Fresno annually, at a minimum, and more as the City requests. This
report will also include gross sales for each month, and all applicable taxes paid or due to be paid.
The Applicant will also submit a financial audit to the City Manager regularly. See Sec. 9-3331(a).
The Applicant will adapt its written policies and procedures for records to comply with the
State/City and the Applicant will track changes made in records consistent with industry standards,
including bylaws, consents, manual or computerized records of assets and liabilities, audits,
monetary transactions, journals, ledgers, and supporting documents, including agreements, checks,
invoices, receipts, and vouchers. The Applicant will also maintain a current register of the names
and contact information of anyone owning or holding an interest in the cannabis retail business,
and separately will maintain a current register of all officers, managers, employees, agents, and
volunteers employed at the cannabis retail business in accordance with Sec. 9-3331(b). The
Applicant will keep these records in a manner consistent with CCR 16-42-1 5037 (2019) for 7
years.
Record Retention
The Applicant will maintain 2 copies of all mandatory records. One copy will be stored in CCTT-
METRC, while a second copy will be stored in the Applicant’s cloud-based record storage service.
In the event a record is created in hard copy format, the Applicant will ensure it is also copied to
an electronic system to prevent loss in the event of an emergency. This process will ensure that all
records are maintained in the event of contamination, hazardous waste, flood or fire. The Applicant
will keep copies of its policies and procedures on the licensed retail premise and will immediately
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provide copies to the BCC, upon request. All records and mandatory documents will be
immediately available for inspection and copying by the BCC. At least every 12 months after the
approval of the licensed retail facility, the Applicant’s quality control/quality assurance team will
review all recordkeeping written policies and procedures, and update them in accordance with
industry standards or as requested by the BCC.
Internal Quality Assurance Audit
The Applicant will conduct regular inventory audits, recordkeeping audits, and comprehensive
inventories on a predefined schedule at the facility. These audits will ensure that all recordkeeping
procedures are followed, and all inventory is appropriately checked, along with reviewing existing
procedures and adjusting as necessary. Quarterly audits consist of a comprehensive review of retail
facility records to ensure that commercial cannabis activity is accurately recorded as required.
Audits include spot checking daily inventory to identify potential areas of improvement, reviewing
BCC-required monthly inventories, and review of annual inventories. Audits generate a written or
electronic record that includes the date, a summary of the findings, and the names, signatures, and
titles/positions of the individuals who conducted the inventory count.
Recall Procedures
The Applicant has rigorous internal quality control procedures to ensure safe, consistent product.
In the event of any unsuitable product, the Applicant will initiate standard recall procedures,
modeled after procedures Cresco uses across the country. The Applicant will also maintain detailed
records of purchases on and the to track contaminated product and alert
appropriate purchasers if possible. The Applicant is prepared to fully comply with all recall
notices. If a recall is issued, the Applicant will immediately pull recalled items from inventory and
quarantine them until the BCC determines the item is safe, may be remediated, or must be
destroyed.
The Applicant’s Quality Assurance and Compliance teams will be responsible for managing and
executing recalls. Complaints can be received at the dispensary and will be investigated. The team
will coordinate with the BCC and the product source regarding how to proceed. The Applicant
purchased the product, if possible, to stop consuming product(s) and return the products to the
dispensary. The Applicant will segregate recalled cannabis away from other cannabis in storage to
prevent employees from confusing recalled products from active inventory and limit the possibility
of cross contaminating compliant cannabis. The products held in quarantine for a recall will be
subject to auditing by all applicable regulatory agencies. Any product in quarantine will be subject
to auditing by the BCC. The Applicant will communicate with originating product source of the
need to remediate a recalled product. If the recalled product must be destroyed, the Applicant will
comply with the BCC’s rules, regulations, and guidance. The Applicant will use separate SOPs for
complaints and adverse reactions. Cresco goes above and beyond regulatory requirements and
conducts Adverse Event reporting even in the jurisdictions where regulators do not require the
process, and Applicant will do the same in Fresno. These reports will be signed off by a manager,
and archived consistent with the Applicant’s recordkeeping policies.
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Reporting Requirements
The Applicant understands that it has specific reporting requirements to the BCC, in compliance
with CCR 16-42-1 5035 (2019), outside of its requirements to report diversion, theft, loss, or other
criminal activity. The Applicant will ensure that it reports all instances of the following both within
48 hours of the occurrence and in its annual license renewal:
• Criminal conviction of any owner;
• Civil penalty or judgement;
• Revocation of local authorization; or
• An administrative order for violation of labor standards.
In addition, the Applicant is committed to cooperating with the Fresno City Manager to inspect or
audit the effectiveness of any security plan or other requirements in accordance with Sec. 9-
3310(b)(4). The Applicant will also notify the City Manager within 24 hours of the occurrence of
any of the following:
• Significant discrepancies identified during inventory;
• Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the dispensary or any agent or
employee of the dispensary;
• The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis, registering qualifying
patients, primary caregivers, or employees or agents of the dispensary; and
• Any other breach of security. See Sec. 9-3310(b)(5).
1.6.1.iii. POS System and Number of POS Locations
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1.6.1.iv. Sales Procedures
The Applicant’s order fulfillment plan maximizes customer access and minimizes wait times and
inventory inefficiencies. Streamlined order fulfillment allows for a better customer experience and
shorter wait times for all ordering methods. At the proposed location, cannabis will be dispensed
through secure glazed glass pass-through windows that will be staffed within the vault for secure
transfer of product. Please see floor plan above, Secure Pass Through Window. The Applicant
estimates approximately 865 customers to be served per day.
Procedures for Pass-Through Window Dispensing
• As a part of the cannabis retail business’s opening procedures, a manager will assign
employees to work in the vault for dispensing.
• The employees will gather orders as patients and customers come to the cannabis retail
business, opening a secure glazed shatterproof glass pass-through window to pass the product
to employees to pass to the customers for sale.
• The employees will lock the secure glazed glass pass-through window each time a dispensing
procedure occurs.
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• The vault will be able to be opened from the inside so employees assigned to the vault can
leave safely. They will require a keycard to get back in.
• At the end of the day, as a part of the cannabis retail business’s vault closing procedures,
employees including a manager audit the vault for inventory verification and will proceed with
closing procedures, including locking the vault and setting the alarm in preparation for the next
day’s shift.
The secure glazed glass pass-through windows will be locked at all times, except for during
dispensing, and no customers, patients or caregivers will have access to the vault at any time. In
addition, the aluminum window frame will receive a . The Applicant
will also install an overhead window shutter to cover the entirety of the pass-through windows
during off hours. This process will create a more streamlined inventory movement, inventory
accuracy, and greater accessibility because employees can spend more time with customers, rather
than accessing the vault for all inventory.
The Applicant will offer multiple avenues to order its products, including in-store with an
employee consultation, in-store express lane, and online pre-order for in-store pickup. The
Applicant will implement an online-ordering platform to facilitate these alternative methods.
The Applicant will employ a first in, first out process for dispensing product, to ensure the oldest
stock of a cannabis product is distributed first for each sale.
Customer Experience
As described above, upon arrival to the cannabis retail business, the Applicant’s security guards
will check IDs and direct customers through the facility. The Applicant has created a facility that
has a simple layout, with only 1 entrance and exit for customers for customer safety and easy
tracking for employees. Please see floor plan above, Customer Entry and Customer Exit. As
customers’ IDs are checked, they will be directed to the check in counter before being admitted to
the sales floor where they will be guided to a sales floor or invited to browse the sales area with a
Wellness Advisor to help them understand and choose the products that will be the most effective
for their desired outcome. As customers make their selections, they will be directed to a POS
station to complete their transaction. If a customer has made an online order for pickup, they will
be pointed to a POS station for efficient and safe dispensing. The Applicant’s security guards and
check-in employees will ensure that the sales floor is never overcrowded and that all exterior
queueing is in a fashion that does not disrupt nearby businesses.
In addition, the Applicant has robust COVID-19 procedures as outlined below that it will
implement to ensure that customers are as safe as possible and limited from exposure on all fronts.
This includes proper social distancing, limited capacity within the facility, and regular sanitation.
Purchasing Limits
In compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5409 (2019), the Applicant will not sell more than the legally
permissible daily limit to both adult use and medicinal customers. The limits will not be combined
to allow a customer to purchase cannabis goods in excess of any of the limits. The proper sales tax
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rates will be programmed into each of the Applicant’s point of sale systems to ensure sales tax is
being collected.
Exit Packaging
The Applicant’s exit packaging will comply with CCR 16-42-3 5413 (2019) and will: be opaque
so that the cannabis goods cannot be seen from
outside the packaging; have the ability to be
resealed for multiple uses; and be labeled in
accordance with BCC instruction and all other
applicable state and local laws, regulations,
ordinances, and other requirements. Exit
packaging requirements will be verified prior to
sale to a customer. The Applicant will ensure there
is a child-resistant certificate from the packaging
supplier and will maintain records of same. Prior
to releasing an exit package to a customer, retail
employees will check the tamper-evident seal to
verify it has not been tampered with and is still
securely on the packaging. These procedures will
also be used for home deliveries.
Handling Returns
The Applicant will only accept customer returns of Cannabis Goods that were purchased from the
Applicant’s retail facility. See CCR 16-42-3 5410(a) (2019). Should any product be abandoned at
the cannabis retail facility, it will also be treated as a return in accordance with CCR 16-42-3
5410(d) (2019). No cannabis goods that have been returned will ever be resold pursuant to CCR
16-42-3 5410(c) (2019) – instead, they will be segregated, stored in the receiving/eradication room
in the appropriate place for destruction, will be destroyed and rendered into cannabis waste in
accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5410(e) (2019). The Applicant will ensure that all returns are
investigated to understand the reason for the return and note the return. Only managers will accept
returns, and will record the following into and
• The name and type of Cannabis Goods;
• The UID of the Cannabis Goods;
• Amount of the Cannabis Goods by weight or count;
• Date and time of transaction;
• The Applicant’s name and license number;
• The name and license number of other licensees involved in the transaction;
• The reason for the return; and
• Any other information required by the BCC.
The Applicant will award store credit in exchange for returned Cannabis Goods on a case by case
basis. If the customer chooses an item or items of a lesser value, no charge is returned to the
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customer in either cash or store credit. If a customer chooses something more expensive than the
value of the return, the customer will pay the balance of the bill. Should the customer’s return be
in response to a product recall, the Applicant’s product recall procedures will be followed as
outlined above.
1.6.1.v. Proposed Product Line and the Estimated Percentage of Sales of Flower and
Manufactured Cannabis Goods
Currently, the Applicant intends to stock flower (full-bud, popcorn, shake, pre-roll, shortie), vapes,
edibles (gummies, chocolates, and candies), tinctures, concentrates (budder, sauce, sugar, and
liquid live resin), capsules, and topicals. The Applicant expects that approximately 60% of sales
will be manufactured cannabis goods and 40% of sales will be flower. The 60% of manufactured
cannabis goods will be broken down as follows: vapes – 20%; extract – 15%; medicinal products
– 5%; edibles – 20%. The Applicant will ensure that each of the retailer’s products is selected with
the customer in mind. As the Applicant is vertically integrated, the Applicant will ensure that its
own line of products is available at the retailer. In addition to its promise to source both local
products as well as a variety of products, the Applicant intends to offer the following brands:
Cresco: Cresco offers popular and consistent flower varietals, available in a wide variety of
product forms.
consists of selected strains with exclusive, proprietary genetics, nurtured with
masterful cultivation techniques.
With familiar formats and user-friendly delivery systems, is designed to help
medical patients and customers feel comfortable with cannabis.
Restaurant-quality
edibles created by
infused
with the best quality cannabis oils.
are available as a wide variety of
uniquely delicious bites at multiple potency
levels.
is Cannabis
Together. Available in 3 easy-to-share
product forms – shorties, vapes, and
gummies – each product leads
with the social occasions that customers
love, turning moments with friends into
times they will always remember.
is quality cannabis, available in bulk. buds are expertly
grown, lab tested, and available in vapes, flower, popcorn, shake, pre-rolls, and shorties.
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is California’s premier purveyor of
premium cannabis flower. team of master cultivators hand selects the finest genetics
and tailors its small-batch, sustainable farming techniques to each cultivar’s unique needs. Floracal
utilizes 100% renewable energy to help produce a sophisticated, terpene rich product that invokes
a robust, one-of-a-kind experience for customers.
provides vape, concentrates, and edibles that are focused on consistent cannabis
experiences. provides a pod-style vape cartridge to fit standard hardware, solvent-free
concentrates, and low-dose gummies for microdosing.
produces flower, tinctures, concentrates, and oils that are organized by effects.
Liberty’s line includes Vitality (energizing sativa offerings), Clarity (uplifting sativa hybrids),
Harmony (balanced sativa/indica hybrids), Tranquility (relaxing indica hybrids), and Serenity
(strongest indica strains).
focuses on flower first, providing a dedicated flower company for
customers. breeds high quality cannabis strains such as Area 41, Baklava, Lemon Fuel
OG, Moonbow, Punch Cross, Sherbacio, Stardust, and Zookies, marketing to connoisseur
consumers looking for something special.
promise is to produce a family of consistent, curatively curated,
superior quality strains of cannabis cultivated in focuses on
flower with a consistently clean, safe, and expertly curated cannabis product.
is an easy-going brand of bud – it is not hoity-toity, high fashion, over-
hyped or over-priced. The brand works to create accessible products for people, including vape
cartridges, flower, and concentrates.
Stemming from its roots in focuses on state-of-the-art full spectrum
rosin products, ensuring its products retain the valuable terpenes for aroma and flavor.
produces flower, vape, extracts, edibles, tinctures, and topicals.
: focuses on fine, high-quality genetic cannabis strains, wholly
focused on flower product.
1.6.1.vi. Retail Delivery Processes
The Applicant’s delivery procedures will ensure that all deliveries are compliant and efficient.
Cresco has experience conducting delivery services in other states, including New York and
Arizona, and the Applicant intends to leverage that experience to utilize in the creation and
implementation of its delivery plan. In accordance with the BCC’s rules and regulations, the
Applicant’s delivery plan will:
• Promote both compliant and efficient delivery operations;
• Ensure that no unlawful sales transactions during delivery are permitted or tolerated;
• Implement handling procedures that prevent contamination of cannabis products during
delivery;
• Ensure the training, security, and safety of all the Applicant’s delivery employees;
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• Ensure that deliveries are only made to a physical address in California. See CCR 16-42-3
5416(a) (2019); and
• Ensure that delivery drivers do not leave the State of California while possessing cannabis
goods. See CCR 16-42-3 5416(b) (2019).
The Applicant will offer in-person cannabis goods delivery to customers at any valid physical
address within the Applicant’s permissible delivery radius. The Applicant will ensure that only its
authorized and properly trained employees who are over the age of 21 will be permitted to deliver
cannabis goods from the licensed premises to customers pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5415(a), (b)
(2019). The Applicant will ensure that deliveries of cannabis goods may only be made during
business hours, or within a more restrictive delivery time specified by the BCC or the City of
Fresno. In addition, the Applicant will not deliver cannabis goods through the use of an unmanned
vehicle in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5415(c) (2019). At any given time, delivery vehicles will
carry no more than $5,000 worth of cannabis goods, calculated using the current retail price of
cannabis goods, at any given time. In addition, no more than $3,000 worth of those cannabis goods
may be prepared for orders that have not yet been received and processed. See CCR 16-42-3 5418
(2019). All delivery employees will confirm the identity and age of the delivery customer in the
same manner they would be confirmed at the physical cannabis retail business. Delivery
employees will also confirm that all cannabis goods are accurately packaged and labeled as they
would at the cannabis retail business before delivery. See CCR 16-42-3 5415(f) (2019).
Delivery Employee Training
When hiring its delivery employees, the Applicant will ensure its employees: 1) Are 21 years of
age or older in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5415(b) (2019); 2) All have a valid California
driver’s license; and 3) All have a clean driving record. The Applicant will also maintain an
accurate list of delivery employees and will provide it, upon request, to representatives of the BCC
and local and state law enforcement in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5415(g) (2019).
The Applicant will leverage Cresco’s training program for delivery training. Delivery employees
will not be allowed to work until they have completed said training. In addition, the Applicant will
require all employees complete an annual refresher training covering: 1) Delivery safety
procedures; 2) Handling delivery inventory; 3) Delivery routes; and 4) Performing the delivery.
In accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5415(c) (2019), employees will also be trained to understand
that no deliveries will be conducted by anyone or anything other than a delivery employee.
Pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5415(a) (2019) and CCR 16-42-3 5415.1(a) (2019), the Applicant will
not hire an unlicensed third-party or intermediary business to conduct any delivery functions. In
addition, the Applicant will maintain its training records of all initial and ongoing trainings by
having all employees sign and attest to receiving training. These records will be kept in the same
manner as the Applicant’s recordkeeping procedures and in the employee’s personnel file in
accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5037(a)(3) (2019).
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Delivery Orders
The Applicant will utilize Cresco’s existing methods and experience for taking orders for delivery.
In accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5403 (2019), the Applicant will only take and process orders
through its app during business hours. The Applicant will ensure that customers understand that
those are the hours of delivery, and if a delivery cannot be completed during business hours, it will
be fulfilled the following day. The Applicant will only deliver cannabis goods to a physical address
in California and will not cross state lines to make any deliveries. See CCR 16-42-3 5416(a), (b)
(2019).
The Applicant will comply with all rules and regulations outlined in CCR 16-42-3 5415.1 (2019)
regarding its technology platforms, including:
• The Applicant will not use an unlicensed third party and will ensure that any contracts
involved to provide a technology platform to facilitate the sale of cannabis goods will not
share in the profits of sale from the transaction.
• The Applicant will also not advertise or market cannabis goods with the technology
platform service provider and ensure that the provider will not use the Applicant’s business
name on any advertising or marketing.
The Applicant will ensure that the retail employee handling online requests has access to a
computer at all times and is notified upon receipt of every customer order request submission.
Depending on staffing needs and the volume of requests, every shift will have an employee tasked
with completing delivery request forms for orders received and confirmed online. This employee
may also be the retail employee who prepares the goods for delivery.
On the Applicant’s website, there will be a section dedicated to customer orders. All orders must
contain information necessary for the delivery request receipt, such as name, age, physical address,
and products desired for purchase. The Applicant will ensure that after each delivery order is
placed on the website, the customer receives a confirmation call to verify the order and all pertinent
identification information. The Applicant will only use this transactional information for purposes
of completing the sale, and not for any marketing purpose.
The Applicant will also ensure that all customers are aware that they will be required to provide a
valid government-issued identification card to prove they are at least 21 years of age upon delivery.
See CCR 16-42-3 5404(a) (2019). Both on the Applicant’s website and upon order placement, the
customer will receive an alert that they must have valid identification. If the customer is a
medicinal cannabis patient, the Applicant will ensure that all customers provide a valid physician’s
recommendation, an acceptable form of identification confirming their identity, and are at least 18
years of age as required by CCR 16-42-3 5404(b) (2019).
To ensure only authorized users 21 years of age or older, only customers over the age of 21,
verified caregivers, and verified patients over the age of 18 will have access to the online ordering
system, the Applicant will use an extension of its established online ordering platform, which syncs
with and is age-gated. Eligible customers will be able to browse the Applicant’s menu,
order and pay for selected items for delivery, and receive product.
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The cannabis retail business will receive orders through the backend of the Applicant’s online
ordering platform, which will trigger fulfillment operations in and
When a customer submits an order, it will generate a task in the database, from which the online
ordering platform will link product types, quantities/weights, restrictions, and user profiles to
inventory control systems. Employees will monitor the online ordering platform and approve/deny
tasks as the system receives orders.
The Applicant will ensure that phones designated for delivery calls will be conveniently located
by the computers to ensure the employee can efficiently and correctly fill out the delivery request
forms electronically while on the phone with the customer placing an order. The request submitted
must contain information necessary for the delivery request receipt, such as name, age, physical
address, and products desired for purchase pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5420(a) (2019).
Delivery Request Receipts
The Applicant will ensure that all documentation for delivery request receipts is always prepared,
handled, transmitted, and stored in accordance with state and federal law regarding the protection
of confidential medical information and customer privacy protections pursuant to CCR 16-42-3
5037 (2019). The receipt will always include the personal and transactional information as required
by CCR 16-42-3 5420(a) (2019). When a delivery order is received, the receipt will be produced
and given, either electronically or in hard copy, to the delivery employee at the time of departure
to the delivery location in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5418(g) (2019).
Upon delivery, the customer will be prompted to review the order and confirm that the cannabis
goods presented match the delivery request receipt. Once the delivery is confirmed to be consistent
with the request, the delivery employee will transfer the product to the customer. The delivery
employee will record the date and time the delivery was made and have the customer sign a paper
or electronic copy of the delivery request receipt pursuant to CCR 16-42-3 5420(b) (2019). The
delivery employee will provide a copy of the receipt for the customer to keep and will retain a
signed physical or electronic copy for the Applicant’s records. Additional procedures for
performing the delivery are set forth herein.
Packing and Securing Delivery Vehicle
On the day of delivery, the manager will oversee the preparation of products, which will be
completed by Wellness Advisors. On the day of delivery, an authorized retail employee will
account for all cannabis products scheduled to leave the cannabis retail business for delivery to a
consumer, follow correct packaging procedures, move orders to the inventory storage room, and
fulfill any remaining recordkeeping and inventory tracking requirements pursuant to CCR 16-42-
1 5049(a) (2019). All packing will happen through the rear door of the facility, ensuring that
shipments will not enter or exit the cannabis retail business through an entrance or exit available
for use by the public. See CCR 16-42-3 5422(c) (2019). Like in-store purchases, delivery products
will be delivered to consumers in exit packages. See CCR 16-42-3 5413 (2019). Wellness advisors
will not prepare more than $5,000 worth of cannabis goods for delivery, and no more than $3,000
worth of those cannabis goods may be prepared for orders that have not yet been received and
processed. See CCR 16-42-3 5418(a) (2019).
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Third-party companies will not be used to deliver orders; however, a technology platform service
provider may be used to facilitate in the sale and delivery of products in accordance with CCR 16-
42-3 5415.1(b) (2019). The Applicant intends to use Cresco’s proprietary online ordering service.
Only the Applicant’s authorized employees will prepare and deliver the orders. See CCR 16-42-3
5415.1(a) (2019). All goods that are prepared for delivery must: have been received from a licensed
distributor; have undergone proper lab testing; include correct batch numbers; and be packaged
and labeled compliantly. The documents required for order fulfillment will include the Applicant’s
delivery request form, a delivery request receipt, and a delivery inventory ledger. The delivery
request form and receipt will be specific to each individual order, while the ledger includes all on-
hand inventory for each delivery trip.
After preparing cannabis goods for delivery, the Applicant will use locked transport boxes to
deliver products.
The lock boxes will not only provide additional
security but will also ensure that no cannabis goods are visible to the public when a delivery is in
progress. The lock boxes the Applicant intends to use have been designed by top-rated security
specialists. In addition to lock boxes for orders, lock boxes will also be utilized for storing the cash
acquired from order payments. The lock boxes will be secured to the inside of each of the
Applicant’s unmarked commercial delivery vehicles in the enclosed, windowless cargo section
and will not be comprised of any part of the vehicle. See CCR 16-42-3 5417(b) (2019). Each lock
box will require a separate key to open, thus preventing a lost key from opening the box. In the
unlikely event of a loss of a lock box, the Applicant will work in conjunction with law enforcement
to trace the missing box. In the case that the cannabis goods in the lock box are left unattended in
the vehicle, such as when the delivery employee is delivering orders in person to a patient,
caregiver, or adult customer, the vehicle will be locked and equipped with an active vehicle alarm
system and any cannabis goods will be locked in the locked box in accordance with CCR 16-42-3
5417(c) (2019).
Delivery employees and wellness advisors will ensure that all recordkeeping procedures, including
the delivery inventory ledger and delivery request receipts are accurate before departing the
cannabis retail business. In addition, delivery employees will check that their method of
communication and GPS are functional and that they have a copy of the Applicant’s current retail
license, their government-issued identification, the driving log, lock box keys, and the Applicant-
issued employee badge before departing the retail premises. See CCR 16-42-3 5415(e) (2019).
Delivery Route Planning
The Applicant will plan delivery routes in a way that ensures that the days, times, and routes
themselves are randomized to prevent any robbery attempt. Routes will be planned in a way that
it varies from common and previously used routes, is convenient for the receiving customer’s
needs and the delivery employees, and takes real-time GPS route information using a traffic
mapping service (such as Waze or Google Maps) to assess any traffic and accidents and avoids
them for efficiency. The Applicant will store GPS data in compliance with BCC regulations.
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All delivery employees will be instructed that they may only travel from the cannabis retail
business premises to the delivery address, and from 1 delivery address to another delivery address,
and from a delivery address back to the cannabis retail business premises. Delivery employees are
prohibited from deviating from the delivery path, except for necessary rest, fuel, or vehicle repair
stops, or because road conditions make continued use of the route unsafe, impossible, or
impracticable in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5421 (2019). In the case of an emergency stop, a
detailed log will be maintained describing the reason for the event, the duration, the location, and
any activities of personnel exiting the vehicle. All delivery employees will be instructed to only
deliver orders to a physical California address, to not deliver orders to addresses on orders publicly
owned land, a building leased by a public agency, or to a school. If the delivery employee does
not receive any delivery requests for a 30-minute period while conducting deliveries, they will
stop taking orders and return to the cannabis retail business. In addition, deliveries will never be
posted online. See CCR 16-42-3 5418(i) (2019).
Tracking and Monitoring Delivery Vehicles
The manager and the Security Director will ensure that all delivery vehicles are installed with a
GPS device that will be used to track and monitor delivery employees who are conducting
deliveries in real time. See CCR 16-42-3 5417(d) (2019). The GPS devices will only be used for
deliveries and will remain active and inside the vehicle at all times during the delivery. The GPS
device will allow the manager to know where the delivery vehicle is at any time, view where the
vehicle has been, and run reports on the vehicle's behavior. The Applicant will maintain GPS
reports for a minimum of 90 days. See CCR 16-42-3 5417(d) (2019). In addition, the manager will
coordinate with the Security Director to set up geofences to receive alerts via text message or email
when the delivery vehicle enters or exits specific areas.
Delivery Vehicles
The Applicant’s delivery vehicle fleet will consist of enclosed motor vehicles that will be operated
by trained, pre-authorized delivery employees. The vehicles used in the delivery of cannabis goods
will not have any marking or other indications on the exterior of the vehicle that may indicate that
the delivery employee is carrying cannabis goods for delivery and will not include the Applicant’s
name or branding in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5417(a) (2019). Cannabis goods in the delivery
vehicle will be placed in locked transport boxes, and all vehicles used will have fully enclosed,
windowless cargo sections where the lock boxes will be stored in order to ensure that cannabis
goods are not visible or identifiable from outside of the delivery vehicles. See CCR 16-42-3
5417(b) (2019). Solid or locking metal partitions, cages, or high strength shatterproof acrylic will
be used to create a secure compartment where the lock boxes containing cannabis goods and cash
are to be stored.
Any of the Applicant’s motor vehicles used to deliver cannabis goods will be subject to inspection
by the BCC and any vehicle used for delivery may be stopped and inspected by the BCC at any
time at the licensed premises or during delivery. In addition, the Applicant will ensure its delivery
vehicles are insured and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. See CCR
16-42-3 5417(f)(2019).
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Performing the Delivery
After completing the delivery request procedures and loading the vehicle, the Applicant will
perform the delivery. To ensure proper recordkeeping procedures, all deliveries will be
accompanied by a delivery request receipt. The Applicant understands that information provided
on a delivery request receipt may include protected medical information and shall not be disclosed
except as legally required. Delivery communication will be completed through a phone system
and will consist of communication to the cannabis retail business during each of the following: 1)
The time of arrival at a patient’s, caregiver’s, or adult customer’s physical address; 2) If a
customer’s credentials do not match the credentials provided by the Applicant; 3) If the delivery
employee deviates from pre-planned route; 4) When the delivery employee has completed a
delivery; and 5) When the delivery employee has gone 30 minutes with no new deliveries and
begins the drive back to the cannabis retail business.
To perform a delivery, the delivery employees will:
1. Call the customer when the delivery is approximately 5 minutes from the destination.
2. When at the destination, inform cannabis retail business employees of arrival via phone.
3. Find the delivery request receipt and open the back of the delivery vehicle to remove the
lock box that contains the customer’s order.
4. After removing the lock box, close and lock the vehicle.
5. Approach the customer’s door and knock or ring the doorbell.
6. Upon arrival at the door, display the Applicant-issued badge in plain view for the customer.
7. Use the mobile identification card reader to confirm the identity and age of each customer.
See CCR 16-42-3 5415(f) (2019).
8. If the customer’s credentials do not match, immediately leave the premise, return to the
delivery vehicle, and communicate to personnel at the cannabis retail business of the
incident.
9. If the customer’s credentials do match, dispense order to customer.
10. Return to vehicle, log delivery information, and call cannabis retail business to notify of
departure.
During the delivery trip, the cannabis retail business will communicate with the delivery driver
about any new orders made. A designated employee will send delivery request receipts
electronically to the retail driver in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5418(g) (2019). The delivery
driver will be instructed to not engage in any activities outside of delivering orders or stray from
the delivery route except for fuel, vehicle repair, needed rest, or because the continued route is
unsafe or impossible. See CCR 16-42-3 5415(d) (2019). In addition, all delivery procedures will
follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, if applicable.
End of Delivery Day Audit Report
If the Applicant’s delivery employee does not have any delivery requests to be performed for a 30-
minute period, he or she will not make any additional deliveries and will return to the licensed
premises in accordance with CCR 16-42-3 5418(i) (2019). Upon returning, all undelivered
cannabis goods will be physically returned to inventory by the delivery driver that same day. All
necessary internal inventory and records will also be updated, as appropriate, that
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same day by the authorized retail employee. The delivery employee will perform the below tasks
until the undelivered cannabis goods are physically returned. See CCR 16-42-3 5418(j) (2019).
1. Notify the cannabis retail business that you are approaching via 2-way radio/ phone and
ask them to be ready at the receiving entrance with a wheeled device, such as a dolly, for
receiving procedures;
2. Park as close to the receiving entrance as possible;
3. Detach the lock boxes from the enclosed, windowless cargo section of the back of the
transportation vehicle and use the platform cart to securely and safely move the lock boxes
from the delivery vehicle to the receiving room;
4. Give the manager the delivery log and give the authorized employee the delivery inventory
ledger and all signed delivery request receipts;
5. Remove any remaining inventory from lock boxes and inspect undelivered inventory;
6. Confirm that all undelivered inventory is consistent with delivery inventory records by
conducting an inventory reconciliation;
7. Retain the results of the inventory reconciliation in with appropriate recordkeeping
procedures;
8. Notify manager of discrepancies between inventory records and undelivered inventory;
9. Account for all undelivered inventory in and
10. Save all delivery inventory ledgers and signed delivery request receipts for records;
11. Put away all returned cannabis goods in the appropriate location;
12. Notify manager that all tasks are completed so that the manager can begin the delivery
audit.
Once deliveries are complete, delivery employees will return to the cannabis retail business and
provide the retail manager the necessary documentation of the receipt of products and successful
delivery. For unsuccessful deliveries, delivery employees will document the reason for failed
transfer and ensure that the manager is made aware of the unsuccessful delivery and products that
will be returned to inventory. The manager will then conduct an internal audit to ensure that all
inventory for the delivery has been accounted for in order to prevent diversion, theft, or loss.
The manager will complete an Audit Report for each record of delivery. Should the need arise, the
manager will complete a Correct Action Request form if needed to document findings including
misconduct during deliveries. Should the manager find significant discrepancies, they will notify
the BCC and City Manager within 24 hours. See Sec. 9-3310(b)(5)(1), CCR 16-42-1 5036(a)(1)
(2019).
Energy Conservation Initiatives
The Applicant has created an energy conservation program to ensure that the cannabis retail
business is making every effort to be environmentally conscious and sustainable. The Applicant’s
energy conservation program considers each step of the build out process through dispensing,
including picking sustainable materials and creating ease for environmentally-friendly
transportation options. In addition, the Applicant will establish a program to ensure all processes
are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their sustainable practices and make consumer-driven
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initiatives simple for the customer. The Applicant’s plan includes a sustainability team, carbon
offsets, community aid, preventing waste, composting and recycling, energy conservation,
environmental education, and transportation considerations.
To encourage environmentally-conscious and sustainable practices at the cannabis retail business
on an ongoing basis, the Applicant will create an in-house Sustainability Team with its employees
to ensure that sustainability practices are utilized and to identify gaps and practices that could be
made more sustainable or need more encouragement. The team will consist of at least 1 employee
from each job title at the cannabis retail business to ensure that all segments of operations are
covered.
The Sustainability Team will meet on a quarterly or biannual basis depending on what is needed.
The team will assess all current sustainability practices and identify places there is room for
improvement or places new sustainability practices should be implemented. The Sustainability
Team will summarize the meeting recommendations and ideas and send to a designated
management employee who will be in charge of aggregating the recommendations and ideas for
feasible implementation. The Sustainability Team will also be charged with coming up with ideas
for sustainable practices within the community that the cannabis retail business can promote on an
ongoing basis.
Environmental Sustainability and Repurposing Blighted Land
Being an exemplary corporate citizen means not only engaging with community members, but
also being environmentally responsible. The Applicant’s proposed site is in a historic building
estimated to be 100+ years old. Although the building once housed several small businesses, it is
now unfortunately in a state of disrepair. Major renovations are required for occupancy, providing
an excellent opportunity to install energy efficient utilities and modernize the structure. The
Applicant will build off Cresco’s existing best practices to make similar infrastructure investments
and retrofit the location for proper and environmentally friendly operations. Some investments will
include adding energy efficient windows and proper green lighting technology. Sustainability
practices already in effect across Cresco’s other locations will also be followed, such as ensuring
paper products are sourced from recycled materials and the preferred utilization of electronic
distribution of information when possible.
Cresco has participated in multiple beautification projects in each of its network states, including
roadside and residential neighborhood cleanups, repurposing vacant lots into community gardens,
and removing destructive graffiti while supporting muralists and other residents using art to uplift
their communities. Through financial support, volunteer hours and in-kind contributions, Cresco
has consistently demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability. Earlier this year,
Cresco donated more than $27,000 worth of recycled agricultural equipment from one of its Illinois
cultivation facilities to one of its local partner organizations. The recipient of these materials, Plant
Chicago, is a local nonprofit organization with the mission to make our cities healthier and more
efficient by developing and sharing the most innovative methods for sustainable food production,
energy conservation and material reuse. The Applicant is eager to continue to grow its
environmentally responsible practices as a new member of the Fresno business community.
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Carbon Offsets and Air Quality
The Applicant will employ carbon offsets when it encounters practices that are necessary and
cannot be made environmentally conscious. The Applicant will include practices like
transportation, shipping (for both cannabis and non-cannabis products), and lighting emissions in
this category.
The Applicant understands that a large amount of greenhouse gases are emitted as a part of the
cultivation and manufacturing processes, and intends to work to mitigate that impact on a cannabis
retail business level as well. In addition, the Applicant will survey the amount of greenhouse gases
are emitted from its facilities and purchase carbon offsets from a properly vetted company to
mitigate its carbon footprint to the best of its abilities.
During the buildout and construction process, the Applicant will not take measures that result in
the increase of greenhouse gas emissions above established local thresholds. In addition, the
Applicant will continue to monitor all Environmental Impact Reports and make adjustments
accordingly.
Community Aid
The Applicant will not only work to ensure that its cannabis retail business practices are
sustainable, but will also work with the community to provide sustainable practices and services
as needed. The Applicant will partner with the City’s waste management department and law
enforcement for recycling days, will reach out to local non-profits and businesses to promote their
sustainable business practices and assist with sustainable education, and will work with the City’s
park department and local businesses to donate time and resources as they are available for various
programs.
The Applicant will work with local law enforcement to organize monthly community recycling
days for hard-to-recycle items such as pharmaceuticals, technological devices, batteries,
chemicals, lightbulbs, cleaning supplies, paint, and oil. In addition, the Applicant will work with
additional local non-profits and businesses to provide additional recycling options for other
products, like pizza boxes, pet food, textiles, and compostable materials.
In addition, the Applicant will work to partner with local businesses and non-profits that promote
sustainable practices, like bike shops and plant nurseries, to provide free and accessible seminars
for sustainability-adjacent efforts such as bike repairs and home gardening. The Applicant will
also work with local businesses and non-profits to provide sustainable and healthy options for local
at-risk communities. These services may include food drives, gleaning (collecting excess foods
from farmers and markets) services, and supporting affordable and sustainable food programs for
at-risk communities while supporting local farms.
The Applicant will also work to identify the needs of the community and volunteer work hours to
the community to promote the community’s sustainability efforts and programs.
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Preventing Waste
The Applicant has considered each step of the dispensing process to evaluate where waste can be
reduced within the cannabis retail business. By evaluating the dispensing process step by step, the
Applicant can easily see where environmentally friendly practices can be implemented while also
promoting efficiency and safety. The Applicant will utilize Cresco’s resources and its years of
experience operating compliant dispensaries with respect to its supply chain and dispensing
processes to implement an efficient and environmentally friendly dispensing process.
When a customer arrives at the cannabis retail business and checks in, they are offered information
issued by the BCC on cannabis use – they will be offered either a paper copy or the option to have
it emailed to reduce paper waste. They will also be offered an email receipt of their purchase
instead of a paper copy if they would prefer.
The Applicant will digitize all records possible within the cannabis retail business. For paper
records that cannot be digitized, the cannabis retail business will ensure that all printer paper
available is 100% post-consumer waste produced and is recyclable.
In addition, the Applicant will work with Cresco’s supply chain team for all office supplies and
related items to be purchased and ordered in bulk wherever possible. Bulk purchasing will cut
down on waste and single-use plastic for products such as paper towels, cleaning supplies, and any
supplied drinks or snacks for employees. The Applicant will encourage employees to recycle all
product packaging that must be disposed of whenever possible.
The Applicant will encourage all wholesale partners to consider reusable packaging when
delivering product to the cannabis retail business to further cut down on waste.
Recycling Program
The Applicant will implement a recycling program at its cannabis retail business to cut down on
waste both by customers and cannabis retail business operations and employees. The Applicant
will ensure training for all retail employees on all aspects of the recycling program and will
encourage employees to emphasize the recycling program by creating a sustainable culture in the
workplace. The Applicant will also emphasize recycling initiatives for all back of house
operations. The Applicant will encourage employees to avoid printing emails, to use reusable
containers for food storage over single-use plastic, and to bring a reusable water bottle to work.
For instances in which waste cannot be avoided, the Applicant will provide recycling bins for
paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum waste in the office area for employee use.
Energy Conservation
The Applicant will consider energy conservation for each segment of its cannabis retail business
design to ensure an environmentally conscious long-term plan for energy conservation. The
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Applicant will ensure that its build-out, appliances, and any other materials are built with energy
conservation in mind.
The Applicant will ensure that all glass, windows, and doors are Energy Star qualified and comply
with all security rules and regulations. Whenever possible, the Applicant will consider purchasing
durable build out materials such as counters, POS stations, and technological equipment from
companies with sustainable practices. In addition, the Applicant will ensure all appliances are
Energy Star qualified and will enact simple environmentally conscious practices such as turning
off lights when leaving a room and turning off appliances when finished with them to conserve
energy. The Applicant will also employ LED lights in all its lighting fixtures to cut down on energy
use.
The Applicant will work to use renewable energy companies whenever possible. Should the
Applicant not be able to find a renewable energy company, it will consider carbon offsets or
installing solar panels to conserve energy.
Environmental Education
The Applicant will work with local non-profits and businesses to provide accessible and useful
environmental education to the community. This will include sponsoring and facilitating
educational seminars on sustainable home practices such as at-home composting, eliminating
single-use plastic, home gardening, recycling seminars, reduction and reuse seminars, eliminating
food waste, and energy efficiency.
The Applicant will work to identify the needs of the community in which it operates to provide
useful and impactful services in a method that puts the community first. The Applicant will work
to ensure that all sustainability and environmental education is equitable and accessible. Further,
the Applicant will promote and sponsor sustainability programs in other languages and provided
by women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
Transportation
The Applicant will encourage eco-friendly transportation methods for both its customers and
employees whenever possible. The Applicant will encourage its employees to use eco-friendly
transportation by providing pre-tax transportation benefits to employees that can automatically be
used on their public transportation method of choice. The Applicant will also work to partner with
a local bike-share company to provide discounts to its employees to further incentivize eco-
friendly transportation.
In addition, the Applicant will install a bike rack near the cannabis retail business for employees
and customers to use, and will install electronic vehicle (“EV”) charging stations in its parking lot
to encourage and normalize EVs over traditional gasoline vehicles.
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COVID-19 Procedures
The Applicant is committed to the safety of its employees and patrons throughout the COVID-19
pandemic, including following Cresco’s strict and comprehensive sanitation and cleanliness SOPs
and following all of CDPH’s and the Center for Disease Control’s (“CDC”) recommendations.
The Applicant will closely monitor all of California’s stay-at-home orders to ensure it complies
with all State orders. In addition, the Applicant will implement a COVID-19 Prevention Plan at its
cannabis retail business facility with a comprehensive risk assessment of all work areas. The
Applicant will ensure that all employees are trained on and are practicing physical distancing; use
of face coverings by employees; and frequent handwashing; and regular cleaning and disinfection,
and have processes to identify new cases of illness and, when they are identified, to intervene
quickly and work with public health authorities to halt the spread of the virus.
The Applicant will provide
supplemental training for COVID-
19 protocols, including specific
guidance on preventing spread,
sanitation, and self-screening. For
any work that can be done from
home, the Applicant will encourage
its corporate employees and any
tasks that can be accomplished at
home are done remotely. The
Applicant will schedule its cannabis
retail business employees in groups
to promote physical separation. In
addition, the Applicant will
continually check the CDC’s website
for updates and guidance in
combatting and preventing COVID-
19 spread in a retail environment. The Applicant will not allow any employee to attend work if
they have a frequent cough, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat,
recent loss of taste or smell, or if they live with someone or have been exposed to COVID-19.
Employees will be required to frequently wash hands with soap and water, including scrubbing
with soap for at least 20 seconds and/or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70%
isopropanol when they cannot get to a sink or handwashing station. Further, the Applicant will
instruct its employees on the proper use of face masks. The Applicant will also instruct its
employees on proper physical distancing guidelines and how to implement in the cannabis retail
business. The Applicant will provide its employees with proper and sufficient PPE and sanitation
tools and will provide information on employer or government-sponsored leave benefits that the
employee may be entitled to. The Applicant conducts regular compliance audits utilizing the
compliance auditing software platform The platform captures all CDC, OSHA, and
local COVID-19 regulations, and presents them in an audit format. The Applicant will conduct
routine COVID-19 audits to ensure compliance and memorialize the auditing oversight.
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The Applicant will reinforce the
training provided to workers by
encouraging them to stay home if they
are sick or exhibiting symptoms of
COVID-19, wash their hands
frequently, and use face coverings.
The Applicant will not allow
employees to share face coverings.
Furthermore, the Applicant will
provide and ensure workers use all
required protective equipment and
consider the use of disposable gloves
for certain workers. The Applicant will
require all employees to pass a
temperature and symptom screening at the beginning of their shift. To the greatest extent possible,
the Applicant will require any vendors, contractors, or other workers entering the establishment to
pass a temperature and symptom screening before entering the building, and will take reasonable
measures, including posting signage in strategic and highly visible locations, to remind the public
that they should use face coverings and practice physical distancing. Lines will be marked to
include physical distancing measures to ensure all customers follow social distancing guidelines.
The Applicant will ensure that thorough and frequent cleaning and disinfection is performed in
high traffic areas on commonly used surfaces. The Applicant will also consider the following
precautionary sanitation steps, with the BCC’s approval: hiring a third-party cleaning company to
deep-clean the interior of the facility; installing portable high-efficiency air cleaners; ensuring the
building’s air filters are the highest efficiency possible; making other modifications to increase the
quantity of outside air and ventilation in offices and other spaces.
The Applicant will provide cannabis retail business employees with a cleaning protocol and
schedule to ensure that frequently used surfaces are regularly disinfected. The Applicant will also
instruct all employees to sanitize shared equipment and touchable surfaces between each use.
Customer entrances and exits, and checkout stations will be equipped with hand sanitizer and
sanitizing wipes. In addition, the Applicant will provide resources to promote employees’ personal
hygiene including hand sanitizer, tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, disinfectants, and
disposable towels. Social distancing will be used to limit the number of people who are at the same
place at the same time. The Applicant will adjust maximum occupancy rules based on the size of
the facility to limit the number of people in a store at 1 time, using no more than 50% maximum
occupancy. With the BCC’s permission, will be prepared to queue customers outside while still
maintaining physical distance, including through the use of visual cues. Depending on how many
people are sick, social distancing can range from decreasing the number of people who can be
together at 1 time, to stopping all activities that are not necessary.
The Applicant understands the importance of providing a delivery option to consumers and
patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allows them to acquire cannabis goods without
leaving their homes and protecting them from exposure to COVID-19 and preventing further
spread of the virus. While delivery is safer for consumers and patients, strict safety and sanitation
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protocols will be required to protect delivery drivers. These measures include, but are not limited
to: requiring all delivery employees to wear face masks; thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing
delivery vehicles between routes; frequent sanitation of easily accessible surfaces; adjusting
schedules to provide time for sanitation; disinfecting pens, clipboards, and electronic signature
pads after each use; disinfecting touch pads and punch keys after every transaction; limiting contact
with frequently touched surfaces; using gloves to open doors; providing access to sanitation
materials; and implementing physical distancing guidelines.
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BUSINESS PLAN: EXHIBIT A
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Below, please find the Applicant’s cannabis license list:
State
Name of Licensee
Address
Category
License
Number
Date
Issued
Exp.
Date
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 1269 Marie St., Ste 2, Mendota, CA 93640 Manufacturing Type 7 CDPH-10003334 5/31/2020 5/31/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 1269 Marie St., Ste 2, Mendota, CA 93640 Distribution Type 11 C11-0000193-LIC 5/29/2019 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Event Organizer CEO14-0000044-LIC 7/2/2019 7/1/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002726 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002727 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002728 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002729 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002731 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002733 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002749 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002750 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002751 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002752 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002753 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002754 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002755 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002756 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002757 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002759 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002760 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002761 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002762 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002763 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002764 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002765 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Cultivation Small
Mixed Light, Tier 1 CCL18-0002766 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Nursery CCL18-0002816 6/1/2020 5/31/2021
CA SLO Cultivation, Inc. DBA Cresco California 3861 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93010 Processor CCL18-0002817 5/29/2020 5/28/2021
71 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
TRADE SECRET- CONFIDENTIAL
Below, please find the Applicant’s parent company- Cresco Labs’ cannabis license list:
Cresco Labs License List Updated: 11/05/20
California
SLO Cultivation, Inc. Cultivation Small Mixed Light, Tier 1 (23 Licenses) Carpinteria, CA
SLO Cultivation, Inc. Nursery; Processor Carpinteria, CA
SLO Cultivation, Inc. Manufacturing, Type 7; Distribution, Type 11 Mendota, CA
River Distributing Co./Continuum Distribution West Sacramento, CA
River Distributing Co./Continuum Distribution La Habra, CA
FloraCal Cultivation Med. Medium Indoor; Processor; Distribution Unincorporated, CA
Cub City, LLC Cultivation Med. Small Indoor Santa Rosa, CA
Illinois
Sunnyside* Champaign Medical and Adult Use Dispensary Champaign, IL
Sunnyside* Danville Adult Use Dispensary Danville, IL
Sunnyside* Elmwood Park Medical and Adult Use Dispensary Elmwood Park, IL
Sunnyside* Schaumburg Adult Use Dispensary Schaumburg, IL
Sunnyside* Lakeview Medical and Adult Use Dispensary Chicago, IL
Sunnyside* River North Adult Use Dispensary Chicago, IL
Sunnyside* Rockford Medical and Adult Use Dispensary Rockford, IL
Sunnyside* South Beloit Adult Use Dispensary South Beloit, IL
Sunnyside* Buffalo Grove Medical Dispensary Buffalo Grove, IL
Cresco Labs, LLC Cultivation - Manufacturing (Medical; Adult Use; Hemp) Joliet, IL
Cresco Labs, LLC Cultivation - Manufacturing (Medical; Adult Use; Hemp) Kankakee, IL
Cresco Labs, LLC Cultivation - Manufacturing (Medical; Adult Use; Hemp) Lincoln, IL
72 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
TRADE SECRET- CONFIDENTIAL
Pennsylvania
Sunnyside* Butler Medical Dispensary Butler, PA
Sunnyside* Pittsburgh Medical Dispensary Pittsburgh, PA
Sunnyside* New Kensington Medical Dispensary New Kensington, PA
Cresco Yeltrah, LLC Grower Processor Brookville, PA
Sunnyside* December 2018 Permit 3 Medical Dispensaries- Construction in Process Pennsylvania
Ohio
CY+/Sunnyside* Wintersville Medical Dispensary Wintersville, OH
Cresco Labs Ohio, LLC Cultivation, Plant-Only Processor; Processor Provisional Yellow Springs, OH
New York
Sunnyside* Huntington Station Dispensary Huntington Station,
NY
Sunnyside* Brooklyn Dispensary Brooklyn, NY
Sunnyside* Bardonia Dispensary Bardonia, NY
Sunnyside* New Hartford Dispensary New Hartford, NY
Valley Agriceuticals, LLC Manufacturing Facility Middeltown, NY
Arizona
Sunnyside* Phoenix Dispensary and Cultivation Facility Phoenix, AZ
Encanto Green Cross Dispensary,
LLC
Cultivation Facility Salome, AZ
Massachusetts
Sunnyside* Fall River Dispensary, Manufacturing, Cultivation Facility Fall River, MA
Michigan
Cresco Labs Michigan, LLC Processor Marshall, MI
73 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
TRADE SECRET- CONFIDENTIAL
BUSINESS PLAN: EXHIBIT B
74 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
TRADE SECRET- CONFIDENTIAL
In accordance with Sec. 9-3318(c) of the City of Fresno’s Commercial Cannabis Regulatory
Ordinance, please find government-issued identification showing that all owners and managers
contained in SLO Cultivation, Inc.’s application for a Commercial Cannabis Business are 21 years
of age or older. Also, all individuals listed below have completed the online background check
form through fresnoca.viewpointcloud.com. The confirmation numbers for same are listed below.
75 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
TRADE SECRET- CONFIDENTIAL
2. SOCIAL POLICY AND LOCAL ENTERPRISE PLAN
The Applicant has created a Social Policy and Local Enterprise Plan that prioritizes the Applicant’s
employees – centered on local and social policy hiring in accordance with the Fresno Municipal
Code (“FMC”) Sec. 9-3316(b)(1). The Applicant is committed to serving the community and its
residents through each step of its operations. As an established operator in California with existing
facilities in Fresno County, the Applicant has experience and a track record of local recruitment
and hiring in the region, which has created integral relationships with local officials that will
continue to develop the Applicant’s labor policies year after year.
In addition, the Applicant believes in putting Fresno and the surrounding community at the heart
of the business. The Applicant’s Plan reflects that value through its commitment to exceeding a
living wage, providing excellent benefits options, implementing equitable and fair hiring policies,
employing local management, executing a Labor Peace Agreement, creating an extensive
workforce plan that provides education to further careers, and expanding its Social Equity Business
Incubator program.
2.1. Commitment to a Living Wage
The Applicant is committed to offering employees a living wage – each employee will be paid a
fair wage for their position. Based on Cresco’s wage standards, the lowest amount that an
employee could be paid is $18/hour, 150% of California’s minimum wage. The Applicant based
its determination for wages on the Living Wage Calculator for Fresno County, California
(https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06019). Based on the Living Wage Calculator, the
Applicant’s wages ensure that there is an opportunity to make a living wage for each household
configuration. Committed to a living wage, the Applicant has created the following wage estimates
to ensure that each of its employees is paid commensurately to their position.
Wage Estimates
The Applicant understands that it is a privilege to be a part of the legalization of the cannabis
industry in Fresno – in that way it commits to being a model employer and to build trust with the
community as a legal and licensed cannabis operator. As further outlined in Section 2.2., the
Applicant not only provides a living wage for each of its employees, but it will also provide
benefits including opportunity for retirement contributions and potential profit sharing through the
employee pool of Cresco shares.
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2.2. Employee Benefits
The Applicant will offer a variety of benefits, including health care, vacation, medical leave,
wellness days, telehealth services, 401k benefits, pet health insurance, and discount programs to
its employees. As outlined below, the Applicant has detailed programs for its full time employees
and part time employees – with benefits offered to union employees as negotiated through
collective bargaining. As further described below, Cresco already has unionized employees at
other locations and is situated to work with employees should they decide to unionize. The
Applicant’s robust benefits program provides employees with exceptional services in addition to
their base pay, as follows:
Full Time Employees
Full time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
• Medical Insurance:
o PPO (Preferred Provider Option) insurance through United Healthcare – 3 different
plans with varying deductibles
o HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) insurance through Kaiser – 1 plan
• Dental Insurance: United Healthcare Dental Plan
• Vision Insurance: United Healthcare Vision Plan
• Accident Insurance: MetLife Accident Low Plan or MetLife Accident High Plan
• Critical Illness Insurance: MetLife Critical Illness Plan
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance: MetLife Hospital Indemnity Plan
• Short/Long Term Disability Insurance: MetLife Short and Long Term Disability Plan
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance: MetLife Basic and Voluntary Life and AD&D Plan
• FSA/Commuter Benefits: WageWorks Pre-Tax Benefits
• Leaves of Absence:
o FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and all other California or City of Fresno
Mandated Leaves (if employee meets eligibility criteria)
o Paid Parental Leave: Full time employees must have completed 1 year of continuous
service immediately preceding the commencement of leave to be eligible for this
benefit. Below is the amount of paid leave based on tenure.
Length of Service Completed as of
First Day of Leave
Amount of Paid Leave
for Birth Parent
Amount of Paid Leave for
Non-Birth Parent
Less than 12 consecutive months None None
At least 12 consecutive months 6 weeks 1 week
24 consecutive months 8 weeks 1 week
36 consecutive months 10 weeks 1 week
48 consecutive months 12 weeks 1 week
• Paid Time Off (“PTO”): All full-time employees will be eligible for a minimum
of 80 hours of PTO per year (an increase from 40 hours of PTO). See below table for the
number of PTO hours by years of employment.
o 0 – 3 years of employment: 80 hours of PTO
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o 4 – 6 years of employment: 96 hours of PTO
o 7+ years of employment: 120 hours of PTO
• All full-time employees will also be granted up to 2 Wellness Days annually.
o Wellness Days are designated time-off that employees may use to focus on their own
wellbeing and mental health, whether that is physically, emotionally, and/or
psychologically.
o The Applicant will implement Wellness Days in recognition that employees sometimes
need time away from work to care for themselves and we should encourage employees
to use these days and to take care of themselves.
o Where possible, employees should schedule Wellness Days in advance with their
manager, though we recognize that there will likely be some need for flexibility here
to ensure employees can use them as needed and intended.
Part Time Employees
Part time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
• Paid sick leave offered based on California or City of Fresno rules and regulations (if
employee meets eligibility criteria)
• Leave of absences offered based California or City of Fresno rules and regulations (if
employee meets eligibility criteria)
Full Time and Part Time Employees
• 401(K) administered through Alliance Benefit Group (ABG) Rocky Mountain
o Opportunity to set aside pre/post tax wages towards retirement beginning on the
first of the month following 90 days of employment (some exceptions for union
employees)
o Company matches $.50 for every $1 contributed up to a total of $1,000 per calendar
year (1,000 employment hour requirement applies for match eligibility)
• PerkSpot Discount Platform
o Exclusive discount platform offering savings on a variety of items, including travel,
gym memberships, auto/home insurance, apparel, and electronics
o Offered to non-union employees
• Pet Insurance
o Voluntary Pet Insurance offered through Nationwide
o Offered to non-union employees
• 1800MD Telehealth Services
o 24/7/365 quick, convenient access to vast network of board-certified physicians
o Offered to union & non-union employees
2.3. Continuing Education and Employee Training
The Applicant’s continuing education and employee training programs utilize multiple avenues of
experience to reach a wide number of potential employees and students. The Applicant will
leverage Cresco’s experience creating continuing education and training programs in other
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locations, including mirroring its Community College Vocational Pilot Program launched in
Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, working with local groups, providing a clear pathway to
career advancement within the company, and teaching skills that are transferable across careers in
the cannabis field. In addition, the Applicant will utilize Cresco’s robust training program to ensure
each of its employees are trained not only on the Applicant’s best practices but all pertinent rules
and regulations. All training will be paid and will commence at the employee’s start date.
In Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, Cresco’s Social Equity and Educational Development
initiative (“SEED”) has collaborated with colleges and universities to develop cannabis-focused
curriculum with the goal of providing educational resources that will make the cannabis industry
a highly inclusive force for job creation. SEED will explore developing similar collaborations with
local institutions for opportunities for workshops, classes, and/or certificate programs based on the
school’s needs and interests. Complimenting multiple existing certificate and degree programs,
SEED will support the institution, at its discretion, in potential topics of educational empowerment
for its students, including such subjects as: Business/Entrepreneurship, Environmental
Horticulture, Hospitality, Marketing, and Information Technology. Leveraging existing
operational knowledge this partnership with will aid in bringing innovative and in-demand skillsets
to the local student population. Students will have access to a unique opportunity to gain
experience throughout the entire cannabis supply chain which could lead to jobs not only at the
Applicant’s facilities but anywhere throughout the billion-dollar cannabis industry in California.
Continuing Education
The Applicant has created a Continuing Education program that includes working with local
Fresno-based groups, such as the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce and Barrios Unidos,
to create pathways to employment including recruitment, workforce education sessions, and
potential training.
In addition, the Applicant will leverage Cresco’s experience working with community colleges to
for recruiting. Cresco piloted this program with Olive Harvey Community College in Chicago
(“Olive”). At Olive, Cresco helped develop basic and advanced cannabis certificate courses under
a vocational pilot program. Subjects included cannabis and law, dispensary operations, cannabis
and science, business and customer service, plant production and breeding, and an introduction to
extraction and infusion. In Fresno, the Applicant will approach local community colleges to bring
this type of cannabis program to the Fresno area. Participants will benefit from this education that
will last them a lifetime – granting them the ability to take their education to any cannabis business
operation across the country. To date, Cresco has had nearly 200 individuals go through the
program over 2 semesters. In addition, Cresco has hired 4 individuals directly from this
program. The Applicant will make every effort to pilot a program similar in Fresno to provide
education to residents and provide legal pathways to employment in the cannabis field.
Career Advancement through Work Experience
The Applicant is committed to creating clear pathways to career advancement through work
experience and creating work experiences that provide transferable skills within the cannabis field.
Employees are encouraged to apply for career advancing roles by working through each role
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successfully. For example, Wellness Advisors who have been exemplary in their work will be
encouraged to apply for Lead Wellness Advisor positions, Lead Wellness Advisors to Assistant
Managers, and Assistant Managers to Dispensary Managers. Dispensary Managers will be
encouraged to apply for corporate jobs or other career advancing roles.
For example, Cresco currently has an employee who started as a Wellness Advisor in one of its
retail locations in Pennsylvania and is now working in corporate retail leadership. By working
through each position, this employee was able to turn their skills into valuable experience that was
applicable to a corporate director position. Cresco prides itself on being able to see the value in its
employees and nurture their skills into other roles.
The Applicant also creates its work experience and training modules in a way that ensures that
employees are learning skills that they can use throughout their lifetime within careers in other
highly-regulated industries. For example, the Applicant holds itself to a high standard of
compliance, a skill that is applicable to and sought after in other industries such as banking,
gaming, and pharmaceuticals. The Applicant believes that the job skills learned at the cannabis
retail business will not only serve the need of employees working at the business, but will also
provide the employees with valuable resume-building skills for their further careers.
Training
The Applicant will leverage Cresco’s experience for employee onboarding regarding the service,
education, and treatment of purchasers. Cresco uses both shadowing and module-based training to
ensure that all facets of dispensary training are covered, and the Applicant will implement a similar
training model. All training for each employee will be paid in the same amount as each employee’s
hourly or salaried wage by time spent. The Applicant’s training plan will ensure each employee
will be able to accurately understand the differences in products, the potency of products, customer
service, and laws governing personal use. The Applicant will also include its training procedures
on safety education, product handling, burglary and robbery protocols, regulatory compliance, and
other hazards of the cannabis business. Training is an annual requirement, unless updates to laws,
regulations, or best practices require a more frequent cadence.
To ensure that all Wellness Advisors have access to procedures at all times, the Applicant will
keep its standard operating procedures (“SOPs”) on location, so each employee is able to reference
whenever needed. Wellness Advisors will be trained to understand purchaser flow at the cannabis
retail business and are prepared to properly educate qualifying purchasers from the moment they
walk in the door to when they complete their transaction. Some examples of SOPs include:
Checklist for Purchasers to Receive Necessary Information; Dispensing Procedures; Foundational
Training Manual; Cannabis 101; Operations; Security; and Compliance.
Wellness Advisors will drive the purchaser's experience and will receive the established
foundational training Cresco uses on topics required to successful and compliant cannabis retail
operations including dispensing cannabis product, consulting with purchasers about cannabis, and
ensuring sales or transfers do not exceed purchasing limits. Other segments of employee training
will include training on managing cash registers, navigating inventory, and managing
and its integration with the Applicant’s point of sale software.
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Wellness advisors will be able to:
• Greet purchasers upon their arrival to the cannabis retail business;
• Input applicable purchase information into the track and trace system;
• Inspire purchaser confidence and create purchaser loyalty;
• Collect and verify government-issued identification;
• Maintain purchaser confidentiality and privacy while operating;
• Maintain an organized and clean cannabis retail business.
The Applicant uses the written policies and procedures that Cresco uses regarding purchaser
education and support. Written policies and procedures address the following:
• Whether possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law;
• Current educational information issued by the California Department of Public Health
about the health risks associated with the use or abuse of cannabis;
• Information about possible side effects; and
• Other appropriate purchaser education or support materials.
Most training will be hands-on training. Training may also involve classroom discussions, lectures,
guest presentations, and team-building exercises. Trainees will go through "live" training, whereby
employees will participate in role-playing with mock purchasers and mock transactions.
dispensary managers will also receive training on mock inventory-software adjustments to prepare
for operating the cannabis retail business. The Applicant will also utilize video walk-throughs of
common situations within and including investigating discrepancies,
pulling forensic reports, and making inventory adjustments. In addition, dispensary managers will
be trained on these procedures upon hiring and at regular intervals, as well as being available on
demand at any time.
The Applicant currently employs a robust digital document management system that includes
Cresco’s SOPs and an e-learning training program, Bridge, which serves to track the training of
more than 1,100 employees nationwide. With Bridge, dispensary managers can set purchaser-care
education goals for each employee, individually. They can also track online course completion and
monitor employee progress in learning.
Prior to beginning operations or employment, employees will receive offsite training at the
Applicant’s licensed cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution facilities in Santa Barbara and
Fresno counties to increase their knowledge of the industry and how the cannabis industry
functions within California. Cross functional training will better equip team members by affording
them the perspective and spirit behind the regulations. When training material and topics such as
Packaging and Labeling Compliance are being taught from the perspective of a Manufacturer, this
knowledge will further strengthen the employee’s retail perspective as well.
Training on Products and Potency of Products
The Applicant provides training on differences and potency of products for each of its Wellness
Advisors in a Cannabis 101 course which includes training through Bridge (the online learning
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management system), in-person training, brand seminars and educational presentations, and
through its training handbook which includes sections on the history of cannabis, plant anatomy,
plant types, terpenes, forms of cannabis, ways to consume cannabis, and external resources.
The training addresses the different types of cannabis, including Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica and
each part of the plant, including the Cola, Fan Leaf, Trichomes, Stems, Nodes, and Terpenes. The
Applicant educates employees on general types of terpenes and their scent and flavor. The
Applicant’s training also includes an in-depth discussion of how cannabis works within the body
and how different cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system. The Applicant will
ensure that each Wellness Advisor understands how to explain these topics to customers.
The Applicant will explain each type of product to each employee in a way that they can replicate
that information and easily educate purchasers. In addition, the Applicant will bring in subject
matter experts on individual topics, including the products the Applicant’s Carpinteria and
Mendota facilities will provide to the cannabis retail business, and bringing in professionals from
other brands to share their specific product information.
Training on Product Handling and Inventory
The Applicant will ensure all retail employees have the education, training, and experience, or any
combination thereof, to enable them to perform all assigned retail inventory functions. Retail
employees will not be allowed to report to work prior to receiving an orientation which includes
inventory training. In addition, the Applicant will ensure that all delivery employees receive annual
refresher training for any changes or adjustments to inventory procedures. To complete inventory
training, employees will be trained on the inventory storage system, how to track inventory, how
to use in conjunction with an overview of inventory reconciliation, and
inventory management. All records of inventory training will be kept with the employee’s records
pursuant to CCR-16-42-1 5037(a) (2019).
Utilizing the Applicant’s SOPs, the Applicant’s training will ensure each employee is able to:
• Keep the inventory storage organized, clean, and how to check that all environmental
controls are correct (See CCR-16-42-1 5033 (2019));
• Keep all inventory off the ground;
• Use lock boxes to store inventory for deliveries;
• Track all inventory and know what requires tracking;
• Track all product in regard to destruction;
• Know when to notify the Bureau or other authority for reportable events;
• Track and handle all inventory discrepancies;
• Record all metrics to the seed-to-sale tracking system and
• Create and reference sales invoices, license to license manifests, and delivery manifests;
• Fill out and store all required records as the BCC requires.
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Training on Customer Service
Cresco leans on its core values of Stewardship, Leadership, and Ownership for its Customer
Service training plan – Cresco believes that training its employees to embody these traits, they will
further develop their customer service skills. The Applicant’s training manual focuses on training
on Customer Service through each step of the dispensing process. Using this model, Wellness
Advisors will be able to identify each type of customer based on their cannabis experience and
provide individual service. Cresco’s guide focuses on light to non-users, moderate to heavy users,
and experienced users and medical patients.
Experienced employees will train new employees on all operational factors, focusing primarily on
providing exceptional purchaser service and dispensing best practices that can help educate
purchasers visiting the cannabis retail business. Individual training modules include responsible
use, consumption methods, regulatory compliance, patient confidentiality, safety and security, and
cannabis science. This approach will guarantee that employees have the resources and knowledge
they need for the first day of operations.
ID Training
The Applicant will explain the check-out process extensively during new employee orientation.
The Applicant understands that this is the area where most mistakes can occur and this the
operational function where the Applicant has the most safeguards in place. IDs will be redundantly
checked upon check in at the door, then again upon customer/POS check in by the specific cashier,
then verified one last time immediately prior to closing the transaction. This articulates multiple
points of verification, training, and also multiple people involved in the verification process.
Wellness advisors will be trained to prompt each purchaser to show government-issued
identification and engage in the following activities: 1) Verify the age of each purchaser using an
electronic reader; 2) Verify the validity of the purchaser’s government-issued identification card;
and 3) Offer any appropriate purchaser education or support materials.
All employees will receive training on how to identify fraudulent, invalid, expired, or otherwise
unacceptable identification and how to reject service to unauthorized patrons. Identification must
be valid, unexpired, contain a photograph, and the date of birth of the person. A security guard
will be onsite to assist with greeting purchasers, accommodating mobility pathways through the
secure check-in area, and ensuring the purchaser-entry is locked and secured when not in use. The
Applicant will also place an ID checking guide which features IDs from all US states and
territories. Lastly, the Applicant will also put “If you were born before…” signs at the registers
and provide signage around the cannabis retail business prohibiting minors as well.
Employee IT Security Training
The Applicant will ensure that each new hire receives IT security training before starting work at
the cannabis retail business. The training will cover how to ensure that all sensitive and confidential
information in hardcopy or electronic form is secure both at the end of the day and when the
employee leaves their desk for an extended work period. Employees will be trained on how to lock
down their workstation when they leave both for the day or leave the station. Lastly, employees
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will receive supplemental education pertaining specifically to cyber security. This training is
administered through a third-party provider to ensure proficiency and comprehension.
In addition, the Applicant will require that:
• Any protected information is removed from public display and locked in a drawer or
secured storage space at the end of the workday;
• File cabinets containing protected or other confidential information must be kept closed
and locked when not in use or unattended; and
• Keys and employee access credentials will never be left unattended.
Training on Regulations and Laws
The Applicant’s compliance training includes step-by-step, relevant, comprehensive training,
including what, where, how, and why of each compliance topic. All employees receive extensive
training and education surrounding the state and local rules and regulations to empower them with
the knowledge needed to maintain compliant operations on a day to day basis. Ultimately,
compliance is the task of each employee, not one department.
All compliance training will be issued within 30 days of hire. After that, all compliance and ethics
materials will be reissued annually, and procedures will be reissued when they change or in any
event that management believes a reissue is necessary. Revisited training can be done by via virtual
training, by in person corrective training, or group/team meetings and seminars.
Training materials are created by the Applicant’s Compliance and Legal teams, with the
administration and comprehension testing of the material controlled via Bridge. Trainees must
achieve a score of 80 percent or higher on all performance assessments before advancing to hands-
on training. Additionally, the system has reporting functionality that affords administrators the
ability to identify patterns within comprehension testing to identify any potential need for
supplemental training within specific areas on an individual or group basis.
Additional training modules have been created to ensure compliance with the Applicant’s Code of
Conduct as well. Training and comprehension reporting are controlled via Bridge. These training
modules consist of, but are not limited to, the following topics: Code of Conduct; Non-Retaliation;
Workplace Harassment Prevention; Security; Complaints and Investigations; Honesty and
Integrity; Diversity and Inclusion; Workplace Safety; Diversion Prevention; and Records
Retention.
To further supplement corporate compliance understanding, the Applicant uses a third-party ethics
and compliance training platform called Navex. Navex provides the Applicant with a sophisticated
companywide platform of ethics and compliance training tools and modules. Training modules
have been custom tailored to supplement employee education and understanding surrounding
topics such as, but not limited to: California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”); Telephone
Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (“TCPA”); and Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited
Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (“CAN-SPAM”).
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Quality Control Training
The Applicant will require all new hires to complete quality control training before starting work
at the cannabis retail business. Documentation on this training will be kept in accordance with
CCR-42-16-1 5037 (2019). Training topics include:
• Proper handling/storage practices for maintaining quality and preventing deterioration;
• How to properly read and confirm compliance via a certificate of analysis (“COA”);
• Accepting cannabis goods from distributors into inventory;
• Proper packaging and labeling of cannabis goods prior to sale;
• Not handling cannabis goods when ill or have open wounds, sores, or skin infections; and
• Proper hygiene practices for employees who handle cannabis goods with specific attention
to preventing microbial contamination.
Employee Safety Education
In addition to comprehensive, site-specific security training, the Applicant will require all new
hires to complete incident response training before starting work at the cannabis retail business.
Documentation on this training will be kept in accordance with CCR-42-16-1 5037 (2019). To the
extent possible, the Applicant will coordinate with the Sheriff’s office and/or local law
enforcement to review and approve security and emergency response training and conduct on-site
simulated drills. The Applicant’s philosophy is that the safety and security of purchasers,
employees, and the community are paramount; cash, product, and property are replaceable.
Training includes:
• Information on facility floor plans, evacuation plan maps, and evacuation routes;
• Information on alarms, utility cabinets, fire extinguishers, and first aid supplies;
• How to properly utilize a fire extinguisher during a fire;
• Protocol on re-entering the facility after an emergency incident;
• Incident response and reporting procedures;
• Response procedures for an IT security breach;
• Response procedures for a fire, flood, or natural disaster;
• Response procedures for unauthorized entry, robbery, burglary, theft, or security breach;
• When and how to alert the Security Director in the event of an emergency;
• When and how to report to Security Director, BCC, and local law enforcement; and
• When and how to complete a Site Incident Report.
Burglary
The Applicant will train its employees to follow all product handling procedures to minimize the
risk of burglary. The Applicant will instruct all employees to treat any instance of burglary or
robbery as if its product were the same as any other retailer – with minimal confrontation,
complying with the perpetrator, and waiting for security guards and law enforcement to handle the
situation. Please see Criteria 4 for more information on the Applicant’s safety plan.
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To mitigate instances of burglary, employees will be trained to:
• Never place product or cash in a location other than designated areas;
• Supervise all product and cash at all times throughout their shift;
• Product shown to a purchaser must immediately be placed back in the designated area;
• No product may be left unsupervised at any time, unless in the safe/vault;
• Employees must pay special attention to surroundings during opening and closing;
• All employees closing for the day must leave the facility together and never alone;
• Employees must report any suspicious activities to their supervisor immediately;
• Employees who discover that any product or cash has been mishandled, misplaced, or is
missing must notify their supervisor immediately; and
• Employees are required to ensure that all products and cash are stored appropriately in
designated areas such as a safe, vault, or inventory drawer. The designated areas must
always be secured or locked.
Robbery
The Applicant will ensure each employee is trained on the following procedures in the event of a
robbery, which are intended to reduce personal risk. If an employee is outside a building when an
event occurs, they will be instructed to take immediate cover, preferably inside a building,
circumstances permitting.
If an employee is inside a building where an event occurs, they should evacuate the building
immediately if possible. The Applicant will ensure employees are trained to: have an escape route
and plan in mind; evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow; leave their belongings
behind; help others escape, if possible; prevent individuals from entering an area where the
perpetrator may be; keep their hands visible; follow the instructions of any police officers; do not
attempt to move wounded people; call 911 when they are safe; if evacuation is not possible, find
a place to hide where the perpetrator is less likely to find you and you are protected in the case of
an active shooter.
To prevent the perpetrator from entering the hiding place: lock the door and blockade the door
with heavy furniture. If the perpetrator is nearby: lock the door; silence cell phone; turn off any
source of noise like radios and televisions; hide behind large items; and remain quiet. If an
employee cannot evacuate or hide, the employee should: remain calm; dial 911, if possible, to alert
police to the perpetrator’s location; if you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the
dispatcher to listen. When law enforcement arrives, the employee should: remain calm and follow
the officers’ instructions; put down any items in your hands; immediately raise hands and spread
fingers; keep hands visible at all times; avoid making quick movements toward officers, such as
holding onto them for safety; avoid pointing, screaming, and yelling; do not stop to ask officers
for help or direction when evacuating – simply proceed in the direction from which officers are
entering. Please see Criteria 4 for additional information on the Applicant’s safety plan.
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Employee Sanitation and Health
The Applicant is committed to ensuring all cannabis products are dispensed in a safe and sanitary
manner and to ensuring the identity, strength, quality, and purity of cannabis products are
maintained. The Applicant schedules sanitizing surfaces that are considered high traffic areas, or
high contact areas, such as entryways, door handles, and common cabinets and countertops at
routine intervals. The Applicant follows all CDC and OSHA guidelines, and go up and beyond all
mandates for cleaning, sanitation, and employee protection. The Applicant also ensures that full
PPE is always available for employees. In addition, the Applicant uses a third-party product called
to conduct bi-weekly COVID-19 specific audits that encompass all CDC, OSHA, as
well as any state and local mandated ordinances. This program ensures the Applicant stays
proactive, as well as ensures that the Applicant are meeting or exceeding all COVID-19
compliance and providing the safest environment possible for its purchasers and employees.
The Applicant will require that all employees:
• Report to work wearing clean garments;
• Wash hands thoroughly in an adequate hand-washing area before starting work, prior to
engaging in the dispensing of cannabis goods, and any other time when hands may have
become soiled or contaminated;
• Maintain good personal hygiene, including but not limited to, keeping fingernails
manicured and long hair away from the face, etc.; and
• Refrain from having direct contact with cannabis and wear gloves in good repair when
appropriate.
An employee will notify the dispensary manager as soon as they become aware that they may have
an illness or injury. If the dispensary manager suspects an employee may be ill or have an injury,
they will exclude the employee from any operations until the condition is corrected. Employees
will be instructed to not attend work when experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and will
have a protocol in place when symptoms occur. For additional information please see Criteria 1.
Workplace Violence
The Applicant will implement a workplace violence training program designed to facilitate
positive group interactions, reduce the possibility of workplace violence, and offer resources such
as counseling opportunities for employees. The training for employees must be completed within
1 week of hire and annual training will occur company wide. The Applicant has a zero-tolerance
policy with respect to any acts of violence or threats of same made on its premises, and its
workplace violence training will emphasize this policy.
The training itself will employ a combination of videos, documents, and other media to explain
what workplace violence is, how to prevent it, and how to report it. Additionally, the Applicant
will implement programs and devote training to developing a cohesive workforce and teach
employees how to cope with differences. Employees will also receive training on detecting the
potential of workplace violence, including identifying its warning signs, and will set forth clear
protocols for employees to report such instances.
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The training will include content devoted to employee procedures should an incident of workplace
violence take place, including but not limited to alerting law enforcement and protecting each
employee’s physical safety. Bridge will serve as a central hub for all training documentation, and
managers will be able to track each employee’s progress in completing the required training. The
system will also document each employee’s completion of the training, which will be maintained
by Human Resources. Through these methods, the Applicant will seek to ensure the safety of its
workforce and foster an environment that does not produce such occurrences.
2.4. Social Policy Recruitment and Hiring
The Applicant commits to hiring and recruiting individuals for at least one third of the total annual
work hours performed at the business across all employees, who meet the criteria listed in the
Fresno Municipal Code, Sec. 9-3316(b)(1), as follows:
• Annual family income below 80% AMI;
• Convicted for a cannabis related crime that could have been prosecuted as a misdemeanor
or citation under current State law;
• Lived in a low to moderate income census tract in the city for a minimum of 3 years;
• Veteran;
• Former foster home youth who was in foster care as a minor;
• Unemployed; or
• Receiving public assistance.
To the extent possible, the Applicant will give preference to applicants who are Fresno residents
or qualify under Sec. 9-3316(b)(1) of the FMC while ensuring compliance with all privacy and
legal limitations. As outlined below, the Applicant will phone screen those who can attest to being
able to pass a required background check and lives in the City of Fresno. In addition, the Applicant
not only commits to hiring 30%+ employees who reside in the City of Fresno, but has also created
a distinct methodology to track and report its progress and success (See Section 2.8. below).
Finally, the Applicant will ensure that it is able to meet all of its hiring goals through the following
recruitment pathways, including job fairs, local engagement, and leveraging the Applicant’s
experience hiring locally in Mendota. The Applicant will also report all of its hiring metrics to
ensure that these goals are met on an ongoing basis.
Job Fairs and Recruitment Pathways
The Applicant commits to hosting 2 job fairs in the City of Fresno 90 days prior to the cannabis
retail business’ opening. One will be on a weeknight and the other will be on a Saturday afternoon
to ensure that applicants from all backgrounds will be able to attend. The Applicant will also
consider virtual job fair and hiring events in the event in-person gatherings are restricted or unsafe
due to COVID-19. The Applicant will offer applications in Spanish and have on-site interpreters.
In addition, the Applicant will also have a physical drop off site for applications in addition to the
online portal. The Applicant will utilize its Mendota facility HR staff to assist with talent
acquisition and recruitment efforts.
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The Applicant will promote job openings in partnership with Council President Miguel Arias and
the Fresno City Council to increase number and diversity of potential applicants. To cast as wide
a net as possible, the Applicant will work with the city to utilize known job boards and existing
community outreach pathways. The Applicant will attend Veteran’s Day Job Fairs, Hispanic
Heritage Month job fairs, provide outreach to “Resource Families of Fresno County” (foster family
program), West Care and local rehabilitation centers, Every Neighborhood Partnership, and other
local organizations to provide work opportunities to the local disenfranchised population. In
addition, the Applicant will provide an option for virtual interviews and computer stations to
improve accessibility for residents without computers or access to reliable wireless internet.
Finally, the Applicant has experience working with the Fresno Employment Development
Department for its Mendota facility and can count on utilizing those existing relationship to
support a diverse and local hiring pool.
Reporting and Compliance with Social Policy
The Applicant will collaborate with the City Manager on its initial strategy for compliance with
its corporate social responsibility policy for both the first year of business and each year thereafter.
Cresco has experience working in jurisdictions that require similar reporting metrics as a part of
its annual license renewal – experience the Applicant will utilize in ensuring all its reporting
requirements are met and all hiring goals are attained on an ongoing basis. The Applicant will
verify its compliance with social policy with quarterly reporting of the following: hours worked
by social policy employees; representation of social policy candidates in the Applicant’s
workforce; efforts to reach out to and recruit City of Fresno residents and social policy candidates
for employment including California-based executive and managerial positions; specific efforts to
ensure the City of Fresno resident and social policy candidate workforce; and a list of all contracts
entered into and transactions conducted for goods or services that are companies owned by the
City of Fresno residents or Social Equity businesses.
2.5. Local Management
Over the past year Cresco has centralized all California processing and manufacturing in Fresno
County (Mendota). Currently manufacturing 400 products across 4 brand lines, this facility has
continued to expand operational capacity. Fresno County (Mendota) employees are part of the
family of 315 employees statewide – across 6 facilities throughout California, all driving the
Applicant to planned growth of 25% quarter over quarter. The City of Fresno remains a key to the
long-term strategic plan that firmly places the Applicant as a market leader in California. The City
of Fresno would be the first and key retail site for the Applicant and Cresco in California. The City
of Fresno employees will join the Cresco’s and the Applicant’s California employees and serve as
the Applicant’s inaugural retail site, completing its vertical integration in the state. The Applicant
is managed both out of the Los Angeles region and the Fresno County (Mendota) region. Of the
Mendota facility’s employees, 28% of that current workforce lives in the Fresno Area, including
Adam Avila, Mendota Facility Director, who lives in Clovis. The Applicant is committed to
furthering this model of leadership, searching for local management to run the cannabis retail
business, as outlined below. The Applicant believes that a strong business is a local business –
managed and led from within the community.
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2.6. Staffing Plan
The Applicant has created a comprehensive staffing plan that emphasizes local positions and
leadership to meet the Applicant’s local hiring goals and provide the community with in-house
contacts for all questions and concerns. The Applicant will leverage corporate employees within
the State of California, as well as new retailer employees specifically allocated to the operations
in Fresno. In accordance with this plan, the Applicant predicts it will be able to support the hiring
of the equivalent of 14 full-time employees within the first year of operation. The Applicant’s
Fresno cannabis retail business team includes:
Dispensary Management: The Applicant will employ salaried dispensary managers who will be
responsible for the facility in total, reporting to the Director of Retail Operations at a corporate
level. These will be keyed employees who will have access to the cannabis retail business 24/7
and available for any and all emergencies. These employees will also be responsible for opening
and closing procedures and making sure all cash management, recordkeeping, and inventory
procedures are followed.
Lead Wellness Advisors: The Applicant will employ Lead Wellness Advisors who will be
responsible for their hourly shifts, including inventory management, delivery procedures, and the
main point of contact for any in-store and delivery issues. These employees will also be the point
employee for receiving procedures along with managers and assist Wellness Advisors with their
regular activities.
Wellness Advisors and Delivery Employees: The Applicant will employ part-time Wellness
Advisors and Delivery Employees who are the main point of contact for each customer that walks
into the cannabis retail business or receives a delivery. These employees will be responsible for
customer education and dispensing procedures.
Security Guards: The Applicant will contract Security Guards who will be responsible for ID
checking, assisting and overseeing receiving procedures and premise security, watching for theft
and diversion, and working with local law enforcement on emergencies and other matters.
2.7. Labor Peace Agreement
The Applicant has successfully signed a labor peace agreement (“LPA”) allowing employees to
unionize without interference with the Teamsters Local Union No. 853, chartered by the
International Brotherhood of the Teamsters (“the Union”). This LPA applies to all of the
Applicant’s employees who are eligible to join a collective bargaining unit as a result of their
employment at the Applicant’s facilities in the State of California. For the full LPA, please see
Exhibit A attached hereto.
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2.8. Workforce Plan
Initially, the Applicant will staff the facility with the following employees: Salaried Dispensary
Managers; Part Time Lead Wellness Advisors; Part Time Wellness Advisors; and contracted
Security Guards, as outlined above. After the first year of operation, staffing may change
depending on several factors, including, but not limited to: market conditions, customer growth,
and availability of product as supplied by licensees to meet patient demand. The Applicant will
ensure that this workforce is equitable and local, exceeding all of the City’s requirements and
recommended commitments.
2.8.1. Commitment to 30%+ Local Hires
The Applicant not only commits to exceeding the hiring 30%+ employees who reside in the City
of Fresno, but has also created a distinct methodology to track its success. The Applicant and
Cresco may use a 6 step process similar to the one described herein.
1. Identify Need for Role: First, the Applicant will identify the need for a role and what the job
will entail. This step is assessed by retail management using Cresco’s models at its other retail
locations to measure volume and need, as well as any local considerations proposed by Fresno’s
retail staff. Retail management will determine role responsibilities and work with Cresco’s Talent
Acquisition team to develop and publish a job description.
2. Creating Job Description: The Applicant’s retail management and Cresco’s Talent Acquisition
team collectively develops a job description or pulls an existing job description that identifies
measurable criteria for each position, including education, experience, and the ability to pass a
background check (the Applicant assesses background checks on a case-by-case basis and looks
for ways to hire candidates despite background checks, however, the Applicant does check position
requirements and access to accurately assess if the position is the right fit, checking specifically
for records with acts such as fraud and embezzlement) to suitably source candidates using the
Applicant’s various recruitment tools.
3. Posting Position and Contacting Local Job/Community Organizations: The Applicant will
employ online recruitment tools and solicit job postings in local newspapers and social media;
however, the Applicant has a significant interest in recruiting through its local community and is
committed to working with local workforce development organizations to achieve that goal. To
achieve that objective, the Applicant will host and sponsor local job fairs and target professionals
through local organizations and community groups, as described above. The Applicant has
successfully had job fairs in California before, including a job fair for the residents of the Mendota,
to provide an opportunity for year-round, steady employment ahead of the Applicant’s
manufacturing facility construction in January 2019. The Applicant will also contact local colleges
and job placement organizations to further the Applicant’s goal for local employment.
In addition, the Applicant’s use of traditional recruitment methods is driven by the volume of
candidates and the need to search for candidates based on specific criteria for each job. The
Applicant will use an applicant tracking system to collect, compile, and process resumes of
prospective employees. Cresco uses Greenhouse recruiting software to track over 1,000 candidates
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at any given time in all states where its affiliates operate. The system quickly identifies good
candidates for each specific job by analyzing each candidate’s skills, residency, background and
experience. It then efficiently relays information between candidates and employers, which
enhances the likelihood of making a good hire and expedites the onboarding process.
4. Implementing Referral Program through Existing Employees: The Applicant will institute a
referral program through existing employees to further source quality local candidates. After initial
hire and business opening, the Applicant will encourage its employees to refer their local contacts
to apply for open positions. Employees will be given an initial bonus of $250 if their contact is
hired for a position, and an additional $250 after the hire’s first successful 90 days. In addition, the
Applicant’s referral program will ensure preference to referred employees or open positions if the
applicant can attest to being able to pass a required background check.
5. Interview, Screen, and Select Candidate: The Applicant will attempt to ensure that for all non-
management positions, it will hire at least 1 in-City resident for every 2 out-of-City residents. The
Applicant will ensure it hires individuals for a minimum of one-third of the total annual work hours
performed at the business who are social policy employees as outlined by Sec. 9-3316(b)(1). The
Applicant will ensure that social policy employees exceed the one third total hour minimum.
Preference will be given to local candidates and social policy candidates. The Applicant will phone
screen those who can attest to being able to pass a required background check and lives in the City
of Fresno or is a social policy employee.
After identifying candidates, the next step in hiring includes a phone screen with Cresco’s Talent
Acquisition team to assess the candidate and decide whether to advance the candidate to the next
step of the hiring process. Talent Acquisition will then pass the interview information to retail
management who will conduct the interview, which can be done virtually as needed. In certain
circumstances (e.g. for manager positions) more than 1 interview may be necessary. All hiring and
personnel records will be maintained in compliance with all state and local regulations.
To further accurately assess and document the preference to hiring candidates who reside in the
City of Fresno and meet the social policy requirements outlined by Sec. 9-3316(b)(1), the
Applicant may institute a rubric where candidates are scored based on various criteria and receive
bonus points for being local residents and social policy candidates:
Candidate 1 Candidate 2 Candidate 3
Educational Background
(1-10 points)
Relevant Experience
(1-10 points)
Company Fit (1-10 points)
Interview (1-20 points)
References (1-10 points)
City of Fresno Resident
(+10 points)
Social Policy Candidate
(+10 points)
Total
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6. Measuring and Reviewing Success: The Applicant will verify its commitment to local hiring
and social policy employment with its quarterly report outlined in Section 2.4 above. Moreover,
the Applicant will annually report:
• The number of the City of Fresno residents employed by the cannabis retail business;
• The number of the social policy candidates employed by the cannabis retail business;
• The number of hours worked by social policy candidates;
• Updated internal local hiring goals adopted by the Applicant;
• A plan for community-oriented outreach or events to support local hiring goals;
• Other information that shows the commitment to local workforce and employment
practices;
• A workforce utilization report including the following information for each job category
including: the total number of persons employed in each job category; and the total number
in-city employees and out-of-city employees in each job category;
• A narrative of the Applicant’s components of the local hiring plan;
• Evidence of Applicant’s use of local and social equity contractors; and
• The total percentage of revenues that Applicant will pay to local and social equity
businesses as contractors.
To ensure better compliance with the City’s hiring guidelines, should the Applicant identify that
there are less than 30% employees who reside in the City of Fresno in any given quarter, the
Applicant will identify how and why the number dropped and reassess its path forward. The same
procedure will apply for social policy candidates.
2.8.2. Commitment to Apprenticeships and Continuing Education
In Fresno and its surrounding areas, the Applicant intends to offer opportunities through a Social
Equity Business Incubator (Please see Section 2.9 below for more information) by leveraging
Cresco’s existing SEED program to align with California state regulations and address any
challenges and opportunities that may be unique to the City of Fresno and its residents. SEED
recognizes that the current cannabis industry is largely homogeneous with respect to race and seeks
to partner with Black and Brown entrepreneurs to help remedy that inequality. The Community
Business Incubator is designed to help create and empower minority-owned cannabis businesses
through apprenticeship and continuing education. Launched in Illinois, the Community Business
Incubator serves entrepreneurs interested in starting their own cannabis business or expanding their
current business into the cannabis industry. In Illinois, SEED offered entrepreneurs a 2-phase
program – the first helping entrepreneurs with licensure application.
After the initial phase, Cresco will invite incubator participants who receive licenses to participate
in Phase 2, which will consist of those participants working closely with Cresco’s subject matter
experts to further refine and enact their business plans. SEED will assist the applicants with finding
locations, construction of their facilities, and setting up initial operations. The second phase of the
incubator will also include numerous minority-owned businesses ancillary to the cannabis
industry. SEED will provide minority-owned businesses in areas like Information Technology,
Accounting, Maintenance, and Security, with the information necessary to successfully support
the cannabis operation. SEED will also provide these ancillary businesses with the opportunity to
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directly connect with new dispensary and craft grow license holders so that they can develop
relationships and grow their businesses together. Additionally, SEED will assist these groups
financially without taking a long-term ownership interest in the company. Specifically, Cresco will
continue to provide operational help in the following areas: Compliance, Operations, Security,
Marketing, Retail, Construction, Engineering, and Human Resources. To the extent possible, the
Applicant wishes to create a similar program in Fresno.
Incubation and Acceleration
Through incubation and acceleration, SEED’s Community Business Incubator successfully
utilizes fixed-date milestones which are the hallmark of classic mentor-driven acceleration
programs. The relationship between SEED and its incubator participants continues beyond a
defined ‘graduation date’ that is typically associated with apprenticeship programs, allowing
SEED to continue providing resources for space, products, marketing, resources that would
otherwise be largely inaccessible and unaffordable. This longer-term investment provides program
participants a longer runway for guidance and success, allowing them to focus is on the skills and
resources required to achieve their goal of creating a viable business in the cannabis industry. This
structure allows Cresco to provide program participants with comprehensive resources like
ongoing access to Cresco’s world-class team that can provide corporate experience to share insight
on business operations including creating a product prototype, and aligning distribution, legal
knowledge, and other invaluable support that has a longer positive impact on program
participants.
Success is measured in a variety of measures beyond basic funding – Cresco will further measure
its progress through product milestones, employment growth, new markets entered, business
survival rate, and feedback from participants throughout and following their core programming.
Residency Program
Cresco has launched a pilot program to create residency opportunities in its hometown of Chicago
in partnership with a food-industry incubator, the Hatchery. This partnership builds off the
Hatchery’s model of providing shared kitchen space where participants can test, build and grow
successful food and beverage businesses, overcoming the lack of affordable food-grade kitchen
spaces. Cresco is providing access to its industry-leading food and beverage teams to integrate the
Hatchery’s model with Cresco’s existing best practices to provide program participants with
educational opportunities including coming up with formulations, dosage, mass production, and
many other important aspects for industry compliance and viability. To the extent possible, the
Applicant intends to utilize Cresco’s model in Chicago to create a similar program in Fresno.
The Hatchery creates a space for those who experience barriers to the industry, aligning with the
Applicant’s commitment to improving inclusivity and diversity in the cannabis industry by
creating pathways for individuals who have been adversely impacted by the War on Drugs.
Through its residency program, the Applicant aims to provide knowledge, tools and training to
support not only community members seeking to become entrepreneurs in the cannabis space, but
those seeking employment with existing operators.
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2.8.3. Commitment to a Living Wage
The Applicant is committed to offering employees a living wage – each employee will be paid a
fair wage for their position. Based on Cresco’s wage standards, the lowest amount that an
employee could be paid is $ /hour, 150% of California’s minimum wage. The Applicant based
its determination for wages on the Living Wage Calculator for Fresno County, California
(https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06019). Based on the Living Wage Calculator, the
Applicant’s wages ensure that there is an opportunity to make a living wage for each household
configuration. Committed to a living wage, the Applicant has created the following wage estimates
to ensure that each of its employees is paid commensurately to their position.
Wage Estimates
The Applicant understands that it is a privilege to be a part of the legalization of the cannabis
industry in Fresno – in that way it commits to being a model employer and to build trust with the
community as a legal and licensed cannabis operator. As further outlined in Section 2.2., the
Applicant not only provides a living wage for each of its employees, but it will also provide
benefits including opportunity for retirement contributions and potential profit sharing through the
employee pool of Cresco shares.
2.9. Plan for Social Equity Business Incubator
The Applicant intends to implement a Social Equity Business Incubator through Cresco’s SEED
initiative and looks forward to offering support to local cannabis social equity businesses.
Established in May 2019, SEED aims to ensure that all members of society have access to the
skills, knowledge and opportunity to work in and own businesses in the cannabis industry. The
Applicant believes the cannabis industry has a responsibility to invest time and resources to try to
remedy the relative absence of Black and Brown participation in the cannabis industry, resulting
from the disproportionately negative impacts of the War on Drugs in many of these communities.
The SEED initiative creates positive impact across all of the Applicant’s networks, where
appropriate, by developing tangible pathways into the cannabis industry for individuals and
communities adversely impacted by the War on Drugs through its 3 pillars: 1) Restorative Justice;
2) Education and Workforce Development; and 3) a Community Business Incubator.
Over the past year, Cresco – through the SEED initiative – has invested to cover the cost
of expungement events in multiple states and other justice-oriented programming and events. In
all, the Cresco financially supported more than 1,000 individuals seeking expungement of their
criminal records. Cresco has made invaluable contributions to adult education across multiple of
its network states in the form of in-kind donations of volunteer staff hours, and time and expertise
to write curriculum, teach classes, and host workshops at local colleges and universities.
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The Applicant recognizes the irreparable harm done to communities of color by this nation’s drug
policies. Through its restorative justice initiatives, the Applicant desires to elevate people whose
lives were impacted by the War on Drugs by working to remedy some of those harms. SEED’s
restorative justice programming includes hosting expungement events, lobbying to change the
nation’s drug laws, and working to ensure that no person remains in prison for a cannabis
conviction.
In Fresno and its surrounding areas, the Applicant intends to offer apprenticeships and continuing
education through a Social Equity Business Incubator by leveraging Cresco’s existing SEED
program to align with California state regulations and address any challenges and opportunities
that may be unique to the City of Fresno and its residents. SEED recognizes that the current
cannabis industry is largely homogeneous with respect to race and seeks to partner with Black and
Brown entrepreneurs to help remedy that inequality. The Community Business Incubator is
designed to help create and empower minority-owned cannabis businesses through apprenticeship
and continuing education. Launched in Illinois, the Community Business Incubator serves
entrepreneurs interested in starting their own cannabis business or expanding their current business
into the cannabis industry. In Illinois, SEED offered entrepreneurs a 2-phase program – the first
helping entrepreneurs with licensure application.
In its inaugural Community Business Incubator in Illinois, Cresco supported 210 individually
qualified cannabis dispensary applicants, representing 42 groups. Incubator participants received
instruction from professionals in Retail, IT, Security, Public Affairs, Human Resources, and
extensive assistance from Cresco’s legal team. Some milestones and achievements from this
initiative include Cresco organizing 13 incubator-related events, corporate staff contributing 2,062
volunteer hours across various disciplines to work with incubator candidates, and contributed more
than $775,000 to facilitate the incubator and sponsor participants’ application fees.
As follow up to its first incubator in Illinois for adult use dispensaries, SEED hosted a second
incubator in January 2020 for Illinois craft grow applications. In its second session, SEED assisted
8 businesses comprising 45 people in applying for cultivation licenses. The craft grow session
included a 3-day application writing workshop where participants learned firsthand from Cresco’s
experts across areas of cultivation, manufacturing, and food/beverage departments.
After the initial phase, Cresco will invite incubator participants who receive licenses to participate
in Phase 2, which will consist of those participants working closely with Cresco’s subject matter
experts to further refine and enact their business plans. SEED will assist the applicants with finding
retail locations, construction of their facilities, and setting up initial operations. The second phase
of the incubator will also include numerous minority-owned businesses ancillary to the cannabis
industry. SEED will provide minority-owned businesses in areas like Information Technology,
Accounting, Maintenance, and Security, with the information necessary to successfully support
cannabis operation. SEED will also provide these ancillary businesses with the opportunity to
directly connect with new dispensary and craft grow license holders so that they can develop
relationships and grow their businesses together. Additionally, SEED will assist these groups
financially to the extent permitted. Specifically, Cresco will continue to provide operational help
in the following areas: Compliance, Operations, Security, Marketing, Retail, Construction,
Engineering, and Human Resources.
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In Fresno and its surrounding areas, the Applicant intends to serve as a Social Equity Business
Incubator by tailoring best practices from its programs in Illinois to align with California state
regulations and address any challenges and opportunities that may be unique to the City of Fresno
and its residents.
The Applicant is aware of at least 1 other cannabis company that has taken The Fifteen Percent
Pledge, a national movement started in June 2020 to encourage retailers across all industries to
devote 15% of their shelf space to products from Black-owned businesses. The Applicant believes
that not only in the business benefits of increasing diversity of its product offerings for each retail
operator, but maintains that representation of Black-owned businesses is essential to the cannabis
industry’s success overall. From investments in organizations supporting under-resourced
communities to improving its internal employee diversity, the Applicant is committed to being a
socially responsible operator that makes its corporate culture and the communities in which it
operates more representative of the greater population. Accordingly, the Applicant will establish
a protocol for increasing the percentage of shelf space it dedicates to products from Black-owned
businesses.
In addition to the variety of support services it provides through the SEED initiative, the Applicant
will also offer educational content for community members, Minority Business Enterprises that
are ancillary to cannabis operations, and workshops for social equity applicants, including learning
seminars and application-writing workshops. In an effort to educate local stakeholders around
details of the cannabis industry, the Applicant will provide information, both written and via video,
addressing topics including production, retail operations, and public safety. In tandem with the
asynchronous webinar content, the Applicant will hold bi-annual scheduled Question & Answer
sessions for interested parties during the first years of operational inception. These initiatives aim
to address ongoing questions and comments from the general public on a variety of topics relevant
to the cannabis industry, providing valuable educational resources and strengthening the
Applicant’s relationships with community members through open dialogue.
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CONFIDENTIAL
SOCIAL AND LOCAL ENTERPRISE PLAN:
EXHIBIT A
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CONFIDENTIAL
3. NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY PLAN
The Applicant is dedicated to creating a Cannabis Retail Business that is compatible with the
neighborhood and is a pillar of safe, compliant, and community-centric business practices for the
City of Fresno. Utilizing the base model of the Applicant’s Parent Company, Cresco Labs
(“Cresco”), the Applicant will establish its Cannabis Retail Business under the Sunnyside* brand
– a cannabis dispensary that professionalizes and normalizes cannabis while considering the
surrounding neighborhood. The Applicant is centered on being a good neighbor and will always
put the community at the heart of the business. In this way, the Applicant has created a plan for
neighborhood compatibility that will reflect the location’s surroundings, while leveraging the
quality and detail of Sunnyside*’s design, the dispensary’s fit within the neighborhood, local
impact – including noise, light, odor, litter, vehicles, and pedestrian traffic, as well as the
Applicant’s commitment to being a good neighbor, and the Applicant’s best practices for odor
mitigation and waste management.
The Applicant’s proposed facility is located at 736-742 Fulton Street in downtown Fresno, near
Chukchansi Park, is zoned as DTN (Downtown Neighborhood), and is accessible by highways
sufficient to carry the kind and quantity of traffic the use will generate. See Sec. 9-3307, 9-
3308(e)(6), Criteria 6, and Zoning Inquiry Letter. The proposed facility is located no closer than
800 feet from any property boundary containing the following: 1) existing cannabis retail business;
2) a school providing instruction or any pre-school through 12; 3) an existing licensed daycare
center; 4) an existing youth center. See Sec. 9-3307. As set forth in this plan, the proposed facility
will conform with the General Plan, and the applicable specific plans, master plans, and design
requirements. For detailed information about the location, please see Criteria 6.
Introduction to Sunnyside*
Cresco’s Sunnyside* brand has been approved and launched in 6 states, including New York,
Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, all of which require modest and tactful
branding, which the Applicant will utilize at its Fresno location. Cresco developed the Sunnyside*
brand with safe, secure, and discreet operations in mind. The brand bears no markings that denote
that it is a cannabis company, which not only provides for discreet purchasing but also provides a
more easily accessible and neighborhood-driven approach for new purchasers who are focused on
the wellness aspect of cannabis. The façade has been designed to explicitly project a compliant
and secure retail business. Purchasers can expect the physical environment to be inviting and
warm, a source of everyday wellness. The retail business will preserve the brick exterior of the
building to blend in with the local brewery district. The interior will have a gentle aesthetic of
greys and whites with brightly colored accents. All exterior and interior design elements will be
crafted with superior materials and will be sourced locally, when possible. In addition to the
exterior and interior design elements, the Applicant will keep the sidewalk, right of ways, and
location perimeter free of litter, graffiti, and debris.
1 Property of SLO Cultivation, Inc.
The signage at the retail business will say “Sunnyside*,” will be in compliance with Sec. 9-3309(h)
of the Fresno Municipal Code (“FMC”) and will generally fit in with the surrounding
neighborhood. The Applicant will ensure that dispensary signage meets all operating requirements
set forth in Sec. 9-3309(h) and Sec. 9-3307(e), including:
Seeking the issuance of a city sign permit;
Signage will not obstruct any entrance or entrance to the building or any window;
Signage will include a clear and legible notice indicating that smoking, ingesting, or
otherwise consuming Cannabis Goods on the premises or in adjacent areas is prohibited;
Signage will be limited to that needed for identification only and will not contain any logos
or information that identifies, advertises, or lists the services or products offered (See
photos of relevant signage herein);
Advertising will not be placed on or visible from the exterior of the business;
No person will ever hold a sign advertising the business to passersby;
Signage will not be illuminated; and
The Applicant will not utilize billboards, bus shelters, placards, aircrafts, or similar forms
of advertising anywhere in the State of California.
The Sunnyside* brand
is similar to that of a
tasteful, modern vendor
and does not utilize
marketing campaigns
such as carried or A-
style sandwich boards
in any of its operating
markets. Sunnyside*’s
goal is for purchasers to
have the same
experience at the retail
business as one might
have at a discriminating
retailer.
The Applicant’s marketing campaign will reflect this same idea, employing upbeat imagery and
sound/music to project healthfulness and warmth. The Applicant will always seek the City’s
approval prior to making exterior changes to the facility.
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Quality and Detail of Design
In line with the Sunnyside* brand, the
Applicant commits to quality and detail in
each aspect of its design. The Applicant’s
proposed facility is in downtown Fresno,
near Chukchansi Park. The Applicant
recognizes that revitalization efforts are
being done in the downtown area to make
the neighborhood more pedestrian-friendly.
To reflect those efforts, the Applicant will
embody the City of Fresno’s vision to
preserve the historic feel of Downtown-
located businesses on Fulton Street. The
Applicant will fit in with its neighbors in the brewery district by preserving the brick façade,
incorporating modern design and signage, and utilizing local artists for any interior murals and/or
artistic features. In addition, the Applicant commits to working with the City of Fresno on its
downtown public art initiative and other cultural attractions. The Applicant’s design will be clean
and appealing for downtown, and will not advertise that it is a cannabis business, or create any
appeal to minors. For more details on preventing advertising or appeal to minors see Criteria 1 and
7.
The Applicant’s Exterior Design: The Applicant commits to using quality materials in its exterior
design, including considering the tenants surrounding the proposed location and general retail
aesthetics. The Applicant’s design is not obtrusive, and generally fits in with its retail neighbors.
The Sunnyside* design was built for highly-regulated states considering the fact that dispensaries
should not explicitly state their use for cannabis dispensing on the exterior of the facility to prevent
advertisement to minors. The Applicant has considered these elements in its exterior facility design
in Fresno and will ensure that the exterior seamlessly fits into the community and similarly situated
buildings. See Sec. 9-3307(c). The Applicant will reach out to its prospective neighbors to assess
its exterior branding and signage and to show goodwill and commitment to Downtown Fresno. At
a minimum, the facility will comply with all applicable development standards for lighting,
building materials, and colors. Exterior design elements include:
Preserved brick exterior façade;
Window glazing with anodized aluminum mullions;
Windows frosted with "SUNNYSIDE*" pattern design;
Metal awning finished in black; and
Exterior sign: "SUNNYSIDE*" channel letters.
Proposed Exterior Design
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The Applicant’s Interior Design
The Applicant’s interior design is
designed with a high-end retail
format in mind, ensuring that all
customers feel important and
invited into the space. Each
Sunnyside* retail business keeps its
community at the forefront when
considering design, and the location
in Downtown Fresno is no
exception. The Applicant intends to
integrate elements of Fresno into its
design, featuring local artists and
artwork through valued
partnerships. In addition, the Applicant will use quality materials, sourced from local proprietors
when possible, in each section of its interior of design, ensuring durable and sustainable design.
Interior design elements include:
Fit Within the Neighborhood
The Applicant has selected its proposed
dispensary location in Downtown Fresno,
which will provide easy access for Fresno
customers and is centrally located for
residents. The proposed location is in
Fresno’s brewery district on Fulton Street,
directly east of Chukchansi Park. The location
is central to downtown, but not in Fulton Mall,
meaning there will be less foot traffic on the
dispensary’s side of the neighborhood.
In addition, the location is ideal to provide a quick response time from the Fresno Police
Department (less than 1 mile away), in the unlikely event it is needed. Near multiple breweries
and bars, and the dispensary will be walkable from other pedestrian-friendly areas of Downtown
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while not being a part of the main walkway in the neighborhood. This location provides access for
residents via vehicle, and for pedestrians over 21 who know the dispensary’s location.
3.1. Describe how the CCB will proactively address and respond to complaints related to
noise, light, odor, litter, vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
The Applicant has a detailed plan to proactively address and respond to complaints and mitigate
them at the source, including noise, light, odor, litter, vehicles, and pedestrian traffic. The
Applicant will leverage Cresco’s experience addressing these concerns successfully at its current
operating retail facilities. As described in further detail below, the Applicant is dedicated to being
a good neighbor to its surrounding businesses and will work to monitor and mitigate issues as they
arise to ensure expedient solutions to any complaints. The Applicant has designated
as its Community Liaison, as outlined below, and will be available for community members to
contact for any concerns, questions, or community integration efforts via phone
. Every concern will be recorded and addressed through
a tracking process that is supervised by the Applicant’s Public Affairs Department. The concerns
will be responded to within 48-hours and move through a pipeline process that will ensure every
response is appropriately acknowledged.
Any further courses of action or resolution will be communicated with both the stakeholder and
the relevant City official, if necessary. Once the communications are addressed and finalized, the
Stephan’s manager will approve completion of the correspondence and implement follow-up
action required for mutual satisfaction. The Applicant has created a process flow for these types
of complaints and feedback as outlined below:
The Applicant will work to mitigate all issues before opening, however, should the Applicant
receive any complaints of noise, light, odor, litter, vehicles, or pedestrian traffic after the business
opens, the Applicant will investigate the source of the complaint and the time the complaint was
made to assess any further mitigation needed and any policy changes that need to be addressed. In
addition, the Applicant will implement robust COVID-19 procedures and recall procedures to
ensure the safety of all customers as described in Criteria 1.
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Noise: The Applicant will ensure that all intended noise from the business, including any music,
fits in with the Downtown Fresno community. The Applicant will work with its surrounding
businesses to create a queueing system that is not prohibitive to other businesses and ensures that
all customers are served safely and efficiently. In addition, the Applicant will only play music at a
level that is appropriate for the neighborhood and for the facility itself. Music will be played at a
low volume and will not be played outside. The noise level of the proposed cannabis business will
be no greater than that of a traditional retailer and will embody wellness, professionalism and
positivity. Further, the Applicant will engage in the local community and feature music from local
musicians, when possible. Prior to opening, the Applicant will test noise levels and check with
neighbors to ensure that the sound is at an acceptable level.
Light: The Applicant will utilize perimeter lighting that is both safe and secure, while not being
distracting or detrimental to other businesses. Perimeter lighting will be approved by the Chief of
Police and will be in line with Downtown Fresno’s current exterior lighting, to the extent possible,
while retaining all security measures outlined by Sec. 9-3310(b)(1)(iv). The Applicant will ensure
that its neighbors are given time to check on light levels and make any suggestions for adjustments
before the dispensary opens. For full lighting and surveillance plans, please see the Applicant’s
answers to Criteria 5.
Odor: The Applicant will utilize extensive and effective odor mitigation plan as described below,
in Section 3.3. The odor mitigation plan includes identifying potential sources of odor, robust
infrastructure and carbon filters, sanitation measures, environmental controls, and a plan to
enhance odor issues should they arise. Cresco has an excellent track record for mitigating odor and
the Applicant will employ its practices at the proposed facility in Fresno. The Applicant does not
expect odor being an issue at the facility because all product will come to the dispensary
prepackaged, but the Applicant will work with the community to abate any complaints of odor
should they arise.
Litter: As described in Section 3.2, the Applicant will ensure regular patrols to not only check on
any issues at its own facility, but will alert its neighbors of any concerns (such as graffiti or
loitering) if observed. The Applicant will utilize this plan to check its grounds for litter and keep
a continual watch throughout the day of any trash or unwanted debris as outlined in Section 3.7 of
this plan. The Applicant’s employees will be tasked with regularly inspecting the facility’s grounds
and immediate adjacent public rights-of-way for trash and will dispose of it securely. In addition,
the Applicant will strictly prohibit the consumption of any Cannabis Goods on its property to
ensure that there is no litter directly originating at the facility.
Vehicles/Pedestrian Traffic: Fulton Street is currently undergoing reconstruction from the Public
Works Department to increase usability for vehicles and pedestrians. There is ample parking
available in a large lot approximately 15 yards from the retail location at the corner of Inyo and
Fulton Street, with metered-parking opportunities on each side of Fulton Street. The City of Fresno
and Downtown Fresno Partnership are working to restore Fulton Street to its traditional historical
‘Main Street’ feel, and will be installing pedestrian scrambles at the intersection of Inyo and Fulton
Street. This will provide easy and diagonal crossing pedestrian access from the parking lot to the
side of the street with the retail location if there should be no street parking available.
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The Applicant will efficiently and effectively check IDs and queue customers to avoid excessive
foot traffic outside the facility based on emergency management assessment. The Applicant will
utilize its security guards to organize all exterior and interior queueing to guide customers through
the facility in an efficient manner. The Applicant’s facility will only have 1 dedicated ingress and
egress for customers, which will diminish any confusion on how or where to enter the facility. The
Applicant’s facility will only allow for on-street parking and will direct any purchasers coming by
vehicle to park in designated on-street parking or direct them to nearby parking lots to mitigate
traffic. The Applicant will encourage any customers who are coming in to pick up an online order
to the designated parking areas, to mitigate any obstruction of street traffic.
3.2. Describe how CCB will be managed to avoid become a nuisance or having impacts on
its neighbors and the surrounding community
The Applicant will ensure that the cannabis retail business is managed in a manner that prevents
the business from becoming a nuisance or having impacts on its neighbors or the surrounding
community. In addition to its community liaison, the Applicant will instate a regular community
meeting for residents and business owners to raise any issues with the cannabis retail business
along with any business updates from the Applicant. In addition, the Applicant will:
Operate with hours that are compatible with surrounding operations (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Pacific Time);
Have a security guards to streamline client entry, exit and parking;
Ensure security guards work in collaboration with Fresno Police Department to create a
safe neighborhood for everyone;
Sensitively handle homelessness concerns by trained staff with guidance from local law
enforcement;
Have a robust external video surveillance/monitoring system to ensure public safety and
proper use of parking and adjacent areas (See Criteria 5);
Ensure that exterior signage, marketing and advertisements are sleek, well-kept and
consistent with the downtown neighborhood design aesthetics for a like-minded feel;
Include premises checks for graffiti, trash, trespassers, and signs of vandalism in its
employees’ tasks
Participate in environmental cleanup days for the immediate area on a semi -annual basis
to perform graffiti removal, small repairs, and general cleaning;
Provide its contact information as required and as requested, and regularly interface with
neighboring operators who can communicate concerns;
Ensure recurring internal staff meetings for continual improvement; and
Provide a proactive complaint response program detailed herein.
Community Liaison: As described above, the Applicant has designated a Community and Outreach
Liaison for the Fresno dispensary in compliance with Sec. 9-3309(m). has been
Applicant’s Community Liaison for its existing cultivation facility in Carpinteria, California, since
2018. Stephan will expand her role for the Applicant’s proposed retail business in Fresno. Stephan
is an active member of her community in Santa Barbara and will further develop her connections
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in Fresno. Community members will be able to contact via phone
for any concerns, questions, or community integration efforts.
The Applicant will provide information to all businesses and residences located within
100 feet of the facility for any problems associated with the facility. See Sec. 9-3309(m)(1). The
Applicant will also ensure that Stephan attends meetings along with the owner and manager with
the City Manager and their designees to discuss costs, benefits, and other community relations
during the first year of operation, and will continue these meetings as needed after the first year of
business. Also, pursuant to Sec. 9-3309(m)(2), along with the owner(s) and manager(s)
will meet with the City Manager and his/her designees whenever, and as frequently as requested
by the City Manager and/or his/her designees.
has been extremely involved in local communities since joining the team in 2018.
is active in a variety of organizations in Santa Barbara and sits on the Board for the Carpinteria
Education Foundation, Carpinteria Rotary Club, CARP Growers, and the Lou Grant Parent Child
Workshop. She will extend her membership outside of Santa Barbara to the Fresno community
upon the awarding of the license. Stephan has managed community involvement for the
Applicant’s Carpinteria farm, resulting in 400 hours of service and over $52,500 funds distributed
throughout Santa Barbara County.
Connecting with the Community: In addition to the Applicant’s community integration efforts (See
Criteria 7) and design efforts, Stephan will assist the Fresno local team with quarterly town halls
for any community concerns. Stephan will also reach out directly to the Applicant’s neighbors and
provide them with her contact information for any impacts on the Applicant’s surroundings or
concerns.
On a quarterly basis for the first 2 years of operation, and biannually thereafter, the Applicant will
host either in-person or virtual meetings where community stakeholders can address their
comments in an open forum – translation services will be provided upon request. This
creates positive dialogue and displays the Applicant’s intent to be good operators and great
neighbors. In these forums, Stephan will address residents’ questions and concerns, provide
business updates when appropriate, and serve as the primary point of contact for Fresno
community members to engage with the Applicant. The agenda of the community meetings will
be summarized and relayed via email to attendees or those who are interested in what was
discussed. These community meetings will also provide an opportunity for the Applicant’s team
to give updates on performed or planned volunteerism, special educational sessions the store is
hosting, and upcoming events in the community where the Applicant can support the Fresno
area. (See Criteria 7 for full Community Benefits and Investments Plan).
Pursuant to Sec. 9-3309(m)(3), the Applicant has developed a public outreach and educational
program for youth organizations and educational institutions that outlines the risks of youth use of
cannabis, and that identifies resources available to youth related to drugs and drug addiction. The
Applicant will utilize Cresco’s infrastructure for community integration for this program and
intends to create programming that goes above and beyond satisfying this requirement to become
a cornerstone of the community for responsible cannabis use. See Criteria 7 for more details on
the Applicant’s community integration, social equity, and public education efforts.
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Further, the Applicant will work to be a positive impact on its neighbors by utilizing its security
staff to patrol not only the dispensary, but watch for other disruptions to the community by alerting
its neighbors of any graffiti during regular patrols, or any unusual or suspicious behavior outside
neighboring establishments.
3.3. Odor Mitigation Practices
The Applicant has created an odor control plan for its dispensary that demonstrates the
implementation of ventilation and air purification systems with demonstrated effectiveness at
Cresco’s other dispensaries. Cresco’s ventilation and air purification system has had success in
highly regulated markets including Illinois, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Cresco
has never had odor complaints and has never had to expand its odor mitigation efforts past those
described below. Cresco has an excellent track record of maintaining compliance with all odor
requests. In that regard, the Applicant is prepared to take any additional measures that the City
requires to further abate any odor concerns and will ensure the facility is in compliance with all
odor mitigation requirements outlined by Sec. 9-3309(j), including but not limited to an exhaust
air filtration system with odor control that prevents internal odors and pollen from being emitted
externally; and an air system that creates negative air pressure between the premises interior and
exterior so that the odors generated inside the premises are not detectable outside the premises.
The Applicant’s plan for odor control considers 5 sections of the dispensary’s operations and
facility construction that will work together to ensure odor is not detected at the facility, including:
1) implementation of sanitation measures, 2) environmental controls, 3) mitigating odor from
display product, 4) ventilation and air purification systems, and 5) enhancing odor mitigation
practices as needed.
1. Sanitation Measures: In order to minimize any contact odor the facility may produce, the
Applicant will ensure that the dispensary is kept in a sanitary condition at all times, and will charge
the manager with the task of maintaining the interior and exterior of the facility in a sanitary
condition. The Applicant will ensure a comfortable space, minimizing intrusive odors and creating
environmental controls to maintain cannabis products from degradation and contamination.
Keeping the dispensary sanitary and clean will ensure all product is properly stored, surfaces are
sanitized including Point-of-Sale (“POS”) areas that may have more odor due to display, and
storage areas are kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute a hazard from fire,
explosion, the harboring of pests, or a further source of odor. Further, the Applicant’s routine
sanitation and maintenance practices include, but are not limited to: maintaining a regular
cleaning/maintenance schedule; keeping work areas clean and dry; wiping down surfaces; keeping
the vault organized and clean, removing trash; maintaining cracks, window and door frames, drain
areas, and floor joints; removing any food or water supply outside of the facility; if pests are found
on the facility, capturing and removing them or contacting the pest control service provider; and
checking that all dumpsters are closed at all times unless in use. The Applicant will also use waste
receptacles constructed of a smooth, corrosion resistant, and easily cleanable material with solid,
tight-fitting covers. The number, size, and location of waste receptacles at the Applicant’s facility
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will encourage their use and not result in overfilling. All receptacles will be emptied at least once
each working day, unless unused, and will be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
2. Environmental Controls: The Applicant will have sufficient heating, ventilation, air
conditioning, lighting, and dehumidification to ensure quality of cannabis product and prevent
degradation. Further, storage areas will have good airflow and rooms will have controls to manage
humidity and temperature. All environmental control within the dispensary will be controlled,
monitored, and recorded via the building automation system (“BAS”). The BAS will include
lighting, temperature, heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, and ventilation controls.
It will also allow for remote monitoring and alert notifications if conditions exceed programmed
thresholds. Product storage areas will be absent of light except as required for employee function,
will have no windows, will have a room temperature of 65-69°F and 45-50% relative humidity,
and adequate air circulation to mitigate the potential for microclimates, the degradation of product,
and to promote a consistent storage environment.
3. Mitigating Odor from Product Displays: See Section 3.4 herein.
4. Air and Ventilation Systems: See Section 3.5 herein.
5. Enhancing Odor Mitigation Practices: See Section 3.5 herein.
3.4. Potential Sources of Odor
Mitigating Odor from Product Displays: The Applicant intends to display cannabis as outlined by
CCR 16-42-3 5405(a) (2019), which can sometimes be a source of odor. To mitigate display odor
and any other peripheral cannabis odor, products will only be displayed in the retail area. To ensure
that product displays and customer inspection serve their purpose, but minimize excess odor from
product displays, sniff jars will be placed in close enough proximity to the ventilation system. The
sniff jars utilize an aroma plug to mitigate odor at the source. These sniff jars have been tested in
other highly regulated markets and will ensure that odor is not detectable outside of the facility.
Further, to ensure all packaging mitigates odor, the Applicant will work with cannabis cultivators
and producers to ensure that all cannabis that comes to the dispensary is prepackaged in a manner
that minimizes odor – including child-proof packaging and plastic packaging is at least 4 mils thick
and heat-sealed in compliance with CCR 16-42-3 5404 (A)(2) (2019).
3.5. Odor Control Devices and Techniques
Air and Ventilation Systems: The Applicant will install an odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust
system so that any cannabis odor generated inside the dispensary is not detected outside of the
location or anywhere on adjacent property by implementing an effective activated carbon filter air
purification system in compliance with Sec. 3309-9(j). This system includes installing the best
available fans and activated carbon filters for odor mitigation at locations where odor may be most
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apparent, including at entrances and product storage areas. To increase effectiveness of the carbon
filters, they will be changed every 90 days and will be installed into an inline fan.
Enhancing Odor Mitigation Practices: Should the Applicant see any need to enhance odor
mitigation due to unforeseen circumstances, the Applicant has additional measures it can employ
to further minimize odor detection. The Applicant can enhance odor mitigation by placing
containers of odor-absorbing gel around the dispensary. Odor-reducing gel, like Ona gel, emits an
air-freshening smell while absorbing and containing offensive odors. Ona gel is extremely
effective in reducing the smell of odors and it does not require forced air to be effective. Staff can
remove the lid of an Ona gel container and place it in any area of the building with good air flow.
Staff can increase odor control even further by pouring gel into a tray and setting it out for air-
exposure, thus increasing the rate of evaporation.
3.6. Proposed Staff Odor Training and System Maintenance
The Applicant will require all new hires to complete odor and system maintenance training before
starting work at the dispensary. Documentation on this training will be kept in accordance with
CCR-42-16-1 5037 (2019). The Applicant will train all its employees to keep track of all
complaints made to the facility and record them categorizing each by the type of complaint made,
the date, who made the complaint, and what was done to fix the issue, utilizing the above process
flow outlined in Section 3.1. All training on facility-specific protocols will be done in-person
onsite, with a trained manager pointing out each step that needs to be taken to ensure all facility
controls are working properly and all complaints are properly logged.
The Applicant will ensure that odor training and system maintenance training happens at least
annually, and more often if issues arrive or should new systems be put into place. The Applicant
will train each employee how it should check the grounds for litter and dispose of it properly,
check for excess odor in public rights-of-way as a person with normal sensitivity, and how to
ensure that all environmental controls are in place and who is in charge of system maintenance.
The Applicant will train each employee on all environmental control systems including ventilation
techniques, lighting, temperature, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification controls – this
includes assessing each system for functionality and appropriate ranges where necessary.
Checking of environmental control systems will be done at the beginning of each day, and will be
included in the Applicant’s opening procedures. Should any issue with an environmental control
system arise, the Applicant will ensure that each employee is trained to notify a manager and the
appropriate system vendor to schedule maintenance as soon as possible to mitigate any potential
inventory, odor, or other unforeseen issues.
3.7. Waste Management
All non-cannabis waste will be stored appropriately and disposed of promptly, so it does not
become a nuisance, create unsanitary conditions, or promote pest infestation. All sweepings, solid
wastes, liquid wastes, refuse, and garbage will be removed in a manner that avoids creating a
menace to health, and as often as necessary or appropriate, to maintain the place of employment
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in a sanitary condition. In accordance with this policy, it will be strictly prohibited to keep, deposit
on, or scatter over the premises any of the following: accumulated media, junk, trash or debris;
abandoned, discarded, or unused tools, objects or equipment; or any pile of trash which may spread
or harbor disease, emit unpleasant odors or harmful gas, attract vermin, pests, animals or insects.
Specifically, compliant waste destruction will be critical to operating the Applicant’s dispensary.
Employees will destroy cannabis and cannabis-infused products in compliance with CCR 16-42-
1 5054 (2019) by rendering them unusable using methods approved by the BCC. The Applicant’s
preferred method of destruction is by grinding and incorporating the waste with other ground
material, so the resulting mixture is at least 50 percent non-cannabis waste. All waste management
operations will take place on sanitized work surfaces, supervised by a manager, under video
surveillance, and performed utilizing a properly registered National Type Evaluation Program
(“NTEP”) scale. Approved scales will be certified for accuracy once yearly and they may integrate
into the seed-to-sale tracking system to ensure accurate waste reporting. Once destruction is
complete, a contracted private waste hauler or approved municipal waste service will deliver
cannabis waste to a permitted solid waste facility for final disposal.
As required by the BCC, the Applicant will also securely store all cannabis waste before final
disposal in a segregated area in the receiving/eradication room. Disposal will be performed in
designated areas in the receiving/eradication room for disposal activities. Waste disposal areas will
remain under 24/7 video surveillance from at least 2 angles. All cannabis intended for disposal
will be clearly labeled as such and will be segregated from all cannabis that is approved for
distribution, thus ensuring that no product intended for disposal accidentally gets dispensed. For
all cannabis waste, employees will weigh, record, and enter data into the inventory system before
rendering it unusable. A dispensary manager will verify all waste destroying activity, which must
be in an area with video surveillance. In addition, the Applicant will keep electronic documentation
of destruction and disposal for a period of at least 7 years.
Sanitation: Proper sanitation will be a critical component of safe dispensing procedures and quality
control. The Applicant will keep the entire building and all equipment in a clean and sanitary
condition, including keeping the facility free from insects, rodents, or pests. All equipment,
utensils, and contact surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized regularly throughout the day to ensure
proper cleaning and prevent contamination. All sanitizers and disinfectants used to prevent
contamination will be used in accordance with labeled instructions. The Applicant will provide
employees and visitors convenient handwashing sinks furnished with running water at a
temperature suitable for sanitizing hands. Handwashing stations will have soap, sanitizer, and
single use paper towels. Employees will wash their hands and exposed portions of their arms
thoroughly at the following times: before starting work and at any other time when hands may
have become soiled or contaminated; after returning from a non-limited access area; after using
the restroom; after touching their face, eating, or drinking; and immediately before and after
handling cannabis, equipment, or utensils.
The manager and key employees within the dispensary will be responsible for ensuring that the
facility stays free of pests. Adequate protection against pests will be provided using integrated pest
management practices and techniques that identify and manage pest problems, and the regular
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disposal of trash to prevent infestation. This will require daily inspections of the facility, with focus
at all entry points, the storage area, and anywhere there are trash receptacles.
Daily Facility Cleaning: The dispensary will be kept and maintained in a sanitary condition at all
times. The manager will be responsible for maintaining the interior and exterior of the facility in a
sanitary condition. Storage areas will be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute a
hazard from fire, explosion, or the harboring of pests. Materials, including scrap and debris, will
be piled, stacked, or placed in a container in a manner that does not create a hazard to employees.
The Applicant will use waste receptacles constructed of a smooth, corrosion resistant, and easily
cleanable material. The number, size, and location of waste receptacles at the Applicant’s
dispensary will encourage their use and not result in overfilling. They will be emptied at least once
each working day, unless unused, and will be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. The
Applicant will use receptacles with a solid, tight-fitting cover unless sanitary conditions can be
maintained without the use of a cover.
The Applicant’s routine sanitation and maintenance practices include: upholding a regular
schedule for cleaning and maintenance activities and record corresponding logs; keeping work
areas clean, dry, and free of mold, mildew, debris and other clutter; removing trash; maintaining
cracks, window and door frames, drain areas, and floor joints with sealant to limit pest movement;
eradicating any weeds or pest habitats surrounding the facility; controlling airborne contamination
as needed where marijuana products or contact surfaces are exposed; inspecting the facility for
mold and having a mold expert address any mold found in the facility immediately; checking that
any pipes within 20 feet of the building are closed-ended, not leaking, and are carrying sufficient
quantities of water to required locations throughout the facility; cutting grass and weeds to
minimize pests; removing any food or water supply outside of the facility that could attract and
support a pest population; if pests are found on the facility, capturing and removing them or
contacting your pest control service provider to capture and remove the pests; and checking that
all dumpsters are closed to exclude pests and close any dumpsters that are open.
Pest Control: The manager will be tasked with implementing and monitoring the Applicant’s pest
control policies as needed. They will ensure that employees are appropriately tasked with day-to-
day documentation of pest management, findings, and corrective actions taken to mitigate pests.
The Applicant’s pest management procedures include monitoring traps, glue boards, interior and
exterior rodent control devices, controlling birds through exclusion measures, using a registered
and certified pest control service, and utilizing facility cleaning and maintenance procedures to
limit or prevent pests. The Applicant will ensure that all employees are instructed to record all
installation and maintenance of mitigation procedures on the Facility Maintenance Log and are
indicated on a facility diagram with their date of placement to ensure that maintenance procedures
are followed across shifts.
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4. SAFETY PLAN
The Applicant has created a Safety Plan that considers all possible fire, medical, and hazardous
situations. Utilizing the Applicant’s Parent Company’s, Cresco Labs (“Cresco”), corporate
infrastructure and emergency procedures from other jurisdictions, the Applicant has created a plan
that ensures that each section of safety, from securing a Fire Suppression Consultant to emergency
procedures, is ready in case of an emergency on Day 1. This plan ensures that all regulations by
the City of Fresno in the Fresno Municipal Code (“FMC”) and by the Bureau of Cannabis Control
(“BCC”) are followed while keeping each employee and customer as safe as possible. The
Applicant’s Safety Plan includes the Applicant’s: 1) professional fire prevention and suppression
consultant; 2) accident and incident reporting procedures; 3) evacuation routes; 4) fire
extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment; and 5) procedures and training for all fire and
medical emergencies.
4.1. Professional Fire Prevention and Suppression Consultant
The Applicant has secured a professional fire prevention and suppression consultant,
who has assessed this plan for safety (see Letter and Slide Deck
attached hereto as Exhibit A). The Applicant chose Matson because not only is it a local company,
it is the company currently managing the fire prevention and suppression systems for the entire
building where the Applicant’s proposed location is and the other tenants in the building. Matson
Alarm Company is the largest local, privately owned security company in the Central Valley, with
its corporate office in Fresno, and other offices in Visalia, Bakersfield, and Modesto. Matson
works with as its Fresno Partner. Skynet is a licensed security
consultant and integrator headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with local partners across Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, Georgia, Ohio, California, Florida, and Texas. Skynet
works with a variety of markets, including hospitals and non-profits, manufacturing and industrial
facilities, retail and service facilities, and government/public sector buildings. Matson will ensure
that the Applicant’s location is up-to-date with current safety standards and meets or exceeds all
requirements by the City of Fresno.
In addition, this Safety Plan has been developed and reviewed by Mr. is a
security and safety professional who serves as the Director of Security- Retail for Cresco Labs. A
signed attestation from Mr. is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
4.2. Accident and Incident Reporting Procedures
The Applicant understands that it has specific reporting requirements to the BCC, in compliance
with CCR 16-42-1 5035 (2019), outside of its requirements to report diversion, theft, loss, or other
criminal activity. The Applicant has created an accident and incident reporting plan that covers
all reporting requirements required by the BCC and the Fresno City Manager, incident assessment
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and containment, response to larceny and diversion, and a workflow that covers the entire process
step by step.
For each reportable event, the Applicant will ensure that all the following steps are covered (as
outlined on the workflow included herein):
1. If incident is discovered by a Wellness Advisor, report the incident to the dispensary
manager;
2. The dispensary manager will report the incident to the Security Director (see Criteria 5),
Cresco’s Retail Director, Compliance, and Legal Team;
3. This stakeholder group will assess the issue and delegate next steps, including:
o Conducting an investigation and mitigating the issue
o Filing an Incident Report
o Communicating response to the BCC and City Manager
4. After issue has been communicated and mitigated, the Applicant will conduct a post-
incident review and adjust any policies for prevention and remediation of reportable events
in the future.
The Applicant will ensure that it reports all instances of the following both within 48 hours of the
occurrence and in its annual license renewal:
• Criminal conviction of any owner;
• Civil penalty or judgement;
• Revocation of local authorization; or
• An administrative order for violation of labor standards.
In addition, the Applicant is committed to cooperating with the Fresno City Manager to inspect or
audit the effectiveness of any security plan or other requirements in accordance with Sec. 9-
3310(b)(4). The Applicant will also notify the City Manager within 24 hours of the occurrence of
any of the following:
• Significant discrepancies identified during inventory;
• Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the cannabis retail business or any
employee of the cannabis retail business;
• The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis, customers, or employees
of the cannabis retail business; and
• Any other breach of security. See Sec. 9-3310(b)(5).
Incident Assessment and Containment
The Applicant will follow all rules and regulations pertaining to reporting adverse events as
outlined above and will use Cresco’s existing suite of standard operating procedures (“SOPs”) to
ensure that events are reported properly and in a timely manner. This includes training all
employees to understand incident response procedures to ensure the BCC is notified and all details
are recorded.
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The Security Director will determine the category and severity of the incident and determine the
next best course of action. All discussions, decisions, and activities will be documented. The
Security Director will be responsible for checking all surveillance footage and communicating any
findings to the stakeholder group in the second step of the workflow. The Retail Director will be
responsible for assessing all recordkeeping and employee interviews and communicating to the
same stakeholder group. Cresco’s Legal and Compliance teams will assess all regulatory and
licensing requirements with the stakeholder group, as well. The Applicant will notify the BCC of
the following, in compliance with CCR 16-42-1 5036(a) (2019): if the Applicant is unable to
comply with any licensing requirements due to a disaster that caused the facility to close (See CCR
16-42-1 5038(a) (2019)); and if the incident being assessed and contained resulted in any theft,
burglary, diversion of cannabis goods or other criminal activity.
In addition, the Applicant will review and maintain records regarding any complaints about its
cannabis products. These records will include but not be limited to: Complaint/Adverse Event Log;
any records related to the investigation of the complaint (e.g., name of product, date of production,
product tracking information); any records collected by the recall team; and any records generated
to formulate an appropriate response.
Response to Larceny and Diversion
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The report will be filed and maintained in the Applicant’s business records for 7 years after the
date of the incident and will be made available to the BCC upon request in accordance with CCR
16-42-1 5037(a)(6) (2019).
Incident Review
After any reportable incident, the Applicant will ensure that a post-incident review is scheduled
within 2 to 3 weeks of the incidents resolution and will involve all appropriate employees, an
examination of the incident and related activities and events, and a discussion of proposed changes
to policy and processes.
The Applicant’s Post-Incident Report will include, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in
CCR 16-42-1 5036(a)(5)(b) (2019):
• A description of incident events with specific timelines;
• Employee(s) involved;
• Non-employees involved;
• Impact to affected parties;
• Discussions, decisions and assignments made;
• Any communications with the BCC, in the form of a Notification Request Form, local
licensing authorities, and local law enforcement;
• Successful and unsuccessful activities;
• Notifications required or recommended;
• Steps taken for containment and resolution;
• Recommendations for prevention and remediation (short-term and long-term);
Identification of policy and procedure gaps;
• Results of post-incident review; and
• Any necessary follow-up actions.
Accident and Incident Reporting Workflow
The Applicant has created a workflow that will be readily available for all employees in the event
a reportable event occurs. This workflow ensures that the fewest cannabis retail business
employees are aware of the situation for seamless operations and to ensure the confidentiality and
integrity of the investigation.
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4.3. Evacuation Routes
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Evacuation Procedures
The Applicant’s Evacuation Procedures address the when, where, and how to safely evacuate the
facility:
4.4. Location of Fire Extinguishers and Other Fire Suppression Equipment
Working with Matson, the Applicant has identified 5 locations throughout the cannabis retail
business that it will place fire extinguishers to ensure that each section of the facility will have
access to a fire extinguisher: the IT room, Sales Counter, Check-In Counter, Sales Floor, and Vault.
In addition, the Applicant and Matson will ensure that the building will have a sprinkler system
installed along with light strobes and horns throughout the building in strategic places to alert the
entire facility in case of an emergency.
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4.5. Procedures and Training for All Fire and Medical Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, adhering to the general steps developed in this guide maximizes the
opportunity for the safe protection and, if necessary, orderly evacuation or relocation of all
occupants as outlined above. Safety of building occupants is the primary concern of any emergency
plan. The preservation of the building and contents is secondary.
The Applicant will train each employee on the following procedures, in person at the facility to
ensure that each employee understands where and when all procedures should take place. This
training will occur within the first 30 days of employment, per the Applicant’s training plan (See
Criteria 4). The Applicant will ensure that the majority of all employees are trained on emergency
procedures during the facility’s opening hours, so that all employees and customers stay safe and
can be directed appropriately in the case of an emergency.
Emergency Procedures
Immediate and Life Threatening Emergency………………........................................................911
Any employee that recognizes an immediate and life-threatening emergency will notify the
dispensary manager and security guards of the emergency and that emergency vehicle is en-route.
The dispensary manager is responsible for calling 911. After calling 911, the dispensary manager
will notify the appropriate cannabis retail facility designees.
Fire
1. Notification in the Case of Confirmed Fire: Assess the situation. Sound fire alarms. The
dispensary manager should call 911 and be prepared to relay the exact physical street
location and building: Example: "There is a fire at Sunnyside* Fresno, located at 736-742
Fulton Street” Also, give specific location within a building: Example: "The fire is in the
lobby."
2. If you See or Smell Smoke or Other Suspicious Odors: Call the dispensary manager and
alert others – Initiate voice alert. Example: "Fire, Fire, Fire!"
3. When Notified of Fire in your Work Area or Building: Evacuate the building. Do not return
to your work area/building until notified by the security guards or dispensary manager that
it is safe to return.
4. If you Encounter Smoke or Flames: Stay calm. Crawl low under the smoke to get to clean
air. Reach up as high as you can and touch the doorknob with the back of your hand. If the
doorknob is hot, use another escape route. If the doorknob is cool, open it cautiously and
continue along your escape route. Evacuate using stairwells – do not use elevators. Follow
directions from security guards and the dispensary manager. Proceed to the designated
meeting point. Authorized employees: Use fire extinguisher only if you have been trained
and fire is small.
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Accidental Spill of Hazardous Substance
1. Spills / Releases that are Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH): Quick Steps –
Sound the fire alarm. Dial 911 from any phone or 911 from any other phone from an area
away from the incident. All employees and customers are to immediately evacuate the area
to a designated meeting point, as instructed by emergency personnel, for possible
decontamination.
2. Spills / Releases that are Immediately not IDLH but Require Technical Assistance: Quick
Steps – Notify the dispensary manager or security guards who will be responsible for
calling 911 or the 311 non-emergent line.
Medical Emergencies
1. Major Medical Emergencies: Action should be taken in cases of life-threatening situations
such as:
• an unconscious person;
• no breathing or choking;
• cardiac arrest;
• severe bleeding; or
• any other similar situations.
If you are unsure about the seriousness of the situation do not hesitate to call emergency assistance
(911). Attempts should be made to assist the victim. Upon observation of the medical emergency,
take the following actions:
• If you are able, render first aid/CPR or obtain assistance of someone who is accessible
and willing to manage the situation.
• Call or have someone call 911 for EMS and then alert the dispensary manager and
security guards.
• State the nature or type of emergency.
• Give the location of building, floor or room.
• Identify the person and any other pertinent information which will help prepare
responders.
Age
Gender
Symptoms victim is exhibiting
Pre-existing health condition (if known)
Medication the victim may be taking (if known)
• Stay with victim until emergency personnel arrive.
• Have another individual in the area meet the emergency personnel to expedite
locating the victim inside a building.
• Following the medical emergency, prepare an incident report regarding the actions
taken in response to the emergency.
2. Medical Emergencies and Injuries (General): Injuries which are not life threatening, but
which have occurred on the property:
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• First aid should be provided within the scope of knowledge and skill by anyone who
is readily accessible and willing to manage the situation.
• If necessary, security guards will assist the injured person in arranging transportation
to a hospital.
• The Applicant’s employees will not, as the Applicant’s representatives, provide
personal transportation for injured or ill persons. Call EMS 911 and notify the
dispensary manager and security guards.
Disruptive or Disorderly Conduct
If a person is perceived to be at immediate risk or danger to themselves or others call 911.
1. Incidents involving complaints or minor misconduct by visitors, other non-employee
individuals should be resolved by dispensary managers when at all possible. All incidents
are to be reported to security guards.
2. If security guards are unable to immediately resolve the incident/complaint: Call 911.
3. Major incidents should be immediately reported to security guards and reported to
appropriate dispensary management and ownership.
Weapons on Site
Anyone having knowledge of a weapon or an armed person onsite should immediately call 911
from any phone, and then alert security guards onsite.
1. Be prepared to provide the following information to emergency personnel:
• Location of the armed person.
• Type of weapon, i.e. rifle, pistol, knife.
• Actions (and, if know, purpose) of armed individual.
• A complete description of the individual.
• Whether or not any shots have been fired.
• Your name and where you can be located if needed.
2. After notifying emergency personnel, notify security guards and the dispensary manager
of the situation. Unless otherwise directed, persons onsite should remain in their office or
working area with doors closed and locked, if possible. If there is danger of shots being
fired or if shots have been fired, all persons should lie on the floor and remain as calm as
possible. Individuals should remain in a place of safety until notified by security guards or
the dispensary manager that any danger has been resolved.
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Bomb Threat Procedures
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Bomb Discovery
If a bomb or suspicious package is discovered in a building or on the cannabis retail business’
grounds. The Applicant will ensure the following procedure:
• DO NOT TOUCH - Leave the building.
• Notify onsite security guards.
Severe Weather Alerts
A decision to dismiss employees or close the facility will be made by management and/or
ownership when weather or other conditions pose a potentially serious threat to the health or safety
of the cannabis retail business’ visitors and employees.
DURING NON-BUSINESS HOURS
The decision to close the cannabis retail business for day shifts will be made as much before 8:00
a.m. Pacific Time as possible and will automatically extend through noon. The decision to extend
the closing beyond noon will be made as much before the time as possible and will include
canceling all scheduled evening shifts.
The decision will be communicated using the following process:
1. Upon notification from management/ownership, dispensary managers will notify their
employees.
2. The dispensary manager will notify the news media of the closing decision, if such
notification seems necessary.
3. Employees may also be notified via phone message or text message. Employees are
encouraged to provide cell phone numbers with texting service in order to receive alerts
and messages.
DURING BUSINESS HOURS
1. If operations are in session and the cannabis retail business is occupied, the notification to
close may be done in person or by telephone.
2. Should the decision be made to close the cannabis retail business, employees should
prepare work areas as necessary to lessen potential property loss from the adverse event.
Such as:
• Disconnecting all electrical equipment – computer, TV, VCR, computers, calculator,
coffee pots, etc.
• Moving delicate or electrical equipment away from windows toward the interior walls
to the extent possible.
• Securing (close and lock) windows and doors when leaving and turning off all lights.
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Tornado
Tornadoes give little or no advance warning. Extreme and sudden winds can present similar
hazards. Take precautions upon notification of tornado-like weather. A tornado watch means that
weather conditions are right for a tornado. During a watch, the security guards and dispensary
manager should stay alert to changing weather conditions. A tornado warning means that a tornado
has been sighted. You should:
• Seek shelter inside building or other secure location. Avoid glass and exposure to flying
debris.
• Take cover on the lowest floor possible in an inside closet, restroom, central hallway, or
other enclosed space without windows, or under study furniture.
• Stay away from areas with wide span roofs or windows, such as the cafeteria, gymnasium.
• If time does not allow for movement, cover should be taken away from glass windows and
under protective items such as tables or desks.
• Once individuals have reached a shelter or "take cover" location, they should assume a
seated position on the floor with their heads down and their hands over their heads or place
themselves under a desk or between fixed seating (if available) with heads lower than the
backs of the seats.
Flood
• Be aware of road conditions during periods of extremely heavy rainfall.
• Facilities may not be exposed to flooding themselves, but hazardous conditions may exist
in traveling to and from these locations. Avoid going near flooded areas.
• Do no drive into flooded streets. Water depth is unknown, and the condition of the roadway
is not certain.
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SAFETY PLAN: EXHIBIT A
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SAFETY PLAN: EXHIBIT B
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SAFETY PLAN: EXHIBIT C
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5. SECURITY PLAN
The Applicant’s site security plan leverages the regulatory and compliance knowledge of the
Applicant’s operational facilities in California while applying the best practices and standard
operating procedures (“SOPs”) from the Applicant’s Parent Company’s, Cresco Labs (“Cresco”),
cannabis retail business operations. The Applicant’s site security plan was designed by Cresco’s
security and retail personnel who have extensive experience designing and implementing similar
floor and security plans across the country. As the Applicant’s security overlay (included below)
depicts, the site has been designed to maximize security within the space, with every activity
monitored each step of the way. The plan ensures effective security measures that keep all
employees, customers, and goods within the facility safe through tested access control systems,
inventory control systems, and safe cash handling practices.
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7. COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND INVESTMENTS PLAN
As an experienced cannabis retail operator with more than 20 dispensaries nationwide, the
Applicant’s parent company, Cresco Labs (“Cresco”) has witnessed both the business and civic
value of thoughtful and robust community education in multiple markets nationwide. This critical
component of successful community integration and retail operations is an invaluable aspect of
Cresco’s and the Applicant’s business – at the core of their corporate values. As outlined by the
Fresno Municipal Code (“FMC”) Sec. 9-3309(m), the Applicant has created a plan that considers
the communities needs while leveraging Cresco’s experience with community integration;
includes local partnerships through a social responsibility plan; creates opportunities for
expungement clinics and outreach services; considers projects for environmental sustainability and
the use of blighted land; ensures a robust public health outreach and educational program; and
commits to community investment and contributions to the Fresno Community Reinvestment
Fund.
Fresno is a close-knit community filled with character and culture. This is exemplified through its
existing cultural community events, its growing focus on social equity, and its love for the arts as
seen through its beautiful murals throughout the city. Fresno, like most communities in the San
Joaquin Valley area, has been negatively impacted by the War on Drugs and suffered from
community disinvestments. To be impactful and successful with social responsibility efforts, the
Applicant will partner with local organizations that are already doing important work in Fresno
and its surrounding communities to both support existing programming and assist in building out
additional opportunities to serve residents. Conversations with local community and business
leaders have already led to an intimate dialogue surrounding immediate local needs and
opportunities in the community. Through both short- and long-term investments, the Applicant
looks to support initiatives that have been identified by trusted community stakeholders as a
priority, and which have a proven track record of impacting positive change combating the decades
of damage resulting from the War on Drugs. By listening and allocating investments accordingly,
the Applicant will support organizations that serve as the voice of the community.
The Applicant will provide local community support by aiding, participating in, and funding the
work of local nonprofits, community-based organizations, civic organizations, and social service
organizations through event and program sponsorship, volunteering, providing educational
resources, and both monetary and in-kind contributions. As a member of the Fresno business
community, the Applicant will participate in City-sponsored activities and show support for
initiatives that matter to Fresno residents and align with the Applicant’s mission and values, in
accordance with state and local regulations.
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Cresco’s Participation in Community Events Nationwide
The Applicant also benefits from Cresco’s existing network of operational facilities. With
experience in every city in with it operates throughout the United States, Cresco has demonstrated
its ability to meaningfully participate in community-based events and programs in diverse ways
that best suit the community’s needs. The Applicant will build on that track record in Fresno.
Recent examples of Cresco’s participation include:
In preparation for opening its manufacturing facility in Marshall, Michigan, Cresco learned
from local stakeholders that the city’s holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony were
important aspects of the community’s holiday celebrations. Cresco made financial
contributions to both events and got into the holiday spirit by decorating a pickup truck
with lights and other festive decor that 9 of its employees from both Michigan and Illinois
accompanied in the parade.
Through open communication with business leaders, Cresco learned that the Village of
Elmwood Park in Illinois (where it operates a retail location) valued its annual Fight Night
fundraiser. The event supports village-sponsored programming including the summertime
Concerts in the Park series as well as the popular Fall Fest. Fight Night is consistently well-
attended by hundreds of residents, and the Village Manager has said “there’s no doubt
[Fight Night] builds community.” Cresco served as a Ring Level sponsor, and its awareness
that supporting Fight Night was important to the community earned Cresco an even
stronger reputation as a good corporate citizen, furthering opportunities to engage with
local organizations with trust, transparency and mutual respect.
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7.1 Social Responsibility Plan
The Applicant will leverage best practices from partnerships throughout all of Cresco’s network
states to execute meaningful programming and support existing initiatives that are important to
Fresno residents and align with the Applicant’s mission and values. Its carefully selected partners
for the social responsibility plan include Arte Americas, Fresno Black Chamber of Commerce, and
the Fresno Arts Council, in addition to expungement clinic efforts in partnership with Fresno Live
Scan, Fresno Clean Slate Program, Barrios Unidos, Fresh Start Law Center, and the Fresno Public
Defender’s Office. The Applicant’s plans with these organizations are set forth below.
Local Partnership: Arte Americas
In its initial year, the Applicant will allocate $100,000 to Arte Americas (“Artes”) to support its
capital campaign in efforts to further renovations and acquire systems needed to obtain official
museum accreditation. Artes is in the heart of downtown Fresno and serves neighborhoods and
communities most impacted by the War on Drugs and decades of disinvestment. The success and
longevity of Artes is crucial to the culture and history of Fresno. Its success and eventual
accreditation as a museum would both elevate the organization and benefit the greater community.
It will become one of few acknowledged cultural hubs for California and the country. Helping
elevate Artes to museum status will also bring economic opportunity to the community and region.
The economic development impact to the Fresno area would be exponential by the influx of
visitors as they patronage local businesses, restaurants, and lodging establishments.
To further assist with operating support for capital needs, renovations, equipment, maintenance,
and new technologies, the Applicant will invest $100,000 annually in Artes and its programs.
Beyond a culture center, Artes serves as a hub for community education – offering online healthy
culinary programming, providing a venue for local farmers to sell their goods, offering low impact
workouts for seniors, and executing bilingual programming. Through this continual investment,
the Applicant will assist in sustaining an institution that provides resources to community members
beyond (future) immediate staff. Should the center face an unfortunate event and shut down, the
Applicant will reallocate the funds to another cultural institution serving the community in a
similar and multi-faceted manner. To gauge impact and identify opportunities for improvement in
the partnership, the Applicant will collaborate on bi-annual reports from Artes outlining the impact
of the Applicant’s contributions and best opportunities for continued engagement.
Local Partnership: Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
The Applicant understands the potential impact of the cannabis industry to contribute to
revitalizing communities. The Applicant wants to provide pathways for justice-impacted
individuals to find opportunities within the cannabis industry. To assist with efforts, the Applicant
will invest $75,000 annually and partner with the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce to
grow and sustain its Fresno Recently Incarcerated Entrepreneur Network and Discovery Strategy
(“FRIENDS”) Program. The mission of the FRIENDS Program is to empower system-impacted
communities of color and formerly incarcerated individuals to explore entrepreneurship as a
pathway to self-sufficiency and financial sustainability. Through this program, and in partnership
with the Chamber, the Applicant will provide educational content to individuals impacted by the
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war on drugs who now seek a career in business and potentially within the cannabis industry. In
collaboration with Cresco’s Social Equity & Education Development (“SEED”) initiative, the
Applicant will provide qualifying community members access to classes, content and technical
assistance to support participants’ successful entry to the burgeoning cannabis industry. Residents
will also have the opportunity to participate in workforce development programming including
resume writing, interview skills workshops, and special recruitments events. Partnering with the
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce will allow access to populations who may benefit
from existing workforce development initiatives with other partners in the Fresno area hence
creating a pipeline of local opportunity and pathways to employment in the cannabis industry.
These programs will allow the Applicant to positively impact Fresno residents by creating
pathways to professional opportunities in the cannabis industry, build equity, and revitalize the
local community.
Local Partnership: Fresno Arts Council
The Applicant has secured a partnership with The Fresno Arts Council (“FAC”), the local arts
agency designated by the County Board of Supervisors to serve the county’s citizens. A State-
Local partner to the California Arts Council, FAC is charged with providing financial support,
services, or other programs to a variety of cultural arts organizations, individual artists, and the
diverse communities of the county. The Applicant is committing $50,000 annually to FAC to
support its operations and assist with creating an art space for community members experiencing
homelessness through its Arts in Corrections and Rehabilitation program, which helps to prepare
incarcerated individuals for success upon release, enhance rehabilitative goals, and improve the
safety and environment of state prisons. In the inaugural year of this partnership, the Applicant
will contribute an additional $25,000 to FAC to fund the immediate construction of the much-
needed fencing required to preserve and protect the water tower.
Local Partnership: Dulce UpFront Labs
Through a cross-cultural and multi-generational approach, Dulce UpFront Labs is a local
organization serving the residents of Fresno and its surrounding communities through conscious
art and safe spaces with a focus on healthy and regenerative cultural celebration. The Applicant
will partner with this organization by contributing $50,000 annually to support its free community
events and social-equity community programming serving justice-impacted youth, queer youth,
and local artists. The investment is targeted at growing and sustaining existing program efforts as
well as assisting with the acquisition and maintenance of multimedia technologies to allow youth
to empower themselves through their artistic expression.
Expungement Clinics and Outreach Services
Through Cresco’s SEED initiative, the Applicant’s team members have experience in outreach to
communities adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, including hosting expungement events.
Established in May 2019, SEED aims to ensure that all members of society have access to the
skills, knowledge, and opportunity to work in and own businesses in the cannabis industry. Cresco
and the Applicant believe the cannabis industry has a responsibility to invest time and resources
to work to remedy the relative absence of Black and Brown participation in the cannabis industry,
resulting from the disproportionately negative impacts of the War on Drugs in many of these
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
communities. SEED creates positive impact across all of Cresco’s operations by developing
tangible pathways into the cannabis industry for individuals and communities adversely impacted
by the War on Drugs through its 3 pillars: Restorative Justice, Education and Workforce
Development, and a Community Business Incubator.
Over the past year, SEED has
invested $397,931 to cover the
cost of expungement events in
multiple states and other
justice-oriented programming
and events. In all, SEED
financially supported more
than 1,000 individuals seeking
expungement of their criminal
records. SEED has made
invaluable contributions to
adult education across multiple
of its network states in the
form of in-kind donations of
volunteer staff hours, and time
and expertise to write
curriculum, teach classes, and host workshops at local colleges and universities.
In addition to its intention to serve as a Social Equity Business Incubator (please see Criteria 2 for
full information on the Social Equity Business Incubator), the Applicant will continue to make
financial investments in and dedicate resources including business operations support, workforce
development and education programming, and volunteer hours to local initiatives supporting
individuals and communities.
One financial commitment the Applicant will make upon license award is it will allocate $100,000
to provide funding for expungement clinics, underwriting for costs of fingerprinting and obtaining
costs of rap sheets, and other efforts supporting community members who have been adversely
impacted by the War on Drugs. The Applicant will also partner with local groups including Barrios
Unidos, the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, Fresh Start Law Center, and the Fresno
Public Defender’s Office to execute these expungement clinics.
Environmental Sustainability and Repurposing Blighted Land
Being an exemplary corporate citizen means not only engaging with community members, but
also being environmentally responsible. The Applicant’s proposed site is in a historic building
estimated to be 100+ years old. Although the building once housed several small businesses, it is
now unfortunately in a state of disrepair. Major renovations are required for occupancy, providing
an excellent opportunity to install energy efficient utilities and modernize the structure. The
Applicant will build off Cresco’s existing best practices to make similar infrastructure investments
and retrofit the location for proper and environmentally friendly operations. Some investments will
include adding energy efficient windows and proper green lighting technology. Sustainability
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
practices already in effect across Cresco’s other locations will also be followed, such as ensuring
paper products are sourced from recycled materials and the preferred utilization of electronic
distribution of information when possible.
Cresco has participated in multiple beautification projects in each of its network states, including
roadside and residential neighborhood cleanups, repurposing vacant lots into community gardens,
and removing destructive graffiti while supporting muralists and other residents using art to uplift
their communities. Through financial support, volunteer hours and in-kind contributions, Cresco
has consistently demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability. Earlier this year,
Cresco donated more than $27,000 worth of recycled agricultural equipment from one of its Illinois
cultivation facilities to one of its local partner organizations. The recipient of these materials, Plant
Chicago, is a local nonprofit organization with the mission to make our cities healthier and more
efficient by developing and sharing the most innovative methods for sustainable food production,
energy conservation and material reuse. The Applicant is eager to continue to grow its
environmentally responsible practices as a new member of the Fresno business community.
7.2 Public Health Outreach and Educational Program
Balancing the potential benefits of responsible adult use against the necessity of preventing
cannabis use by minors, is arguably the most important component of cannabis education.
Investing in youth and public health is an investment in a healthy future for the community. The
Applicant understands the importance of preventing cannabis use by minors and shares the
community’s concerns on this subject. In this way, the Applicant has developed a public outreach
and educational program for youth organizations and educational institutions that outlines the risks
of youth use of cannabis, and that identifies resources available to youth related to drugs and drug
addiction as outlined by Sec. 9-3309(m)(3). To develop an effective public health outreach and
educational strategy, the Applicant will work with local stakeholders to financially support exiting
responsible education programming and work with local partners to create additional public health
and education programming.
Partnership with Fresno Barrios Unidos (FBU)
The Applicant has identified Fresno Barrios Unidos (“FBU”) as the strongest community partner
for executing responsible cannabis education programming and has initiated conversations with
FBU already. FBU has served Fresno’s youth for more than 25 years targeting a community that
has been historically neglected, leading to conditions that perpetuate cycles of poverty and
inequitable health outcomes. Emerging from a community response to youth involvement in gangs
and recognizing the capacity for leadership, power within those youth FBU works to create a
thriving Fresno that puts people first, through services supporting youth, parents, and health
education. In alignment with the Applicant’s mission to professionalize cannabis, FBU
exemplifies a similar passion in its provision of essential services.
Although FBU has a stable budget and sound policies and systems, investing in organizations
requires looking beyond budgets and data points. It takes believing in people and their leadership.
In addition to shared organizational values, the Applicant believes synergies with FBU’s Executive
Director, Ashly Rojas, will bolster its positive impact on cannabis education in the Fresno area. In
its conversations with Rojas, the Applicant learned about FBU’s commitment to developing
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
positive solutions for challenges some neighborhoods experience as a result of being historically
and systemically left behind creating conditions leading to food deserts, generational poverty, and
unsafe schools that fail to be inclusive to many local students. FBU’s 4 pillars of work,
(transforming trauma by nurturing community, training youth advocates, using healing and culture
for strength and resiliency, and cultivating collective power to drive change) align with the
Applicant’s beliefs and values.
Through state-wide health education initiatives FBU has led in California, it has serviced more
than 14,000 youth annually, built strategic partnerships across grassroots and government entities,
provided more than 12,000 middle and high school students with peer-lead sex education, and
uplifted hundreds of families through mentorship, parent education, case management, and healing
opportunities from trauma. More than 215 adolescent parents (under the age of 20 years old) have
gone through FBU’s programs and have achieved a 98% success rate in high school graduation,
an 89% increase in making healthy medically informed decisions about their bodies, and an
increased parent-child interaction of reading an average of 19 minutes per day. In addition to the
numerical data, FBU reported anecdotally that young parents have emerged from the program with
greater confidence and ability to be advocates for themselves and their families. FBU’s history
with public health and outreach make it an ideal partner to drive additional public health initiatives
to outline risks of youth cannabis use and create additional resources for youths with respect to
addiction.
Community Investments in Education
The Applicant will make an annual $150,000 investment in FBU to sustain operations and grow
content and services for justice-impacted youth programming focused on drug use and harm
reduction. This contribution will be directed towards existing FBU-driven initiatives including
organizations such as: Men with Heart; Safety First; Boys and Men of Color; and Get Your Life.
The Safety-First program provides education and transformational programming intended to
support Latino youth to gain a comprehensive understanding of substance use and harm reduction
to transform the community climate regarding substance use and youth criminalization. This effort
leads to increased access to care, reduction of self/community stigma related to substance use,
increased empathy/compassion for individuals navigating substance use, and foster youth-led
systems change efforts impacting the local criminal-legal system. Men with Heart provides weekly
support and advocacy development groups for system impacted and formerly incarcerated young
men, many of whom were negatively impacted by the War on Drugs. Programming includes
centering culture and healing in addition to systems change as healing work. Leadership
development sessions revitalize young men through community building. The Get Your Life
Program aims to drive an increase in adolescent young girls (“AYG”) and Boys and Men of Color
(“BMoC”) awareness and utilization of HIV/STI testing, through peer navigators and peer support
with pre- and post-surveys for program participants. Efforts to provide mobile/access for HIV
testing increases awareness, access, sustained utilization of PrEP and PeP (HIV-related
pharmaceuticals) through peer navigators and peer support. The program also provides education,
outreach, and community building for AYG and BMoC through a harm reduction lens to reduce
shame and stigma around HIV.
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
All 3 of these programs are crucial for protecting Fresno's public health and addressing the cities
high incident of substance. The infusion of a $150,000 will enhance and support the success of the
programs by providing flexible support to remove barriers to care for 90 system-impacted youth
and/or formerly incarcerated individuals, a number the Applicant seeks to grow beyond 100. The
expansion of these programs is essential for breaking cycles of poverty and facilitating the success
of young parents in Fresno’s empowerment and health.
Through this partnership and annual investment, the Applicant will assist in delivering impactful
programming to further existing community outreach and grow/revamp the organization's current
youth prevention and health care services. Funds from this partnership will allow for a more rapid
response with barrier removal and essentials that keep youth from accessing opportunities and/or
sustaining their progress. By increasing the organizations ability to responsive to those barriers,
FBU will be more resourced to authentically invest in equitable opportunities for young people
healing from historical and systemic trauma. Other funds will also allow FBU to fill a large gap in
funding participant stipends. Rojas explained to the Applicant, “if we want youth at the table, we
need to remove barriers to get them to the table.” Other benefits to program participants from this
investment include access to transportation for court dates, assistance with obtaining attorneys,
and support to increase attendance for participants’ probations hearings, all of which have a lasting
positive impact not only the individual participants, but also on the greater community.
These programs provide content on drug prevent and risk education in addition to resources guides
for youth. The Applicant is experienced with addressing language barriers that can impact
accessibility of content in its business operations, including providing dual language product
labeling. In alignment with its existing best practices, the Applicant will help revamp and expand
FBU’s education material, including distribution of English and Spanish materials. The Applicant
will provide drug prevention and risk education materials in both English and Spanish as
appropriate at its Fresno retail location, online, through its community partners, and/or by request
to the Applicant’s community liaison, (outlined below).
Community Education Resources
As an experienced cannabis retail operator with more than 20 dispensaries nationwide, Cresco has
witnessed both the business and civic value of a thoughtful and robust community education plan
in multiple markets across the country. This critical component of a successful community
integration of retail operations is an invaluable aspect of both Cresco’s and the Applicant’s
business and at the core of their corporate values.
In addition to educational programs outlining the risks of youth cannabis use, the Applicant will
provide public health education opportunities through its wellness programs and printed/web
resources. Cresco has demonstrated successful integration of community education programs in
multiple markets, most notably through its Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Education Center
(“PAMMEC”), located in Pittsburgh. Its primary mission is to provide education, access to
information and resources, and help build a sense of community around issues impacting health
and wellness. To date, PAMMEC has provided dozens of workshops and educational
programming including but not limited to registering community members with the Medical
Marijuana Program, expungement and pardon classes, alternative treatments for epilepsy,
caregiver signup drive, free yoga and massage, ask the pharmacist, and fitness bootcamps.
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
The Applicant intends to replicate this successful model by providing comparable educational
opportunities through its retail location, online, and in partnership with local organizations. In
person, whenever permitted and practicable, and otherwise virtually, the Applicant will hold
educational programs in a monthly basis at no cost to residents. The Applicant will incorporate
aspects of curriculum developed in-house in partnership with SEED and Cresco’s Horticulture and
Curriculum Department into its virtual programming in addition to offering more traditional health
and wellness resources to Fresno residents. The Applicant will create written and web-based
educational content in both English and Spanish, where practical. It will produce its own content
and events in addition to supporting local health and wellness initiatives and supporting existing
programming that best reflects the needs and interests of Fresno residents.
Cresco and the Applicant are
experienced in creating ad
hoc educational content that
reflects community input.
One example is a partnership
with Project Awaken, an
organization dedicated to
individuals with spinal cord
injuries. The goal of the
partnership was to inform
members about the potential
benefit from transitioning
from opioid use to medical
cannabis for pain
management. In light of
evolving regulations in response to the global pandemic, Cresco and Project Awaken shifted to a
virtual webinar format that was attended by the organization’s members and the Cresco's education
and pharmacy departments. Although virtual, there was a successful exchange of information and
constructive dialogue between attendees and presenters. This successful model can be replicated
and executed with the community in Fresno – helping share information and address inquiries
within a safe environment.
Since entering the California market with a cultivation facility in Carpinteria and manufacturing
facility in nearby Mendota, the Applicant has maintained a California-based Community Liaison,
who will serve as the direct touchpoint for Fresno community members, and who
will be available to attend meetings and event as the Applicant's representative as outlined below.
Community Liaison
As described above, the Applicant has designated a Community and Outreach Liaison for the
Fresno dispensary in compliance with Sec. 9-3309(m). has been Applicant’s
Community Liaison for its existing cultivation facility in Carpinteria, California, since 2018.
Stephan will expand her role for the Applicant’s proposed retail business in Fresno. Stephan is an
active member of her community in Santa Barbara and will further develop her connections in
9
Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
Fresno. Community members will be able to contact via phone
for any concerns, questions, or community integration efforts.
The Applicant will provide information to all businesses and residences located within
100 feet of the facility for any problems associated with the facility. See Sec. 9-3309(m)(1). The
Applicant will also ensure that Stephan attends meetings along with the owner(s) and manager(s)
with the City Manager and their designees to discuss costs, benefits, and other community relations
during the first year of operation, and will continue these meetings as needed after the first year of
business. Also, pursuant to Sec. 9-3309(m)(2), along with the owner(s) and manager(s)
will meet with the City Manager and his/her designees whenever, and as frequently as requested
by the City Manager and/or his/her designees.
Connecting with the Community
In addition to the Applicant’s community integration efforts (See Criteria 7) and design efforts,
Stephan will assist the Fresno local team with quarterly town halls for any community concerns.
Stephan will also reach out directly to the Applicant’s neighbors and provide them with her contact
information for any impacts on the Applicant’s surroundings or concerns.
On a quarterly basis for the first 2 years of operation, and biannually thereafter, the Applicant will
host either in-person or virtual meetings where community stakeholders can address their
comments in an open forum – translation services will be provided upon request. This
creates positive dialogue and displays the Applicant’s intent to be good operators and great
neighbors. In these forums, will address residents’ questions and concerns, provide
business updates when appropriate, and serve as the primary point of contact for Fresno
community members to engage with the Applicant. The agenda of the community meetings will
be summarized and relayed via email to attendees or those who are interested in what was
discussed. These community meetings will also provide an opportunity for the Applicant’s team
to give updates on performed or planned volunteerism, special educational sessions the store is
hosting, and upcoming events in the community where the Applicant can support the Fresno area.
Executing Team
In partnership with the aforementioned community organizations and others, the Applicant’s
social responsibility plan will be executed by a team of both local and national leaders, including
Sabrina Noah, Tai Duncan, Yair Rodriguez, Adam Avila, and Delia Macias.
Duncan and Rodriguez are based out of Chicago, and work in Public Affairs and Community
Integration alongside their California-based colleagues, and and are
Fresno residents who work at Cresco’s Mendota (Fresno County) manufacturing and distribution
facility, as Facility Director and Compliance Manager, respectively. Mykel Selph and Brittany
Williams comprise the SEED team and will work collaboratively with their fellow Illinois and
California colleagues to execute social equity-related programming including expungement clinics
and outreach services.
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Property of SLO Cultivation Inc.
I, ALEX PADILLA, Secretary of State of the State of California, hereby certify:
Entity Name:
File Number:
Registration Date:
Entity Type:
Jurisdiction:
Status:
SLO CULTIVATION, INC.
C3907214
05/19/2016
DOMESTIC STOCK CORPORATION
CALIFORNIA
ACTIVE (GOOD STANDING)
As of October 27, 2020 (Certification Date), the entity is authorized to exercise all of its powers, rights and
privileges in California.
This certificate relates to the status of the entity on the Secretary of State's records as of the Certification
Date and does not reflect documents that are pending review or other events that may affect status.
No information is available from this office regarding the financial condition, status of licenses, if any,
business activities or practices of the entity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I execute this certificate
and affix the Great Seal of the State of California
this day of October 28, 2020.
ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State
Certificate Verification Number: RX2QPLZ
To verify the issuance of this Certificate, use the Certificate Verification Number above with the Secretary
of State Certification Verification Search available at bebizfile.sos.ca.gov/certificationlindex.
-
..,.
File with:Brandi L. Orth
FRESNO COUNTY CLERK
222lKert Street
FRESNO, CA9372t
(ss9) 600-257s
'H-T*oI-H"'="'.'lD)
JUL'3 0 20t8 -
F'ICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
File No.2201810004486
THE FOLLOWTNG PERSON(S) IS(ARE) CONDUCTING BUSINESS AS
E NEW TILING RENEWAL r
r)Fictitious Business Name(s): (Tpe or Print)
Cresco California
Phone (Optional)
(805) 403-1033
Steet Address, City, State, Zip Code, Corinl'of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Bor not acceptable)
1269 Marie Street, Mendota, CA 93640 Fresno County
Mailing Address (if different than above)
781 Glenhaven Place, Nipomo, CA 93444 San Luis Obispo County
2) Full Name of Registrant
SLO CULTIVATION, INC.
Residence Address
781 Glenhaven Place, Nipomo, CA 93444
Phone (Optional)
(805) 403-1033
3) Registrant commenced to transact business under the
Fictitious Business Name(s) listed above on:
tl @ate)
4) Regisrant has not yet commenced to
transact business under the Fictitious
Business Name(s) listed above.g
5) This busrness conducted by:
Corporation
6) Articles of Ineorporation
(If Applicable)
c3907214
This Statement has been executed
---1 pwsuant to section I 79 l9 of the Business
-J and Professiona.ls code. (Do not publish -
this sentence ualess,lrrx ischecked\. l/
7) Type or Print Signature and Title
Kyle Hardy, President
lSigned) // // r ///tqJ/4:t) // -=t4l deel8re ti{t sll information irthlfutatcBert b true and correci (A rqisfraa! whs declir€B &s
true information. false declarations arM.nor nunishable bv a fine uo to $1000.)'
TIIE FILING OT TIIIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELT'AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF TIIE
RIGTITS OT ANOTIIER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 1441I ET SEQ, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE)
s) Filed with the FRESNO COTINTY CLERK on: 07 I
andi.l. orth, , COLINTY Cbadd O*,
t0 I 20LB
LERK"
7e)
NOTICE: THIS STATEMENTEXPIRES ON:
07 12912023
A NEW STATEMENT MUST BE }'ILED }RIOR TO
TEE NXPIRATIONDATE.
--rssrlus\,.1 Countv Clerk Admin ,/ -/
(SEAL)Space Below for Use of County Clerk Only - Do Not Publish Certification
i , i Certification
I hereby certify tiiat the foregoing is a correct coov ofthe orieinal on flle in my offlice.
DATED: FRESNO y'Califomia Brandi L. Orth, COLINTY CLERK
wrtozonj 4?t#uOft.Tszrl **-
Customer Copy Bank Copy Newspaper Copy On:
CC-107 (R1-05) Fictitious Business Name Statement
FileNo:2201810004486 lofl
LEASE AGREEMENT
between
REZIL NO. 1, LLC,
A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
and
SLO CULTIVATION, INC.,
a California Corporation
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
2600 Fresno Street • Third Floor Jennifer K. Clark, AICP, Director
Fresno, California 93721-3604
(559) 621-8277 FAX (559) 498-1026
November 19, 2020 Please reply to:
Rob Holt
(559) 621-8056
Erin Alexander
SLO Cultivation, Inc. dba Cresco California
400 W Erie, Ste 110
Chicago, IL 60654
Dear Applicant:
SUBJECT: ZONING INQUIRY NUMBER P20-04254 REQUESTING INFORMATION
REGARDING CANNABIS RETAIL FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 736
FULTON STREET
(APN 468-256-08)
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the allowance of new cannabis retail uses. The requested
information about cannabis retail uses was analyzed using Article 27, Chapter 15 of the Fresno
Municipal Code (FMC) of the City of Fresno. Please note, all research for this inquiry is based
on existing land development of the subject property. If there are multiple buildings on the
subject property, this research was based on the address provided in the request. This research
does not take into effect of future development unless provided in your application request. With
that, research of a proposed cannabis retail business on the subject property conveys the
following:
1. All cannabis retail businesses must be located on property zoned DTN (Downtown
Neighborhood), DTG (Downtown General), CMS (Commercial Main Street), CC
(Commercial Community), CR (Commercial Regional), CG (Commercial General), CH
(Commercial Highway), NMX (Neighborhood Mixed-Use), CMX (Corridor/Center Mixed-
Use), RMX (Regional Mixed-Use), and must meet all of the requirements for
development in these zones, including, but not limited to, parking, lighting, building
materials, etc.
The subject property is zoned DTN, which is one of the allowable zone districts for
cannabis retail businesses. Development standards of the DTN zone district are
available in Sections 15-1503, 15-1504, and 15-1505 of the FMC. The subject location
meets the zone district requirement, per Section 15-2739.B.1.a of the FMC, for a
cannabis retail business.
2. All building(s) in which a cannabis retail business is located shall be no closer than 800
feet from any property boundary containing the following: (1) A cannabis retail business;
(2) A school providing instruction for any grades pre-school through 12 (whether public,
private, or charter, including pre-school, transitional kindergarten, and K-12); (3) A day
care center licensed by the state Department of Social Services that is in existence at
the time a complete commercial cannabis business permit application is submitted; and,
(4) A youth center that is in existence at the time a complete commercial cannabis
business permit is submitted.
Zoning Inquiry P20-04254
736 Fulton Street
Page 2
November 19, 2020
The subject property is not located within 800 feet of the property boundary of any of the
above-mentioned uses. The subject building meets the separation requirements,
per Section 15-2739.B.1.b of the FMC, for a cannabis retail business.
3. Prior to commencing operations, a cannabis retail business must obtain a Cannabis
Conditional Use Permit from the Planning and Development Department per Section 15-
2739.N of the FMC.
4. No more than 2 cannabis retail businesses may be located in any one Council District. If
more than 14 are ever authorized by Council (more than 2 per Council District), they
shall be dispersed evenly by Council District.
The subject property is in Council District 3. There are currently no cannabis retail
businesses located in Council District 3. This location requirement is satisfied for a
cannabis retail business.
Please review the entirety of Article 33, Chapter 9 (Cannabis Retail Business and
Commercial Cannabis), and Section 15-2739 (Adult Use and Medicinal Cannabis Retail
Business and Commercial Cannabis Business) of the FMC to understand other
requirements of cannabis retail businesses, including but not limited to, application
requirements, signage, etc.
This information was researched by the undersigned per the zoning request. The undersigned
certifies that the above information contained herein is believed to be accurate and is based
upon, or relates to, the information supplied by the requestor. The City of Fresno assumes no
liability for errors and omissions. All information was obtained from public records held by the
Planning and Development Department.
A copy of the Fresno Municipal Code may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at
559-621-7650. The Fresno Municipal Code may also be searched on the Internet, free of
charge, by going to www.fresno.gov. If you have questions regarding this matter, please
contact me by telephone at 559-621-8056 or at Robert.Holt@fresno.gov.
Cordially,
Rob Holt, Planner III
Development Services Division
Planning and Development Department