HomeMy WebLinkAboutC-20-95 Urbn Leaf RedactedApplicant (Entity) Information
Application Type
Proposed Location
Commercial Cannabis Business
Permit Application
C-20-95
Submitted On: Dec 04, 2020
Applicant
Alan Artunian
(323) 816-8006
Applicant (Entity) Name:
Blue Waters Enterprises, Inc.
DBA:
Urbn Leaf
Physical Address:
10153 1/2 Riverside Drive #748
City:
Toluca Lake
State:
California
Zip Code:
91602
Primary Contact Same as Above?
Yes
Primary Contact Name:
Alan Artunian
Primary Contact Title:
Owner
Primary Contact Phone:
(323) 816-8006
Primary Contact Email:HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS APPLICATION APPLIED FOR
ANY OTHER CANNABIS PERMIT IN THE CITY OF FRESNO?:
Yes
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:
Shawstone, Tenants in Common
Proposed Location Address:
4931 North Blackstone Ave
City:
Fresno
State:
CA
Zip Code:
93726
Property Owner Phone:
559-994-0254
Property Owner Email:
--
Assessor's Parcel Number (APN):
425-092-30
Proposed Location Square Footage:
Supporting Information
Application Certification
11000
List all fictitious business names the applicant is operating under including the address where each business is located:
Urbn Leaf, The Factory, Primo Distribution: 1028 Buenos Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Urbn Leaf: 658 East San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173
Urbn Leaf: 7339 El Cajon Blvd, Suite C, La Mesa, CA 91942
Urbn Leaf: 680 Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Urbn Leaf: 239 South 3rd St, Grover Beach, CA 93433
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:
Alan Artunian - Los Angeles Retail, cultivation, manufacturing, distribution
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
Owner
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: Urbn Leaf
Application #: C-20-95
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 0 Not described
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 additional 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 Has most
Reference Data Provided for Unit Cost Factors: Score 5 5 3 1 3 Based on experience and consultants
Operation and Maintenance Cost Estimates:
Operation and Maintenance Cost Estimate Provided: Score 8 8 6 4 6 Needs additional detail
All Labor, Trades, Materials, Supplies, Utilities, and other Cost Factors Identified: Score 6 6 4 2 4 Has some but not all
Annual Cost Escalators for Operating Costs Provided: Score 6 6 4 2 0 Not included
Reference Data Provided for Unit Cost Factors: Score 5 5 3 1 3 Based on experience and consultants
1.2 Sub-Total:50 32
Proof of Capitalization Specific to one or more Owners: Score 5 5 5
Proof of Capitalization Specific to Business Name/Address: Score 5 5 5
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:
Proof of Capitalization Sufficient to Cover Proforma (3 months) and Construction Costs: Score 15 15 15
Their figure is inaccurate as
they included account twice - If you look at
the statements it is the same account, 1 from oct
and 1 from nov.
Certified Audited Financial Report Provided for one or more Owners: Score 5 5 0 Not included
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 -
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 15
1.3 Sub-Total:50 40
Three Years of Data Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 8 Fairly detailed, could use additional detail
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 4 Has benefits & salaries, needs more breakdown
Total Property Rental or Purchase Costs Provided:2 2 2
Total Utilities Costs Provided:2 2 2
Total Cannabis Product Purchase Expense Provided 2 2 2
All Contract Services Identified:2 2 2
Annual Net Revenue Identified:3 3 3
Annual Cost Escalators Identified:4 4 3 2 2 Some costs shown as escalating, no explanations
Annual Estimated Sales Tax Payments to State Provided:2 2 2
Annual Estimated Sale Tax Payments to City of Fresno Provided:5 5 5
Annual Business Tax License and Cannabis Permit Fee Provided:2 2 2
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 45
Hours of Operation Provided: Score 5 5 5
Hours of Operation Provided for all 7 days of the week: Score 3 3 0 Days of week unspecified
Hours of Operation Provided for Holidays: Score 2 2 0 holidays unspecified
Opening and Closing Procedures Provided: Score 10 10 8 6 10
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 15
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:
Offers company match for employee retirement plan 2 2 2 Profit sharing
2.2 Sub-Total:50 32
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for Certificates: Score 3 3 3 Tuition reimbursement at Fresno City College
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for associate degrees: Score 3 3 3 Tuition reimbursement at Fresno City College
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for bachelor's degrees: Score 3 3 0
No discussion of tuition reimbursement for
Bachelors
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for master's degrees: Score 3 3 0 No discussion of tuition reimbursement for Masters
CCB Provides Tuition Reimbursement for Specialized Commercial Cannabis Business Operations
Training: Score 3 3 3 certificate program mentioned on page 26
CCB Offers General Training for Health and Safety, Workplace Environment, Customer Service, etc. 5 5 4 3 5
2.3 Sub-Total:20 14
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 Did not provide demographic data
Recruitment Plan Includes List of CBOs, Non-Profits and Public-Agency Hiring Partners: Score 10 10 8 6 8 Named only one hiring partner
Recruitment Plan Includes Hiring Targets (percentages) by Demographic Groups: Score 10 10 8 6 8 Exceeded FMC goals but did not set additional goals
2.4 Sub-Total:50 36
Owners
Number of Owners:4
Number of Owners that live within the City of Fresno:1
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 -
51%+ ownership interest percent of the Owners live or own a business in the County: Score 40 40 -
Less than 50 percent equity of the Owners live or own a business in the City (If no owners are local,
score zero)20 20 20 AG - 5% equity = local
Managers
Number of Managers (salaried, non-owners)
Number of Managers that live in the City of Fresno:
Number of Managers that Own a Business in the City of Fresno:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Data, non-scored. Write response in Evaluation Notes
column.
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.
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)
100 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 20 20 0 Does not specifiy local managers
75 to 99 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 15 15 0
50 to 74 percent of the Managers live or own a business in the City: Score 10 10 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 20
Responsibilities Described for All Titles/Positions: Score 20 20 15 10 20
2.6 Sub-Total:20 20
Does CCB have more than five employees: 5 5 5
CCB has signed a peace agreement: Score 5 5 5
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 75% local
Commitment to Offer Apprenticeships Provided:10 10 8 6 10
Commitment paying for continuing education provided 10 10 8 6 10
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 50
CCB is willing to serve as Social Equity Business Incubator: Score 100 100 80 60 100
Mentorship and Training: Score yes
Equipment Donation: Score
Shelf Space: Score
Legal Assistance: Score compliance
Finance Services Assistance: Score
Other Technical Assistance: Score sales and marketing
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
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)
Criteria Narrative:
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:
Criteria Narrative:
Section 2 Total:400 302
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 0 Info not provided
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 0 Info not provided
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 30
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 0 Info not provided
CCB will prepare a community outreach and engagement plan: Score 50 50 40 30 0 Info not provided
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 0
CCB has identified sensitive receptors to nuisance odors in vicinity of business operations: Score 5 5 5
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 5
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 10
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 Describe odor mitigation practices.(40 points possible)
3.3 Sub-Total:40 40
CCB has identified the potential sources of nuisance odors for the business operation: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Scoring Guidance: full points for detailed proactive plan. Dock points for vagueness or reactive plans.
3.4 Sub-Total:10 10
Nuisance odor control plan describes specific odor control equipment: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Nuisance odor control plan describes specific odor control measures/techniques: Score 10 10 8 6 10
Odor control measures are identified for different nuisance odor sources: Score 10 10 10
3.5 Sub-Total:30 30
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 0 Info not provided
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 Needs 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 Info not provided
3.7 Sub-Total:50 28
Section 3 Total:300 158
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 not specific
Safety Plan includes Site Plan of Premise: Score 10 10 0 no overall site plan
Criteria Narrative:
3.7 Describe the waste management plan. (50 points possible)
4.1 The Safety Plan shall be prepared and/or assessed by a professional fire prevention and suppression consultant. (50 points possible)
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:
Safety Plan includes Building Layout Plan: Score 10 10 10
4.1 Sub-Total:50 30
Written Accident/Incident Procedure Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 0 no accidents mentioned, just incidents
Procedures Address Multiple Accident/Incident Scenarios: Score 10 10 8 6 0 no multiple
Total Number of Scenarios Described: Score 0
Active Shooter Incident Described: Score 10 10 2 mentioned no specifics
Robbery Incident Described: Score 10 10 0 not mentioned
4.2 Sub-Total:50 2
Evacuation Plan Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 20
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 10
4.3 Sub-Total:50 50
Location of Fire Suppression System Elements Identified: Score 10 10 10
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 50
Written Procedure for Fire Emergencies Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 10 only mentioned, not written
Written Procedure for Medical Emergencies Provided: Score 20 20 15 10 10 "
Cardiac Arrest Medical Emergency Described: Score 20 20 15 10 15 mentioned with little detail
Gunshot Wound Medical Emergency Described: Score 20 20 15 10 0 not mentioned
Other Medical Emergency Conditions Described: Score 20 20 15 10 15
4.5 Sub-Total:100 50
Section 4 Total:300 182
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
Security Plan includes Site Plan of Premise: Score 10 10 10
4.3 Describe evacuation routes. (50 points possible)
4.2 Describe accident and incident reporting procedures. (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)
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
Criteria Narrative:
4.4 Location of fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment. (50 points possible)
Criteria Narrative:
Data-write response in Evaluation Notes Column
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 5
Number and Location of All Security Cameras Identified: Score 5 5 5
5.2 Sub-Total:50 50
Intrusion Alarm and Monitoring System Identified: Score 15 15 15
Name and Contact Information for Monitoring Company Provided: Score 5 5 5
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 50
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 10
5.4 Sub-Total:100 90
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.
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 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:
CCB will use onsite security guards: Score 10 10 10
All onsite guards will be licensed and bonded: Score 10 10 0 No mention of being bonded
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 40
Section 5 Total:300 280
Section 1: Business Plan Total Points:300 255
Section 2: Social Policy & Local Enterprise Total Points:400 302
Section 3: Neighborhood Compatibility Total Points:300 158
Section 4: Safety Plan Total Points:300 182
Section 5: Security Plan Total Points:300 280
Total Points Achieved:1600 1177
73.56%
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.
City of Fresno
Commercial Cannabis Business Permit
Application EvaluationBusiness Name: Urbn Leaf
Application # C-20-95
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3 Average%
Phase III
Points
Possible
Phase III
Points Actual
Phase II
Points
Possible
Phase II
Points
Actual Total Score
Section 1: Business Plan 90%85%90%88.33%300 265.00 300.00 255 520
Section 2: Social Policy 85%85%85%85.00%500 425.00 400.00 302 727
Section 3: Neighborhood 85%85%80%83.33%300 250.00 300.00 158 408
Section 4: Safety 90%88%80%86.00%300 258.00 300.00 182 440
Section 5: Security 90%88%95%91.00%300 273.00 300.00 280 553
Section 6: Location 90%90%95%91.67%200 183.33 -0 183.33
Section 7: Community Benefits 90%90%95%91.67%500 458.33 -0 458.33
Total Score (points)2400 2112.67 1600.00 1177 3289.67
Total %82.24%
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
1
SECTION 1
BUSINESS
PLAN
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
2
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
3
Section 1.1 – Owner Qualifications
Our ownership team is composed of the perfect blend of cannabis industry and local business professionals in an effort
to bring experience to the regulated cannabis industry in the City of Fresno, while perfectly integrating into our community. Our ownership structure has been devised to ensure that experienced operators are at the helm of business
logistics, compliance, and in-store procedures, while we are still representing the local climate in our staffing, neighborhood compatibility, and community engagement activities. Combined, our ownership and service teams have
over 50 years in the regulated cannabis industry related to retail, cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution and all hold licenses, in good standing, with their respective regulatory agencies. By granting licenses to individuals with experience as
well as other licenses in their portfolio, cities can enter into long-term stable relationships with commercial cannabis businesses.
Supplementing our ownership and management teams are a support staff that shares a similar distribution of individuals with experience and local residents. We intend for these two groups to integrate seamlessly in our workforce,
creating a two-way path of education and enrichment. Local residents will benefit from professional training staff supported by large volumes of training materials on an integrated electronic platform and in return will be assisted in
integrating into the community we serve.
Legal Business Name Jurisdiction Experience License Number License Type
dba “Urbn Leaf”San Diego, CA 4 Years C10-0000246-LIC Retail
dba “The Factory”San Diego, CA 2 Years CDPH-10003579 Manufacturing
dba “Primo Distribution”San Diego, CA 4 Years C11-0000678-LIC Distribution
dba “Urbn Leaf”’San Diego, CA 4 Years C10-0000464-LIC Retail
dba “Urbn Leaf”’La Mesa, CA 5 Years C10-0000590-LIC Retail
dba “Urbn Leaf”’Seaside, CA 2 Years C10-0000618-LIC Retail
dba “Urbn Leaf”’Grover Beach, CA 2 Years C10-0000731-LIC Retail
Sunset to Sunrise Holdings, LLC Los Angeles, CA 6 Years CCL19-0003834 Cultivation
Sunset to Sunrise Holdings, LLC Los Angeles, CA 6 Years C11-0000198-LIC Manufacturing
Sunset to Sunrise Holdings, LLC Los Angeles, CA 6 Years C11-0000198-LIC Distribution
Imperia Holdings, LLC Los Angeles, CA newly licensed CDPH-10003329 RetailMotsenbockerArtunian
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
4
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Urbn Leaf Fresno, Ca
Sales Director 2020 - present
Urbn Leaf . San Diego, Ca
Founder, Owner, Operator 2009 – Present Five retail cannabis locations with licenses in good standing in the greater San Diego Area that serve more than 1,000 customers every day.
The Factory San Diego, Ca Founder, Owner, Operator 2001 –2009 A licensed cannabis manufacturing facility in San Diego that provides high-end manufactured cannabis products.
Primo Distribution San Diego, Ca
Founder, Owner, Operator 2010 – present A licensed cannabis distribution facility that specializes in supply chain management and compliance
Floris Capital Management Missouri
Founder, Owner, Operator 2017 – present A private equity fund he launched focused specifically on
investing in legal cannabis companies
HONORS & AWARDS
Through his advocacy efforts Skip has been fortunate to have the opportunity to interact with patients, policymakers, community activists, and neighborhood groups and has been recognized for his dedication to patient care and comprehensive regulations.
Skip Motsenbocker
CANNABIS | OPERATIONS
Skip Motsenbocker has been a fixture in the cannabis industry for decades. Under Urbn Leaf, Skip is one of the highest regarded cannabis retail operators in California and has helped usher in the current cannabis landscape throughout the country.
Skip saw first hand, through family members of the pain that opioid addiction and abuse
can cause. Skip advocates for the medicinal
use of cannabis in efforts to curb the opioid
epidemic that is facing our country.
Skip will be leveraging his extensive experience and far reach within the cannabis industry to ensure that Urbn Leaf is operating
at peak efficiency and providing the next level
of retail experience in a safe and compliant
environment.
Skip brings with him his extensive team, experience, and network that will make Urbn Leaf Fresno a success.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
5
My name is Skip Motsenbocker. I am a member of the ownership team of Urbn
Leaf and I will serve as Sales Director. I have more than 25 years of professional
experience in a variety of industries including asset management / private equity,
consumer packaged goods / retailing and real estate development; virtually all of this
experience has played out in his initial entrance into and participation in the regulated
cannabis industry. My direct involvement in cannabis management dates back in 2013
is what allowed the first store to come to life. At that point I had lost my mother to
opioids, after she had multiple car accidents and back surgeries, and as a result he
become a huge advocate for cannabis for pain relief initially and then other medicinal
benefits after learning from so many others’ experiences.
Because of my business interests in California and Missouri as a dual-resident for
over a decade, I also helped round table the New Approach Amendment for cannabis
which ultimately led to Missouri being the 32nd state to approve medical marijuana in
2018. Simultaneously, I was President and Chairman of Floris Capital Management, Inc.,
a private equity fund he launched focused specifically on investing in legal cannabis
companies. While launching Floris in 2017, Urbn Leaf was growing at an incredibly rapid
pace becoming one of the top retail dispensaries in California.
As Prop 64 went into full effect, that first single store in Bay Park had an average
daily count exceeding over a 1,000 transactions per day, one of the highest in the entire
state. Because of the rapid growth and inability to focus on two highly demanding
enterprises, I began to solely focus on representing Urbn Leaf in the capital markets to
raise funding just for this single enterprise’s growth starting in 2018. This ultimately led
to taking on the role of CEO of UL Holdings, Inc. (Urbn Leaf), during an explosive time
where the retail chain now has an employee count exceeding 400 team members with
four retail locations open in 2019 and seven open by year-end 2020.
In addition, Urbn Leaf as a brand has expanded and grown to offer many branded
products including flower, pre-rolls and concentrates. All of which are packaged in-
house with sophisticated equipment, processes and SOP’s to ensure that the products
are safe, compliant and offer good quality and value for patients and patrons.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
6
Ashot Gyulnazaryan
My name is Ashot Gyulnazaryan, I am an owner and logistics director for Urbn Leaf. This enterprise is
my first endeavor into commercial cannabis, but I am no stranger to business operations and am part of a
team with extensive experience in the industry.
I first came to this country in 1995 from Armenia
and settled in Fresno after serving time in the military. After my service, I ventured to a new country to start a
new life with my wife and young daughter where I took a trucking job to support my family. In the course of
business, I traveled all throughout the local area and came to love Fresno and made it my permanent place of residence and I eventually
purchased my first truck. In 1997 I founded Thirty Best Truck Service in the City of Fresno, a small logistics based trucking company specializing in high-value, logistically
challenging hauls. Over the years, I developed an ever growing client base and eventually grew this company from a small owner-operator to eventually employing a
fleet of drivers that covered all of Southern California.
In 2002, while working, I was involved in a bad accident that left me disabled and
unable to drive. I was able to keep my business afloat because of the network I had created, but I was no longer able to physically do the job. I dealt with daily pain and
mobility challenges for years, and it was not until over ten years later that I would experiment with medical cannabis to treat my chronic pain.
Medicinal cannabis provided me with alternatives to prescription pain medications and living with mobility challenges as well as the associated psychological
effects. I have seen first hand the life-changing effects that cannabis can have if used responsibly and I am looking to leverage my roots in the community to provide the
highest quality of cannabis products to my neighborhood.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
7
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Urbn Leaf Fresno, Ca
Operations 2020 - present
Imperia Holdings . Los Angeles, Ca
Founder, Owner, Operator 2019 – Present Social Equity Applicant and owner of a large retail facility on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Sunset to Sunrise Los Angeles, Ca
Founder, Owner, Operator 2014 –present A large scale manufacturing, cultivation, and distribution operation in a local enterprise zone in Los Angeles.
MVS Commissary Los Angeles, Ca
President & CEO 2010 – present A Phoenix, AZ based food commissary logistics and servicing business. MVS Commissary helps small businesses maintain viability in the times of COVID.
Education
• University of Southern California, B.S.
• Concord Law School, J.D. HONORS & AWARDS
Alan is an active member of his church, local community organizations, and philanthropist. He has received numerous honors for his commitment to his community
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• Pasadena Children’s Hospital
• Victims of Domestic Violence
• Local Church organizations
Alan Artunian
CANNABIS | OPERATIONS
Alan is a long time operator in the cannabis industry and has overseen the successful launch and operation of cannabis retail, cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution businesses since 2014.
Alan is a qualified Social Equity Applicant in the City of Los Angeles and holds a retail license on Sunset Boulevard and a manufacturing, cultivation, and distribution facility in South Los Angeles.
Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Alan was a serial entrepreneur who had ownership interests in a variety of small business ventures including a large-scale food truck commissary in Phoenix, AZ, a real estate and business management consulting practice, and the commercial gambling industry north of the border.
Alan is looking to leverage his extensive experience in business operations and
commercial cannabis to Fresno.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
8
My name is Alan Artunian I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area after
my parents immigrated to the United States from Sudan. I grew up and still reside in a
neighborhood that the City of Los Angeles has determined to be a “Disproportionately
Impacted Area” because it is a district where residents have a very low average income
and a history of excessive numbers of cannabis-related arrests relative to other areas. In
my own neighborhood, I saw first-hand a community that was disproportionately
harmed by the “War on Cannabis”, without knowing that this would qualify myself as a
Social Equity Applicant in Los Angeles many years later. I overcame the adversity of my
youth and was able to pursue an education at the University of Southern California by
earning a full football scholarship. I then went on to pursue a Juris Doctor from Concord
Law School, now known as Kaplan Law School, in Los Angeles, California.
Professionally, I can best be described as a serial entrepreneur. Beginning in 2011, I founded and still own and operate MVS, a Mobile Food Truck Commissary based in
Phoenix, Arizona. In running this business, I oversaw the launch and continue to oversee the day-to-day operations and was able to significantly grow the company’s client base,
and acquire new routes for food truck clients, as well as negotiated and purchased products for the commissary. In my work, I advocate for small businesses and have
extended small business loans throughout the industry during COVID-19 to help them stay in business.
In 2013, I founded and serve as Chief Executive Officer for Nice Guy Holdings, Inc., a corporate consulting company serving clients that range from real estate
companies to cannabis cultivators. Nice Guy Holdings is based out of Southern California, with a reach that extends throughout the United States. I also have extensive
experience in the highly-regulated commercial gambling industry, where I have undergone extensive background investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police, who
collect information for required governmental security screening.
My cannabis career began in 2014, when I began a cannabis cultivation,
manufacturing and distribution business that supplied products to Los Angeles’ Proposition D compliant Existing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. In 2018, when the City
of Los Angeles allowed the licensing of cultivators, manufacturers, and distributions in the supply chain with regulated Pre-ICO shops, I applied as a Social Equity applicant and
secured three cannabis licenses from the City of Los Angeles under the name Sunset to Sunrise Holdings, LLC (City of Los Angeles License No: LA-C-18-000443-APP), as well as
three temporary State licenses for cannabis distribution (Bureau of Cannabis Control License No.: C11-18-0000485-TEMP), indoor cultivation (California Department of Food
& Agriculture License No.: TAL18-0013254), and a Type 7 manufacturing license (California Department of Public Health License No.: CDPH-T00001947).
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
9
Section 1.2 - Startup Costs
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
10
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
11
Section 1.3 - Proof of Capitalization
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
12
Section 1.4 – Financial Proforma
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
17
Section 1.5 - Opening and Closing Procedures
The following store opening and closing SOP has been developed by our ownership
team over decades in the industry. Skip Motsenbocker has personally developed these procedures over the years, properly balancing adherence to regulations with safety,
security, and real-world logistics. These specific insights have then been adapted for Urbn Leaf to provide us with the most comprehensive opening and closing procedures
in the industry. Beyond their creation, Skip will devote hands-on time to training all levels of staff to ensure that the procedures, and through them our values, lived every
day. All these materials are available for staff in the following format for compliance use but are taught through on online training portal with a more user-friendly interface.
SOP 101.011
STORE OPENING AND CLOSING
Revision Date April 2, 2020
Reference(s)
Fresno Municipal Code Section No. 11-445
SOP No. 106.009 (Alarm System)
SOP No. 101.006 (Limited Access)
SOP No. 106.002 (Security Procedures)
Owner Sales Manager
Applicability Sales Manager, Security Agent, All Staff, Security
Officer
Legal/Compliance
Approval A. Artunian, S. Motsenbocker, November 1, 2020
Manager Approval A. Gyulnazaruan , November 5, 2020
(1) Store Opening Procedure
1.1 Urbn Leaf begins operations at 7:00 AM in compliance with FMC
Section 9-3310 (1). The opening Store Manager, at least one
Staff Member, and the opening Security Officer must be present
to open the store. The store opens to the public at 8:00 AM.
1.2 The Store Manager will meet the opening Security Officer at the
front door one hour prior to the start of business, 7:00 AM.
1.3 The Staff Member will wait outside in a locked vehicle with
access to a mobile phone. They will maintain a clear view of
the store entrance and wait for a predetermined all-clear
signal from the Store Manager.
1.4 If the outside Staff Member notices suspicious activity or does
not receive the all-clear signal in a reasonable period of
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
18
time, they will immediately call 911 and then contact the
company's Security Agent.
1.5 In accordance with the guidance from the Center for Disease and
Control, on-site screening stations will be set up to practice
social distancing separation of 6 feet or more, as detailed
within SOP 106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19).
1.6 The opening Store Manager and Staff Member will administer the
test outside before entry into the building or in an isolated
and well-ventilated area near the building entrance.
1.7 Temperature checks will be monitored via an FDA approved touch-
free thermometer, following the manufacturers instructions.
1.8 All reusable temperature screening devices must be properly
sanitized after each use to prevent contact spread.
1.9 The data from the test results will be documented on "COVID-19
Daily Sign-in Test Sheet" designated for employee test results,
as in accordance with SOP 106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-
19).
1.10 If temperature is over 100.4°F/38°C, the Staff Member will be
referred to consult with their personal physician for further
diagnostic testing and treatment for possible COVID-19.
1.11 The Staff Member will then be instructed to self-quarantine and
seek medical care and evaluation; they can return to work when
they have had 2 negative tests 24 hours apart, if tests are
available, or 10 days later if they have had no respiratory
symptoms and no fever off medication for 36 hours, as in
accordance under the guidance of the CDC detailed in SOP
106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19).
1.12 The Store Manager will unlock the front door in accordance with
SOP 101.006 (Limited Access).
1.13 After entering the store, the Store Manager will lock the front
door and disarm the premise alarm system in accordance with SOP
106.009 (Alarm System). If the Store Manager is threatened
while disarming the system, they will instead enter a duress
code into the alarm system keypad.
1.14 After disarming the alarm system, the Store Manager will wait
in the entry lobby while the Security Officer checks the
premises for signs of intruders or forced entry. The Security
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
19
Officer will inspect all restrooms, offices, and storage areas.
If an intruder or a sign of forced entry is suspected, the
Security Officer will immediately accompany the Store Manager
safely out of the store and call 911 for police assistance and
promptly report the incident to the Security Agent.
1.15 After checking the interior, the Store Manager will post the
predetermined all-clear signal in the front window. The visible
sign must remain until all scheduled employees have reported
for the day.
1.16 The Staff Member will be escorted into the premises and begin
preparing the empty display cases for product.
1.17 The Store Manager and Staff Member will begin the process of
cleaning and disinfecting the facility as in accordance SOP
106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19).
1.18 The Store Manager will wear disposable gloves to properly clean
and disinfect the facility, and the frequently touched
surfaces, in accordance with the guidance from the CDC SOP
106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19).
1.19 Each time the facility is cleaned, the Staff Member(s) will
sign, record the time and date cleaning was completed on the
"Cleaning Sheet".
1.20 The Staff Members will only use disinfectant products listed by
the EPA in their EPA's "List-N" as approved disinfectants to
use against COVID-19, in accordance with SOP 106.169
(Preparation Against COVID-19).
1.21 The Store Manager will review previous days sales, required
logs, and communication from previous night’s closing Store
Manager.
1.22 The Security Officer will check all surveillance camera feeds
to make sure cameras are aimed properly. The DVR will be
inspected to verify that it is recording properly. Any
problems with cameras or DVR equipment will be reported to the
Security Agent immediately.
1.23 The Store Manager will unlock the secure product storage room
and assist the Staff Member with filling the display cases on
the retail floor. Product will be removed on rolling carts from
the secure area to the locked display cases one at a time, and
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
20
product will not remain unlocked for greater than five minutes.
1.24 Safe and vaults will be disarmed by the Store Manager from
overnight lockdown status no sooner than thirty minutes before
the start of business, 7:30 AM. If a threat is determined
while disarming the vault, a duress code will be entered into
the alarm system keypad.
1.25 Cash for point of sale registers will be filled with no more
than two hundred and eighteen dollars: (4) twenty-dollar bills,
(20) five-dollar bills, and (20) one-dollar bills, and exactly
$18.00 in change. Cash will not be placed into the register
until 7:45 AM.
1.26 At 7:50 AM, additional Staff Members will arrive and be
escorted by the Security Officer from their vehicles.
1.27 The front door will remain locked until opening time, 8:00 AM,
when the Lobby and Sales Staff will go to their stations and
the opening Security Officer will unlock the door.
(2) Store Closing Procedure:
2.1 At 9:50 PM, the closing Store Manager will announce to
customers and staff that the store will be closing in ten
minutes and that all final purchases should be made.
2.2 In the final minutes before closing, all employees should take
special notice of any customers that are loitering.
2.3 At 10:00 PM, the front Security Officer will lock and stand by
the front door, opening to assist customers exiting the store.
No customers will be admitted after the doors have been locked.
No vendors or service technicians will be allowed access unless
they have been given prior authorization by the Store Manager.
2.4 The Store Manager will conduct an initial walk-through of the
entire store to ensure that all customers, contractors, and
employees have exited from the facility. Special attention
will be paid to restrooms, closets, and storage rooms.
2.5 After the final customer has left, the Store Manager, with
assistance from the closing Security Officer assigned to the
front lobby, will conduct a final walk-through of the premises.
2.6 The Store Manager will verify end-of-day closing procedures
through interface with Greenbits®, and ensure that all purchase
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
21
orders, invoices, and reporting has been verified as complete.
2.7 The Store Manager and Staff Members will remove all cannabis
product from the display cases and move product on rolling
tables to the secure storage room. Product will be removed from
the sales floor, one display case at a time, and product will
not remain unlocked for greater than five minutes.
2.8 Inventory will be taken as product is removed from the sales
floor.
2.9 The Store Manager will sign off and perform a final
housekeeping procedure of cleaning and disinfecting of
surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the facility in
accordance with SOP 106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19).
2.10 The Store Manager will perform the final cash drop at 10:15 PM
and verify that all safes and cabinets have been locked. The
Store Manager will make one final deposit of cash into the
smart safe within the secure access room.
2.11 The Store Manager will arm the alarm system controlling the
safes and secure rooms.
2.12 All employees and security personnel will leave simultaneously.
2.13 After exiting the premises, the Security Officer assigned to
the front lobby will verify that the store’s emergency exit and
back entry doorway are each secured and locked from the
outside, in accordance with SOP No. 106.002 (Security
Procedures).
2.14 The alarm will be activated by the Store Manager in accordance
with SOP 106.009 (Alarm System).
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
22
Section 1.6 - Day to Day Operations
Section 1.6.1 i. – Customer Check-In
Our customer check-in procedures have been in constant revision during the recent public health crisis. At the beginning of the pandemic, our ownership team took the lead
in overhauling their respective cannabis business operations to maintain the health and safety of their staff and the public. Skip immediately engaged public health consultants
and updated our procedures, trained our staff, and outlined and implemented procedures for social distancing, face coverings, temperature screenings, contactless
pickup, and capacity limitations before they were mandated by public health orders. We have now distilled all of these best practices into the standard operating procedures for
Urbn Leaf. Using source material and guidance from the national Centers for Disease Control, California State Department of Public Health, and Fresno County Department of
Public Health, our standard operating procedures and training manuals have been updated to include protocols for protecting public safety while maintaining commercial
operations as an essential business.
Most specifically, our customer check-in procedures have undergone a major
overhaul to include contactless entrances and automatic temperature checks in the
lobby area as well as all employee entrances, immediate sanitation of customer lobby and payment areas after each use, and new guidance for staff. Supporting these
procedures is a comprehensive training program, a staff that is committed to upholding standards, and an ownership team that will constantly revise their operational
procedures in accordance with changing public health guidelines.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
23
SOP NO. 101.013
CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS
Revision Date March 2, 2020
Reference(s) Fresno Municipal Code Section No. 11-445
SOP No. 110.005 (Sales Floor)
SOP No. 105.002 (Emergency Procedures)
SOP No. 106.002 (Security Procedures)
Owner Store Manager
Applicability Store Manager, Security Manager, All
Employees, Security Officer
Legal/Compliance
Approval
A. Artunian, S. Motsenbocker, November 12,
2020
General Manager
Approval
A. Gyulnazaruan, November 12, 2020
(1) Customer Check-In
1.1 Prior to the start of business, the Store Manager will verify the
functionality of at least two identification verification machines in
reception and four units on the sales floor.
1.2 During business hours, customers can enter and exit only through the
front doors to gain access to the lobby, except in case of emergency
exiting in accordance with SOP No. 105.002 (Emergency Procedures) and
FMC 9-3310(b)(1)(ii).
1.3 The Security Officer will be present in reception for all customer
entrance and identification verifications in accordance with SOP No.
106.002 (Security Procedures).
1.4 The Security Officer will evaluate if the customer has a proper face
covering as they enter the facility.
1.5 Lobby staff will engage patron and establish customer status with Urbn
Leaf’s loyalty program.
1.6 The Lobby Staff Member will greet the customer and request government
issued identification to verify the identity and age of the customer as
being over 21 years of age for recreational patients, and above 18
years of age for medical patients.
1.7 All customers, patients, and caregivers will be required to provide a
government-issued photo ID. This will be used to verify the person’s
age and identity.
1.8 Accepted forms of identification include Passport, Driver’s License
(which may be issued in California or by any other State as long as the
license has picture of the person), identification card issued under
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
24
California law, United States military identification card, or any
other identification card issued by a State that bears a picture of
persons, the name of the person, the person’s date of birth and a
physical description of the person.
1.9 For medical patients with a physician’s recommendation, the Lobby Staff
Member will verify the document automatically through interface with
the software platform that verifies the physician’s standing through an
API/RSS software interface direct from search.dca.ca.gov. A copy of
the document will be retained electronically.
1.10 For medical patients with a Medical Marijuana Identification Card, the
credentials will be entered into the system for verification through an
API/RSS software interface available directly from
calmmp.ca.gov/MMIC_Search.aspx.
1.11 The Lobby Staff Member will visually inspect the identification for
validity, expiration, and condition.
1.12 The Lobby Staff Member will select “ID Verification” through the
Greenbits software platform.
1.13 The Lobby Staff Member will scan the identification using the magnetic
strip, 1D bar code, 2D barcode, or enter identification number into the
age verification device to determine its authenticity, validity, and
proper credentials. For all new Urbn Leaf customers, a copy of the
identification will be retained in our internal system by the Lobby
Staff Member.
1.14 Urbn Leaf will, at all times, protect confidential information of all
records kept and maintained by the company. All records will be
identified as confidential and any disclosure will be limited in a
manner that maintains the confidentiality of the information contained
therein.
1.15 Once verified, the Lobby Staff Member will take the customer's
temperature using a touch-free thermometer, following the manufacturers
instructions. After confirming the customer's temperature is below
100.4°F/38°C and are not showing physical signs of ailment by the
Security Officer.
1.16 The Lobby Staff Member will contact the Sales Manager via intercom to
determine availability of space on the sales floor. The Sales Manager
will maintain a ratio of one customer per sales associate at all times
in accordance with SOP No. 110.005 (Customer Interactions).
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
25
1.17 If the sales floor is at capacity for current staffing levels, the
customer will be asked to wait in the lobby until a customer leaves or
additional sales staff is made available.
1.18 If there is sufficient space available, the customer will be allowed
into the main sales floor via remote, electronic triggering of the
door’s activation system
1.19 The assigned Sales Staff Member will greet the customer on the other
side of the door when they enter the sales floor. Where possible, the
workers will be assigned to every other row, keeping one row empty in
between workers, as in accordance with SOP 106.169 (Preparation Against
COVID-19). When workers must work adjacent rows, time will be to be
reduced while in close proximity to one another (i.e. let one move
ahead while one stays behind).
1.20 In the areas where staff and customers are prone to converge for an
extended period of time, including product areas, around break and
restrooms, and handwashing or hydration stations, there will visible
markers placed at 6-foot intervals as guides to maintain space between
people as in accordance with SOP 106.169 (Preparation Against COVID-19)
1.21 Similarly, for areas of high convergence, there will be one-way traffic
flow established to reduce close encounters or collisions in narrow
spaces. As well, there will be highly visible signage used to
communicate instructions, so all understand and are complying, in
accordance with the guidance of the CDC.
1.22 Where there are Staff Members and customers that must work in fixed
positions with high-contact interactions with others such as cash
registers, there will be physical barriers in place to minimize
possible contamination. These barriers will include plexiglass ‘sneeze
guards’ and provide higher-performance masks for the Staff Members
within the facility.
1.23 The assigned Sales Staff Member will be responsible for the completion
of the purchase, a second ID verification before the transaction, and
seeing the customer back to the door from the sales floor to the lobby.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
26
Section 1.6.1 ii. – Receiving Deliveries
Urbn Leaf’s product delivery protocols represent tried-and-true delivery and
receiving methodology that we have implemented and improved over the last twenty years in the industry. Spearheaded by owner Skip Motsenbocker, we have created a
comprehensive program to ensure that all deliveries to our store are made safely, securely, and in accordance with our own established guidelines as well as industry best
practices. Our delivery procedures cover hundreds of pages outlining each of these steps and can be provided to the City upon request. The following provides a brief
summary of delivery procedures employed by Urbn Leaf. Please consult the diagrams located in “Section 6 – Location” and “Section 5 – Security Plan” for more details on
delivery protocol information.
Organization
Appropriate time must be allowed for the accurate receiving and tracking of products – staff cannot be rushing between tasks and expected to achieve accuracy
standards we have set in place. Based on industry best practices, we have developed comprehensive protocols to ensure that all cannabis on-site can be quickly located and
accessed. Storage and receiving areas will be properly identified, with each product
clearly labeled, clear of clutter and debris, and well organized to ensure product inventory is not misplaced in the facility. In addition, all invoices and product manifests
will be retained electronically for quick access by staff prior to arrival. Receiving staff, under direction of the ownership team will be responsible for consistent sweeps of all
back of house areas. Product for online sales through delivery, contactless, or in-store pickup will be kept separate from retail sales floor product to keep accurate inventory
records and ensure that product will not have to be transported between the back room and the sales floor during store hours, supporting both our security and odor
management plans.
Designated Area
Deliveries will never enter the premises through an entrance or exit that is used by the public and will only be made through the delivery-only door, separate from the
retail entrance and sales floor. The delivery door grants access to a small vestibule that is independently locked and maintained under video surveillance. Two parking spots
immediately adjacent to the delivery area have been designated as a loading zone. When a delivery vehicle backs up into the space, the delivery entrance is less than ten
feet from the vehicle. The entire delivery procedure from the arrival of the delivery vehicle to the delivery of the product will be covered by video surveillance. Our goal is
to receive, process, and secure all deliveries within ten minutes of the delivery arrival.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
27
Randomized Schedule
Deliveries will be made according to a carefully selected schedule, spacing deliveries
at different times every day. We will only accept scheduled deliveries from distributors that follow a randomized protocol to ensure no one can track or time delivery
schedules, limiting the threat of crime and eventual diversion. After coordinating a schedule with the distributor, deliveries will be made only during daylight hours that
vary based on the time of year. Additionally, these delivery times are scheduled to prevent conflict with lower staffing levels, high customer traffic, and cash pickup times.
This industry best practice is employed at all of our retail and production facilities and has become a fixture of our operational plans. In addition, our communication system
allows deliveries to be called off should staff, a security officer, or the delivery driver perceive a potential threat.
Combined Shipments
To limit number of deliveries that arrive at our facility and the associated critical
control points for safety, security, and odor control, we are utilizing a “Just-In-Time” delivery system that uses an algorithm to combine shipments based on individual
product expected sales. Products that can be combined into earlier or later shipments will be advanced or delayed, and minimum order quantities will be instituted for each
delivery to ensure that extraneous shipments are never processed. We estimate that this efficiency will reduce the number of incoming and outgoing shipments by 30% each
year in addition to allowing us to use distributors with smaller vehicles for delivery that run on natural gas and do not create the noise pollution of larger box trucks.
Check-In
All invoicing and receiving paperwork will be prepared in advance and will be
available for the vendor electronically prior to their arrival. Before exiting the vehicle, the vendor will verify their arrival and shipment manifest electronically prior to unloading
any product or unlocking their vehicle. The security officer and receiving staff will meet the vendor at the delivery vehicle and verify their credentials prior to escorting them to
the delivery entrance. Our staff, driver, security officer, and product will be taken into the secured product storage room where the inventory will be checked against the manifest.
All visitors will be logged physically and electronically, and a register of all visitors will be maintained along with still images of their arrival and departure will be maintained for
seven years, in excess of regulations and industry standards.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
28
Quality Control
Our receiving staff member will inspect the packaging and labeling of all items to
ensure they are compliant with local and state regulations and fit for sale in our store. We will verify the information on the primary panel, informational panel, and
supplemental label and cross-check against manifests and product orders. Any product that does not conform will not be accepted and will return with the delivery driver and
notated on the receiving report in Greenbits®. Staff will ensure that all packaging is sealed in air-tight containers and any product breach will be refused, immediately
quarantined in an air-tight container, and removed from the premises by the vendor. The primary panel labeling will identify the product, contain the California universal
cannabis symbol, include the net weight or volume of the product, and include THC and CBD content in milligrams. The informational panel will be verified to include the
government warning statement in proper formatting and the supplemental label will include the manufacturer’s name and contact, date of manufacture, list of ingredients,
instructions for use or preparation, expiration date, batch number, and the unique tracking number. Edible products will also be checked to include “Cannabis Infused” on
the primary panel as well as nutritional information required by the FDA.
Staff will be trained to understand how to visually inspect all raw flower for signs of
age, moisture content, improper manicuring, unstable genetics, or damage from transport to ensure that not only are our products efficacious to the level indicated on
the packaging, but also aesthetically appealing. Past the initial verification by our quality control team, our sales team will visually inspect products throughout their lifetime in
our store as they stock and remove product from the sales floor and review for potential expiration or degradation.
Check Out
Once the delivery is processed and the product has been secured in the product
storage room, the receiving staff member and the security officer will escort the driver back to the delivery vehicle. The driver’s credentials will be logged as they leave the
facility and a still image of their departure will be maintained in accordance with our standard operating procedures. As a result of the implementation of site-specific
controls and receiving protocols, including streamlined check-in and check-out procedures, we anticipate with most deliveries can be completed in less than ten
minutes door-to-door. This will limit the amount of time cannabis product is subject to potential theft and diversion as well as allowing us to properly address critical control
points for odor management.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
29
Auxiliary Staff Support
During delivery times, the Store Manager, receiving staff, and Back Security Officer
will be unencumbered by other tasks and available to provide additional support. Daily schedules will dictate the randomized delivery time and we will reallocate other tasks
during that time. “Safety-valve” staff members will be available to ensure that deliveries are completed as quickly as possible and be available for all distributors to be escorted
through our secured access areas by a staff member and security officer at all times.
Two-On-Two Coverage
Two-on-two security protocols will be followed for all deliveries and we will not accept any deliveries unless two security officers are present in accordance with our
standard operating procedures. When the vendor vehicle arrives at our building, credentials are verified while the driver is still in the vehicle. When this step is
completed, the delivery vestibule door is opened by our receiving staff and security officer under observation from a second security officer. This video surveillance is
transmitted to the security office and to a mobile device, creating a path of dual surveillance while not necessitating the need for another officer to be taken out of
position. The second security officer is able to remotely view the camera over the delivery entrance door that has a clear view of the entrance as well as the entirety of the
delivery vehicle in the loading zone, the product storage room, and all hallways and other rooms included in the delivery path of the product through our facility.
Detailed Tracking
We will create and maintain a detailed manifest prior to receiving any delivery and a
copy will be sent with the driver on their return trip. This manifest will be generated automatically by our software sales platform, Greenbits, at least four hours prior to
delivery to ensure receiving staff has enough time to process the order in advance of the product arriving. Additionally, this manifest can be provided electronically to city
and state officials in real time upon request and will include details with a description of each item in the delivery inventory, an accurate measurement of the quantity of each
item, the date and time the cannabis goods were received by the retailer, the sell-by or expiration date, if applicable, the name and license number of the licensee that
delivered the cannabis goods to the retailer, the name and license number of the distributor that provided the cannabis goods to the retailer, and the price the retailer
paid for the cannabis goods, including taxes, delivery costs, and any other distribution costs. These delivery manifests can be modified electronically at any time up until the
product is officially received, allowing receiving staff to make instant corrections to our actual stock levels.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
30
Section 1.6 iii. - Point of Sale
In the age of technology, point of sale is an increasingly ambiguous term. With
phone orders and online sales with delivery, it becomes more transient where the actual sale takes place. We have worked hard to develop a program that will take advantage of
the latest improvements in customer facing point-of-sale software to create a seamless, efficient transaction space. We will be utilizing an integration of a custom-built online
sales platform and Greenbits® Retail and Inventory Management software allowing online sales, phone orders, and in-store purchases to be housed under one platform.
This system additionally provides integration with the state’s track-and-trace system, inventory management, identification tracking and verification, customer loyalty
program, and customer purchase history. By combining all these aspects into one platform, we are able to drastically reduce each transaction time, creating fewer
concerns for traffic and congestion, affording the customer more time to interact with staff, and create workflow efficiencies for our business.
We will maintain a one-to-one ratio of sales staff to customers on the sales floor at all times, allowing undivided attention on the customer. Our platform allows product
selection and financial transactions to take place either before the customer arrives by placing an online or phone order, or with any member of sales staff at any point on our
sales floor via electronic payment method. Product will be kept in locked display cases and available to customers for inspection prior to purchase. Since we anticipate large
numbers of cash transactions to persist, customers paying with cash will be escorted to
one of six point-of-sale cash registers by their assigned member of sales staff, and the transaction will take place over a counter. Four of these terminals are spaced evenly
abutting our secure area on the product counter and two more located in our secure product island as noted in the diagram below.
The software options for inventory tracking and internal auditing have only recently undergone overhauls for compliance assurance, but these tools have enabled us to
essentially eliminate the possibility of undetected theft of cash or product. We intend on utilizing Greenbits® for the tracking of inventory as well as interface with the state’s
track-and-trace system, Metrc. Our inventory control standard operating procedures include procedures for the recall of cannabis and cannabis products, as well as their
disposal, if necessary, in compliance with all city and state regulations and Greenbits® allows us to maintain an active and functional account within our internal track-and-
trace system. Our Sales Manager will be our designated track-and-trace system operator that will train other members of staff on its use. All senior staff will be properly
credentialed prior to them receiving access or use of it, although most have used this software before.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
31
Greenbits® is used to in over $3.7 billion dollars of cannabis transactions each year and is used in all states that process cannabis transactions at over 1,200 retailers. Our
team will undergo and successfully complete all required state track-and-trace training and will use a unique log-on username and password. No individual will have access to
another’s account for any reason, in accordance with state regulations. We will also implement and maintain an inventory control and reporting system that accurately
documents the present location, amounts, and descriptions of all cannabis product. When cannabis and cannabis products are delivered to the facility, the quantity received
will be instantly electronically reconciled with expected quantities provided on transport manifests and invoices. Products will be updated in Greenbits® and show up as active
inventory in Urbn Leaf’s internal tracking system as well as our online platform for vendors. Any variances in inventory found during regular audits will be internally
investigated, reported to the city and the BCC, as required by Fresno regulations, and will be reflected in Greenbits®. Closing the only gaps in the Greenbits® platform, our
in-house software will be used to interface with Metrc to purchase inventory tags, accept manifests, or potentially transfer inventory. While the program has a point-and-
click user interface, our staff will utilize the following standard operating procedure for compliance.
SOP NO. 107.001
SOP No. 108.001 – SOFTWARE ACCESS
Revision Date April 2, 2020
Reference(s) Fresno Municipal Code Section No. 11-445
SOP No. 120.001 (Employment Policy)
SOP No. 104.004 (Track-and-Trace)
SOP No. 102.008 (Waste Management)
Owner Store Manager
Applicability Store Manager, Security Manager, All Staff
members, Security Officer
Legal/Compliance
Approval
A. Artunian, S. Motsenbocker, November 12,
2020
Manager Approval A. Gyulnazaruan, November 12, 2020
1. Account Access
1.1. All Staff Members will be given Urbn Leaf System and Greenbits
platform access commensurate with their position.
1.2. Each User will be assigned unique log-on credentials, consisting
of a username and password in accordance with SOP No. 120.001
(Employment Policy).
1.3. The Account Manager will ensure to provide safeguards against
erasures and unauthorized changes in data after information has
been entered and verified by Urbn Leaf.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
32
1.4. The Account Manager will maintain a complete, accurate, and up-
to-date list of all Greenbits and Urbn Leaf System Users.
1.5. Prior to beginning sales operations, Urbn Leaf will create and
maintain at all times an active and functional account with
METRC prior to engaging in any commercial cannabis activity,
including the purchase, sale, return, destruction, or disposal
of any cannabis products in accordance with SOP No. 104.004
(Track-and-Trace).
1.6. The General Manager is designated as the company’s Track and
Trace system Account Manager. The General Manager may authorize
additional owners or staff members as Track and Trace system
Users and will ensure that each User is fully trained to use the
Track and Trace system prior to first access.
1.7. The Account Manager will first attend and successfully complete
all required Track and Trace system training, including any
orientation and continuing education.
1.8. Each User accessing any system shall only do so under his or her
assigned log-on credentials and shall not use or access a log-on
of any other person. Under no circumstances shall the Account
Manager or any User share or transfer his or her log-on
credentials for use by any other person.
1.9. Attempts to falsify or misrepresent data or information entered
in the track-and-trace system is a violation of Urbn Leaf’s
policies; punishable up to and including termination of
employment.
1.10. The Account Manager will remove any track-and-trace system
administrator or user from an associated track-and-trace system
account if that individual is no longer a licensee
representative or the administrator.
1.11. The Account Manager will maintain a complete, accurate, and up-
to-date list of all system users, consisting of their full
names, usernames, email addresses, and phone numbers.
2. System Use:
2.1. All sales and customer returns will be documented in the Metrc
track and trace system via the Greenbits Sales Platform.
2.2. All destruction of cannabis goods will be documented in the
Metrc track and trace system via the Greenbits Inventory
Management in accordance with SOP No. 102.008 (Waste
Management).
2.3. All product deliveries will be entered into Greenbits Inventory
Management Software.
2.4. All product deliveries will be entered into Metrc via Urbn Leaf
Software “Manifests”.
2.5. All product inventory tags will be purchased from Metrc through
the Urbn Leaf Software.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
33
2.6. All inventory transfers will be entered into the Urbn Leaf
Software for communication with Metrc.
2.7. If Staff Members are unable to access the track-and-trace system
for any reason, Urbn Leaf has set in place procedures that will
prepare and maintain comprehensive records detailing all
tracking inventory activities that were conducted during the
loss of access.
2.8. Once access to the track-and-trace system is restored, all
inventory tracking activities that occurred during the loss of
access shall be entered into the track-and-trace system within
48 hours.
2.9. Account Manager will be responsible to ensure to document when
access to the track-and-trace system was lost and when it was
restored.
3. Compliance:
3.1. All staff members should be made aware that, as the cannabis
license holder of record, Urbn Leaf is fully accountable for the
actions its owners and staff members take while they are logged
into or using the Metrc Track and Trace system.
3.2. The Account Manager will reconcile all discrepancies between
Metrc and Greenbits through weekly syncs.
3.3. The Account Manager is responsible for monitoring all compliance
notifications received from the Track and Trace system and
resolving any compliance matters in a prompt and timely manner.
3.4. The Account Manager shall immediately notify the Compliance
Director upon receiving any compliance notifications from the
State in accordance with SOP No. 104.004 (Track-and-Trace).
3.5. The Account Manager shall maintain a record, independent of the
Track and Trace system, of all compliance notifications received
from the Track and Trace system and shall further document how
and when full compliance was achieved.
3.6. The Account Manager will correct any data that is entered into
the track-and-trace system in error within 24 hours of discovery
of the error.
3.7. If the Account Manager is unable to resolve a compliance
notification within three (3) business days after receipt of the
notification, The Compliance Director shall notify the Bureau of
Cannabis Control immediately
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
34
Section 1.6 iv. – Customer Count
For the first year of operations, we expect to serve around two hundred
customers per day, but through marketing and outreach efforts begun in month twelve,
we expect to increase our daily customer count to three hundred per day by month
twenty-four.
Initial marketing, advertising, and staffing focus will be on integrating into the
community by driving high in-store traffic (if not in conflict with current public health
standards at the time of opening). We intend to bring in customers to create lasting
relationships through one-on-one, meaningful interactions. During this time, we will
commit to being “overstaffed” to ensure that customer experiences are not rushed, and
that staff has time to adequately introduce our company, our vision, and our
commitment to civic participation. During this ramp-up phase of customer education
and neighborhood ingratiation, we will focus on quality and speed of service, refine our
processes and support our online platform as it gains traction in the marketplace.
Beginning after the end of the first year of operations, we intend to drive sales to
our online platform through concentrated marketing efforts which will reduce in-store
customer count while still driving overall sales metrics. Staff will begin directing
customers to the efficiency and ease of use of our online sales platform and our delivery
service. After the end of the second year, we will further move traffic to our online
platform by offering financial incentives such as order discounts and free delivery to
maintain low in-store traffic and high customer engagement while still increasing overall
sales.
Throughout this transition, we commit to maintaining a 1:1 ratio of customer to
staff on our sales floor and an average transaction time of six minutes, or ten customers
per hour per member of staff. The built-in efficiencies in our operations and logistics
plan will ensure that we are able to maintain adequate staffing levels even during peak
times. During “rushes”,
management and additional
receiving staff with sales
training will be available as a
“safety-valve” to decrease
transaction time and increase
customer turnaround.
In-Store 130 140 150
Online Pickup 45 60 75
Delivery 25 50 75
Total 200 250 300
year 1 year 2 year 3
Customer Count
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
35
Section 1.6 v. – Product Line
Urbn Leaf was created on the foundational principle of providing the highest quality of cannabis products on the market. Our ownership team has embraced the industry’s
expanding product line and look forward to serving the next generation of cannabis consumer. To assist in our business planning, we created a comprehensive financial
model for our operations in Fresno. This model relies on data collected through BDS Analytics, a leading cannabis industry data management firm, blended with the
assumptions and the professional experience of our management and operations teams.
The modern customer is well-informed and has high standards not just for the
products they put in their body, but the company they purchase from, and more recently, where that company purchases from. Ad infinitum. We are embracing this
transparency and the new vernacular of the industry. Genetic Mapping. Single origin, Optimized decarboxylation. Live resin. Natural terpenes. Certified organic (not quite, but
we’ll get there). Cannabis connoisseurs know what they want, and we will provide the broadest, highest quality cannabis products in Fresno. With over three thousand square
feet of sprawling sales floor and hundreds of liner feet of display case, the ownership team has constructed a comprehensive program to drive our proposed product line.
Drawing from owner Skip Motsenbocker’s deep rolodex of cultivators, manufactures, and
distributors, Urbn Leaf has established a procurement team tasked with staying on the
cutting edge of cannabis culture. This team will source new product on
a continual basis, searching for innovative products and ensuring
our existing suppliers are upholding product standards and
conducting business in a manner that is consistent with our values.
Even considering consistently shifting consumer preferences, our
experience has afforded us with a firm understanding of the market.
Historically, cannabis flower sales have dominated all other categories,
both in availability, selection, and overall sales numbers. But over our years in the
regulated industry, we have seen the flower
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
36
category, as a percentage of sales, drop from over eighty percent ten years ago to about fifty percent last year, depending on store format and location.
We anticipate the continuing of this trend and expect Urbn Leaf’s sales to break down according the chart on the following, at least for the first year of operations. In
terms of selection, we will carry fifty individual strains of raw flower, distributed among classic and novel genetics. Currently, our procurement team has queued preliminary
distribution agreements for 25 of the 50 cannabis strains we plan to feature in our store, representing a wide variety of cannabinoid content, ranging from less than 1% THC to
over 30%, as well as other strains coveted for their terpene content, flavor, and desired effect. All flower will be received from the distributor perfectly manicured and will
represent a wide variety of cannabinoids and flavor profiles. We anticipate these initial percentages to hold out over the first few years of business, but we will be constantly
monitoring market conditions to create the perfect product blend.
Beyond the simple category headings, our product line encompasses a broad range
of individual programs aimed at bringing unique, premium products to the Fresno cannabis marketplace. Through our experience in executing hundreds of purchase
contracts, our procurement team has developed a system for finding cultivators, distributors, and manufacturers that provide the highest quality of cannabis product,
operate with the highest degree of compliance, and share our values.
Coveted sales space in our store will not be sold to the highest
bidder in the form of slotting fees. Instead, we have arranged our product line to reflect the desires
of our customers as well as our internal vision. We will be designating display
space to unique cannabis products from special producers, which will allow us to
promote our values of economic inclusion and social justice. Products
from these vendors will be showcased with associated sales targets assigned to
these producers.
An additional feature will give
designated space to small scale cultivation and manufacturing
operations that focus extensively on the inherent value of their product.
Many times, these small-scale producers have trouble competing in
the marketplace due to the economic scale
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
37
enjoyed by large farms and manufacturing facilities. We want to shine a spotlight on these businesses that have prioritized quality over quantity despite the lure of additional
revenues.
We have also identified cannabis product producers that have a social justice
component to their business. Whether by charitable giving, commitment to social equity programs, or minority or female-owned businesses, these groups will also be featured in
our store with designated display space. Finally, we will designate space for cannabis products that are the most natural, pushing the boundaries of purity. These products
will be embraced by the cannabis consumer that desires the most natural experience, the cleanest cannabis, produced without the use of any pesticides. We look forward to
driving this product category as the industry evolves.
Local Fresno County cultivators and manufacturers will create a continual local
feature. This display will feature up and coming cannabis cultivators and manufactured cannabis producers from the City of Fresno and Fresno County areas, expanding as
other local jurisdictions begin operations. This feature will be located at the front of the sales floor, immediately available upon entry from the lobby. Supplementing our
vendor-supplied products, we will be pioneering a line of Fresno-themed private-label and controlled-label products from our ownership teams’ production facilities and
controlled label products from our most trusted vendors. These products will be named after notable streets and landmarks in Fresno and will be offered at a discount to Fresno
City residents.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
38
Section 1.6.1 vi. - Delivery Procedures
Delivery of cannabis goods from a retailer to a consumer requires a broad range of
skills and in many ways requires an entirely different business model. While customer service is still of highest importance, supply chain-logistics and a robust software
platform play a much larger role. In an effort to reach a larger customer base and to help serve the segment of the population that does not have reliable access to
transportation or may be facing mobility disabilities, we have undertaken the task of creating the most efficient, secure, reliable delivery platform in the industry. Below is a
brief outline of the extensive delivery policies, protocols, and logistics developed by Urbn Leaf.
Driver Credentials
All delivery drivers must be 21 years of age, employees of Urbn Leaf, required to
maintain a California State Driver License, current and in good standing, and be insured to drive in the State of California at minimum. Once this information has been verified,
we will inspect the driving records of potential delivery staff and apply strict standards for past performance. Delivery staff will also undergo the same rigorous internal
background check we require for all members of staff, as well as all live-scan procedures required by the City of Fresno and the State of California, Bureau of Cannabis Control.
Prior to conducting their first delivery, staff will be trained and tested on regulatory responsibilities in a program that covers all local and state regulatory requirements,
security and safety procedures, and interaction with our software platform. All drivers, in
addition to all other members of staff, will be required to adhere to our strict zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use and be required to submit to randomized drug
tests for illicit substances. Delivery staff will be responsible during deliveries to carry a copy of the company’s current cannabis license, the employee’s government-issued
identification, a company identification badge meeting the requirements of state law, and all necessary paperwork required for making deliveries. Delivery drivers without
prior cannabis delivery experience will be paired up with an experienced member of our team for their first fourteen shifts for all deliveries to ensure that they are familiar with
our software, our procedures, and our neighborhood. Drivers that are comfortable and confident in their role and responsibilities are better able to handle unexpected
situations.
Order Procedures
Orders will be completed over the phone, in-app, or online via our integrated e-commerce platform. Customers are reminded that age verification will be required at
the time of delivery at the time of purchase in accordance with FMC Section 11-445 (c) (Operating Procedures). Real time inventory tracking allows for the immediate
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
39
generation of accurate delivery manifests and allows orders to be prepared immediately for delivery, then staged in accordance with delivery protocols. Delivery drivers will not
leave the premises until all product has been entered into the system and an invoice has been generated and all drivers will leave with two copies of the delivery manifest.
Preparation Procedures
Once orders are received, orders will be packed by back of house staff and all
tracking information will be entered into the POS software as a delivery sale. Product will be staged for delivery in the secure product storage room and the system automatically
verifies that the order will not exceed the purchase limits of 28.5 grams of cannabis flower and 8 grams of concentrate per customer per day for recreational customers.
Additionally, no singular nor combined delivery run will include cannabis goods worth more than at any time in a value determined using the current retail price of all
cannabis goods in the vehicle. Store staff will prepare a Delivery Request Receipt prior to each delivery of cannabis goods containing the company’s name and address, the first
name and number of both the sales staff member and the delivery staff member, the first name of the customer and a company-assigned customer number, the date and
time the delivery request was made, the delivery address, and a detailed description of all cannabis goods requested for delivery. The description will include the weight,
volume, or any other accurate measurement of the amount of all cannabis goods requested, the total amount paid for the delivery, including any taxes, fees, the cost of
the cannabis goods, and any other charges related to the delivery, the date and time the delivery was made, and the signature of the customer.
Transaction Procedures
Greenbits® POS system allows for transactions to be completed electronically prior
to delivery or through the use of a mobile tablet that will be used in the field to complete transactions, collect payments, and keep Metrc and our inventory updated as
soon as deliveries occur. A staff member at the retail storefront and the driver must verify the accuracy of the order before leaving the retail storefront and orders may only
be adjusted if items are being removed from the order due to a customer’s request. Items removed from a customer’s order will be promptly returned to the storefront
location for inspection and restocking. Once a successful transaction is complete at the delivery address, returns can no longer be accepted unless processed in accordance
with our store return policy.
Delivery staff are trained to ensure that the person buying the cannabis products are
of age and legal right to do so and verify that the customer is over 21 or customers with a valid doctor’s recommendation are over 18. These documents are required to be
inspected before a delivery may take place, even for repeat customers. The legitimacy of the documents will be validated and verified against a visual inspection of the customer.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
40
If diversion or the possibility thereof is witnessed, the delivery will not take place and potentially the customer will be banned from ordering again. At the time of the delivery,
the delivery staff member will provide the customer who placed the order two copies of the Delivery Request Receipt, one of which must be signed by the customer. The
Delivery staff member shall retain the signed copy of the Delivery Request Receipt for the company’s records.
Vehicle Security
While the delivery staff members are actively engaged in deliveries, vehicles will be
equipped with a multi-layer security system consisting of physical locks that can be remotely and automatically engaged, an electronic alarm system that activates upon
forced entry or activation with an unauthorized key, and a Dashcam system that records continuously during the shift and the footage of which is saved for at least 7 days. Video
footage can be cross referenced with location data to form a complete picture of delivery security. All physical and electronic security features are supported by protocols
requiring vehicles to remain locked at all times while unattended, a pre-delivery inspection of all equipment, and commitment to a robust training program.
Deliveries of cannabis goods from our facility will only be made between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., with the last delivery driver leaving the facility at 8:15 p.m.
and returning before 8:45 pm. After this time, the back-of-house order system will be shut down and all product will be locked in storage
overnight, in accordance with our store operating procedures. During this time, all vehicles used for
deliveries will be parked, a final inspection conducted, locked, and the alarm system engaged.
In-Transit Storage
Product that is invoiced for delivery is placed into the product cage in the hatch of the vehicle with a copy of
the invoice attached in addition to a copy sent with the driver. The rear windshield will be tinted to ensure at no time will cannabis product,
depictions, or marketing materials be visible from the outside of the vehicle. The cage is installed directly to the rear hatch bracket of the vehicle which is attached to the
vehicle’s frame and cannot be accessed unless the hatch is opened by a lock independent from the rest of the vehicle’s security system. When the driver arrives at the
delivery address, the product may be removed from the product cage and the delivery may be conducted. The delivery staff member will not leave cannabis goods in an
unattended motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is locked and equipped with an active vehicle alarm system and an active running surveillance “dash-cam” system.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
41
Cash Security
Drivers will keep less than in change and will transfer the entire amount of the transaction to the respective cash drawer in the store as soon as they arrive back on
location, replenishing their change at the same time. During deliveries, drivers will keep change and revenue in a bank bag within their vehicles at all times, except when making
a delivery. This bank bag will be stored in a separate secure cash vault in the rear hatch of the vehicle. For safety purposes, we will all drivers to obscure funds in their pocket
before returning to their vehicle from the delivery, in accordance with industry best practices. Once back to their vehicle, funds are to be put back into the bank bag in the
secure storage area for subsequent deposit into the delivery cash register located at the retail storefront. Through our dispatch platform, we can allocate and evenly distribute
cash and electronic payment transactions among deliveries in order to ensure the amount of cash in each vehicle is not beyond the state mandated threshold.
Location Tracking
All vehicles used for the delivery of cannabis
goods shall be outfitted with an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) device that is
used identifying the geographic location of the delivery vehicle in real-time. This information can be promptly provided to the Bureau of
Cannabis Control and local law enforcement upon request. The Nissan Leaf is factory outfitted with a device integrated into the vehicle’s system, permanently affixed, does
not consist of a phone or tablet, and cannot be disabled by the driver or other third party.
To supplement this onboard device, we will be utilizing the GeoTab® hardware and software program. This program is capable of tracking delivery trips from the time
drivers leave the facility to the time they arrive at their delivery destination and back. The program runs regular audits against input parameters and past deliveries to allow
management and security personnel to use data to identify any potential issues. In combination with location tracking, the system will provide hands-free route guidance
for safety and efficiency purposes and supplementing the software, delivery drivers will fill out electronic logs for each delivery upon completion.
Vehicles will be regularly maintained and have full-time onboard GPS tracking also available to regulators. All regulations set forth in FMC Section 11-447 for delivery
vehicles will be complied with.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
42
Stop & Return Policies
All deliveries must be made to a customer at a physical site address, never to a
mobile vehicle or post office box, a location outside of the State of California, an address located on publicly owned land or any address on land or in a building leased by a
public agency, or any location on tribal lands or to an individual tribal member unless the delivery is permitted by tribal law. While making deliveries of cannabis goods, the
delivery staff member will only travel from the company’s licensed premises to the delivery address, from one delivery address to another delivery address, or from a
delivery address back to the company’s licensed premises.
The delivery staff member will not deviate from the most direct delivery path, except
for necessary rest, fuel, vehicle repair stops, or because road conditions make continued use of the route unsafe, impassible, or impracticable (traffic!).
Software Integration
Our order tracking and inventory management system, Green Bits, e-commerce
platform, GeoTab® GPS tracking, and in-car video surveillance system will all be tied together on our custom Delivery Platform. Drivers, management, security personnel, and
law enforcement will have access in real time to the platform, giving insight into the location, amount of cash and product in the vehicle, and delivery route. A
comprehensive delivery software platform that blends updated inventory tracking with safety and security features will not only protect our product but will protect the
surrounding community from the potential of diverted cannabis product.
Vehicle Fleet
All deliveries of cannabis goods will be made in person, through use of vehicle transport. A
small fleet of two vehicles initially will be owned, maintained, and operated by Urbn Leaf.
We will be utilizing two full-electric 2021 Nissan Leaf vehicles in the operation of delivery
procedures. Urbn Leaf will provide the City of Fresno and the State Bureau of Cannabis
Control with all information regarding any motor vehicles used for the delivery of cannabis
goods, including the vehicle’s make, model, color, vehicle identification number, license
plate number, and Department of Motor Vehicles registration information.
SECTION 1
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
BUSINESS PAN
43
SECTION 2
SOCIAL POLICY & LOCAL
ENTERPRISE PLAN
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
44
SECTION 2 – SOCIAL POLICY & LOCAL ENTERPRISE PLAN
Section 2.1 – Living Wage
In order to truly help give back to our communities, especially in our Southern
California economy, we aim to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth that come with a comprehensive benefits package that takes into account our
staff as individuals . Urbn Leaf will not simply be creating jobs but creating career opportunities that will stay with our staff long after their employment ends. The
ownership team believes that when you show your team you value their time, effort, and participation in your business, you find yourselves with dedicated staff that support the
organization and takes care of your customers. We will promote the economic success of our staff by providing not only a living wage, but financial security.
In determining the appropriate level of compensation for our staff, we relied heavily on the data provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The living wage
model is an alternative measure of basic needs that expands on the federal poverty guidelines. MIT uses a market-based approach that draws upon geographically specific
expenditure data related to a family’s likely minimum food, childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation, and other basic necessity costs including clothing and personal
care. The living wage draws on these cost elements and the rough effects of income and payroll taxes to determine the minimum employment earnings necessary to meet a
family’s basic needs while also maintaining self-sufficiency. The analysis further breaks down the required living wage for various family structures.
We pay our staff members a living wage that far exceeds the State of California and City of Fresno minimum wage of per hour (for employers with 26 or more
employees), as set out in the Fresno County Living Wage Ordinance. Further, we pay our staff members well above the per hour living wage determined by the MIT
statistical model for Fresno. In fact, we have placed our entry level positions at a level equal to MIT’s model for a living wage earner who is part of a family consisting of two
adults with two children, currently at per hour. Compensation levels for senior staff have been set at minimum standards for single parents who must pay for daycare,
currently at per hour. Finally, our top level professional staff and product coordinators will be compensated at a level above the living wage for families with one
working adult and three children and households with large families and two parents but only one working , or roughly $ annual salary based on
weekly hourly requirements. We believe these levels will create a driven, well-rounded, caring staff. Additionally, all staff are given semi-annual evaluations and are eligible for
wage increases based on merit. Please see the next page for a chart of our staff wages and a chart of the metrics we used to determine our pay and benefits structure.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
46
Section 2.2 – Employee Benefits
In combination with our extensive compensation package, each member of staff will
cost us over per year. After the numbers were crunched and we realized this, we were ecstatic. We look forward to uplifting the economic position of the community
directly through our staff.
Supplementing our aggressive pay scale, Urbn Leaf offers an extremely competitive
benefits package to ensure our staff members are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. We made sure that all members of staff will have access to the same healthcare,
paid time off, and profit-sharing programs because we believe a benefits program that is comprehensive and evenly distributed creates a staff that will be less likely to call in
sick, provide better customer service, and most importantly, be happy.
We have addressed every possible aspect of employee health and wellness in our
benefits package that takes a holistic view of the employee as a worker, an individual,
and a person. We will develop internal audit programs to assess staff satisfaction with
their job opportunities presented by our company through yearly staff surveys.
These surveys are responded to anonymously and report on all aspects of
employee satisfaction including relationships with other members of staff and job
autonomy. By utilizing this and other feedback solicitation programs, we will empower
staff to make changes in the organization for the better.
Position New Staff Senior Staff ProfessionalCompensationTime-OffWellness PlanRetirementProfit-SharingEducation Industry Experience
Total
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
47
Work/Life Balance
The foundation of a strong benefits package, ironically, is paid time away from work.
All though we intend that every member of staff will love their job, all staff members will be eligible for sick and vacation leave after 30 days of employment equal to 5.7% of the
number of hours worked. For a full-time staff member this is an equivalent to approximately three weeks with their friends and family per year. A 2019 study on
proper work-life balance attainment highlights reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, and greater sense of accomplishment with reduced work hours, flexible schedules, and
adequate vacation time. In return, Urbn Leaf is furnished with increased productivity from their workforce, higher morale, and a greater level of commitment to the
organization. Win-win! We have incorporated the findings from this study as well as many others like it to
create an environment where staff members are able to dictate their own schedules and number of hours while still meeting our business needs. We have policies in place to
grant split shifts to staff with childcare or education priorities and will commit to working with each member of staff individually to create a work/life balance plan.
Additionally, our Family and Medical Leave Plan exceeds California’s requirements and provides for continued wages for staff members who are caring for the serious health
condition of a relative as well as time for new parents to spend quality bonding time with their newborns.
Health & Wellness
Urbn Leaf will offer full health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance
utilizing a flexible healthcare savings account and medical insurance will be contributed entirely by Urbn Leaf for members of staff and deep discounts afforded for family
coverage. Most importantly, the health benefits are just part of an overall wellness program that promotes healthy lifestyles in our staff members through incentives for
healthy eating, exercise, and tobacco cessation. Included in our wellness plan is a comprehensive and progressive approach to health care, providing mental health
services through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and optional supplemental options such as life, home or renter’s, and even veterinary insurance along with both
long- and short-term disability options. As part of our commitment to environmentalism and sustainability and to assist our staff members, Urbn Leaf will provide a public
transportation stipend for all of our staff members who use public transportation to get to work. Additionally, we will cover the costs for them to use any green or efficient
means of public transportation to and from work, including paying for the headlights, taillights, helmet, and u-lock for staff members who use bicycles. In the event that a staff
member who uses public transportation has an emergency and needs to get home immediately, Urbn Leaf will cover the cost of the staff member’s rideshare service.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
48
Profit-Sharing
We have set aside a minimum of 1% (one percent) of all profits aside each year to be
distributed as an annual bonus to all staff members. This baseline figure amounts to roughly going back into each staff members’ pocket, which will help them
financially, but more importantly, give them a feeling of ownership and involvement. To further drive engagement, we will work with our staff to set sales and costs minimization
goals with financial incentives for meeting targets. Our staff and management structure is organized around sales, logistics, and operations teams, each with an important part
to play in the financial success of our business and through this incentive program staff will be able to make decisions that directly impact the amount of compensation they
receive, driving a sense of autonomy. We intend on having our staff intimately involved in the success of our business by having commitments from every member of our team
to drive sales, reduce costs, and be more efficient with labor.
Life & Career Advancement
For all staff members, we have developed a program to work with a local law firm to provide expungement for criminal cannabis convictions. Many face difficulties
obtaining employment due to previous cannabis related convictions that are viewed as a stain on their record. Many times, these individuals personally retain legal services
because of the complexity of issues involved which amount to thousands of dollars. When we begin our background checks for candidates, those candidates who are
eventually brought into our organization who have cannabis arrests or convictions will be contacted by our executive staff, and will have their arrest or conviction record
referred to our legal partner to process expungement. Staff members will have this process provided for them at no charge and we will also provide for quarterly cannabis
expungement seminars for non-staff members of the community, detailed in Section 7 – Community Benefits & Investment Plan.
To further create opportunities and steppingstones for our staff members and those harmed by the criminalization of cannabis, we are encouraging our team to enroll
at Fresno City Community College by covering costs of enrollment and tuition for full- and part-time students in proportion to their work hours. Established in 1910, Fresno
City College is a California’s first public community college, and it changed the face of education in our great state. FCC is a certified Hispanic-serving institution and has the
largest nursing program in California, nationally recognized student organizations, and transfer agreements to select University of California and California State University
campuses. The Fresno City College athletic program has been nationally recognized and maintains a broad-based program in achieving success in many sports, both men and
women. FCC provides career and technical programs to the local community in over 80 certificate programs, 24 associates degrees for transfer, and 120 full associates degrees
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
49
with classes in over 60 disciplines including athletics, child development, culinary arts, and dental hygiene. Fresno College focuses on their mission to ensure a student’s
success through a diversity of pathways. We hope that this assistance will help begin or finish a staff member’s educational development and potentially allow them to receive a
degree that will give them the confidence to enter the workforce or continue their education earning a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university. Additionally, for staff
that has already completed their education and are paying student loans, we will offer a Urbn Leaf re-payment schedule commensurate with our tuition program.
Our paid, on-the-job cannabis training program will mentor individuals in our retail store and help them develop transferable work skills for a possible career in retail sales,
hospitality, or another related field. This program is tasked with taking current staff members to the next level of customer service as well as product and industry
knowledge. Staff will undergo supplementary and enrichment training, perform vendor and producer site visits, and interact with the industry as a whole. While we hope to
create paths of advancement within our organization, we will use the extensive network of our ownership team to create upward mobility throughout the industry. Staff
members that leave our organization will be the best trained, most knowledgeable, and most professional candidates in the industry, allowing them to create long term careers.
Finally, all members of management and vested staff members of every level will be eligible to enroll in a tax deferred 401k retirement plan. This plan will allow staff to put
away up to per year (or any amount under) into a long-term account with equal matching funds from Urbn Leaf.
Fringe Benefits
Urbn Leaf staff will be the member of more than just a retail workforce, they will be
part of a movement. We plan on leveraging our resources and staff to be involved in the community in a variety of ways. While the organization has created standards for
operating in the community and will donate resources to local causes, staff will volunteer time in a series of community events with local groups. Providing job
opportunities and expungement for those most harmed by the war on cannabis and poverty is only the first step. Integrating the extremely disenfranchised back into our
communities is not as simple as providing a steady paycheck. Furthering our desire to help the most disadvantaged, we are committed to complying with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 and its related Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Urbn Leaf recognizes that some individuals with disabilities may require accommodation
at work and have developed a comprehensive accommodation and sensitivity training program for staff and security officers. If any staff member is disabled or becomes
disabled during their time of employment, the management team will work with them to make reasonable accommodations that will allow continued performance of the
essential job functions.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
50
Section 2.3 – Training & Education
Professionals in the cannabis industry tend to have a passion for the product, and
ours are no exception. Our industry is now in an age of compliance, where the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. It is therefore essential that every one of our staff
members, regardless of their previous experience or position, receive the same comprehensive training in regulatory compliance. Our senior staff, led by owner Skip
Motsenbocker, has combined their years of retail cannabis experience and understanding of the industry to create a library of training materials. While each owner
or trainer may have their own training method, we have combined the “know-how” into a rich and multifaceted learning experience for our staff. We have found that the most
effective way to educate our staff members is to employ a diversity of active media. Games and interactive challenges are designed to create an immersive learning
experience, which in turn, increases retention of critical subject matter.
At Urbn Leaf, the education of our staff members starts on their first day on the job.
We have developed specialized onboarding materials for newly hired staff that were designed to help them to quickly assimilate into this highly regulated work environment.
During the initial orientation, new staff members will be introduced to all members of staff and management, given a full tour of the facility, and taught about the critical
separation between public and restricted areas. During a probationary period lasting 90 days from the date of hire, new staff members will be trained on additional facets of the
business including how their individual contribution is essential to helping make us
successful as well as service to our customers and community. Follow-up training and education modules will be conducted after each new-hire has successfully completed
their 90-day probation period. This second phase of education is ongoing and organized into discrete and focused learning modules that will be rotated on a regular
schedule. After the completion of each module, staff members will be given a comprehensive test to assess their understanding and retention of the material. A
record of job training will be kept for each member of our staff for the duration of their employment with Urbn Leaf. This record will track the education modules each staff
member has completed as well as their associated test results and all such records will be stored in a secure access area, regularly backed up to the cloud and maintained for
seven years after a staff member leaves, as well as considered during our annual performance reviews.
Our training materials number in the hundreds of pages and could not be contained within this document, so we present below descriptions of a small portion of this
material. These sections represent a sampling of topics that we believe to be of utmost importance in creating an engaged, well-rounded staff.
SECTION 2
FRESNO
RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
51
Rules and Regulations: Our right to do business depends on our ability to properly
instill in our staff an understanding of the many laws and regulations affecting our
business. Beyond the letter of the law, training materials outline the personal duties
of each staff member to fully comply with these standards at all times and promptly
report any violations. Our compliance program translates the complicated language
of state regulations and local ordinances into language that our staff can easily
comprehend. Topics include relevant provisions from the State’s Medicinal and
Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), the related rules published in
the California Code of Regulations issued by the State’s Bureau of Cannabis Control,
HIPPA, Department of Food and Agriculture and Department of Public Health, as well as
Fresno City Ordinances. Most importantly, these training materials are continually
reviewed and updated with changing regulations.
While our training materials have been designed for educational purposes and job
enrichment, we take a hard line with state and local compliance. Our staff are made aware
of our zero-tolerance policy for any actions that could potentially result in a violation of
state or local regulations, including track-and-trace, laboratory testing, waste
management, recall procedures, operating procedures, and unlawful sales.
Our staff members will also have opportunities review already constructed
state programs like the California Department of Public Health’s “Let’s Talk Cannabis,” a
health information and education campaign
that details California cannabis laws and the potential health impacts of cannabis use.
Product Line: Our entire team must be able to properly identify and distinguish
between a wide array of cannabis products, while understanding the role of each as part
of our customer’s medical use or recreational activity. With over a thousand strains
currently in the market, our training materials are designed to enable our staff to guide the
customer to a genuine understanding of our products. These modules will cover potency
of all the products we carry, including flower, concentrates, topicals, and an assortment of
edibles, beverages, tinctures, and pet products. These training modules will also
include information about our targeted producer partnerships and allow our team to
give detailed backgrounds on local, small, social equity, minority owned, and natural
offering vendors.
Cannabis Science: For our cannabis
specialist staff members, we will provide supplementary learning on in-depth topics
such as terpenes, cannabinoids, and follow the path from seed to sale. It is important that
our staff knows the fundamentals of cultivation and manufacturing, and the series
of steps that result in the finished products we sell. These educational materials will
include the elements of a cannabis plant, a contrast between traditional and state-of-
the-art cultivation techniques, cannabis strains, seed composition, variable growing
environments, the importance of controlling pH, humidity and light levels and their
corresponding impact on cannabis viability, quality, and potency. On the manufacturing
side, our staff will be versed on how cannabis
SECTION 2
FRESNO
RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
52
is processed; extraction using volatile and non-volatile techniques. Additionally, we
want our sales staff to understand the future of cannabis, understanding the terms
“natural” and “organic,” and the rationale behind our advocacy for legislation that will
ensure clarity and consistency in labeling.
Customer Interactions: We want our staff
to not only be knowledgeable about our products, but to have a friendly disposition
and to project an approachable demeanor. We cover customer greetings, needs
assessment, conflict resolution, satisfaction commitments, and sales awareness.
Our customer service training is one of the most important factors that will make us an
utterly unique operator in Fresno. We will assess customer service attitudes and ensure
that they are in line with our overall company vision of thoughtful, friendly, knowledgeable,
engaged service. Each interaction with a guest will be unique and we want our staff to
build relationships with our customers and take time to care for them. We will review
policies for challenging customer situations, customer complaints, and problem solving.
We also require that our staff presents a confident, manicured appearance while still
being able to maintain a personal expression of style. The typical standard for cannabis
retail experience is typically designed around the male consumer. In fact, according to
recent studies, male cannabis users represent more than 2/3 of the in-store market. Rather
than shamelessly pander to demographics, we offer a more sophisticated and gender-
neutral approach to marketing, and this continues with our dress code. We will
encourage neat and clean hygiene as well as a business casual dress code, and staff
credentials. Our staff will have the cohesiveness and authority of a uniform while
still maintaining their own individuality.
Health and Wellness: Our staff will get a
basic understanding of the endocannabinoid system and learn how cannabis interacts with
the body, the properties of psychoactive and non-psychoactive compounds, methods of
consumption, strain differentiation, , and the fringe aspects of the cannabis product line.
Initially, staff members will be trained on proper product handling, including the safe
and secure storage of cannabis products.
We explore education topics including the
potential harms of using cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding and potential risks
of overusing cannabis in a healthy adult. While drawing a distinct line between
information dissemination and medical advice, staff will be trained on the use
cannabis as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for pain management,
menstruation, anti-aging, sleep aid, mobility, sexual enhancements, relaxation, anti-
nausea, appetite stimulation, sedation, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, as well
more severe physical afflictions such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS management, and
even psychological disorders such as PTSD. Most importantly, staff will be trained on the
inappropriateness of giving medical advice to customers and will be required to follow strict
guidelines for product recommendations.
Cash Handling: With up to three hundred
customers expected to visit Urbn Leaf each day, our staff members need to confidently
and efficiently handle cash and limit the potential for errors. Our staff members will
undergo extensive cash handling training
SECTION 2
FRESNO
RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
53
with materials derived from our ownership team’s experience. Staff will be trained on
identifying counterfeit bills, correctly balancing cash registers, and preparing cash
drops. Training will be conducted as a concerted effort between our operational
team and our security agent and sales associates will be held responsible for
balanced cash tills at the end of every shift.
Sensitivity Training: We have developed
advanced sensitivity, disability, and cultural awareness training materials that will be
made available for staff. It is important that our staff members interact appropriately with
elderly visitors and those with disabilities. This training material will be founded on
information supplied by the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network and
supplemented with direction from our Advisory Board Member Morita Jones, and
will educate staff members on some higher-level customer service topics such as
understanding physical limitations, stigmas associated with persons with disabilities,
allocating accommodation space, and potential challenging customer service
situations. We acknowledge that some of our
customers may have issues with transportation and movement ability which is
why in addition to having Store Managers CERT trained, we will train every staff member
on how to provide proper assistance to those with mobility challenges. Customers will be
able to call ahead or register online for assistance. Once verified through our
surveillance system, our staff members will then be dispatched to meet the customer
outside with a security officer and escort them into our lobby. Staff will be trained to
assist patrons throughout the store and provide assistance as needed.
Our customs and traditions training will teach our staff to stay locally relevant and
teach them the basic landscape of the diverse group that shares the area. We will discuss
values, morals, ethics, etiquette, harassment awareness & prevention, as well as the
introduction of a multitude of cultural perspectives through interactive and
engaging activities. We help staff to explore and assess personal behavior and bias,
assumptions, and stereotypes. Upon completion of these sessions, our staff will be
better equipped to identify and address sensitive situations more cohesively and
reduce the potential of discrimination related issues and liabilities.
Supplemental Learning: In addition to our traditional training modules,
supplemental training materials will be made available to staff for enrichment purposes and
will include coveted opportunities such as immersive and first-hand experience with our
vendors. Staff will be given the opportunity to attend enrichment trips, either management
or vendor-led, to licensed production facilities to get a see how our cannabis
products go from seed, to full flower, to sale, or further refined through the manufacturing
process. Our team will learn about who our company does business with, their values, the
products they provide to our store, and the reasons we have chosen them to be our
partner. We will place a special education component for our small and local producers,
social equity producers, minority owned, and all natural and organic producers so our staff
will be able to highlight these vendors in their customer interactions.
SECTION 2
FRESNO
RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
54
Section 2.4 – Social Policy Recruitment
The City of Fresno outlined the minimum requirements for Social Policy recruitment
(Article 33, Section 9-3316 (b) (1)) to include a requirement to hire individuals for a
minimum of one-third (1/3) of the total annual work hours performed at the business
who has an annual family income below 80% of Average Medium Income, has been
convicted for a cannabis related crime that could have been prosecuted as a
misdemeanor or citation under current State law, has lived in a low to moderate income
census tract in the city for a minimum of three years, or is a veteran, a former foster
home youth, unemployed, or receiving public assistance.
Prior to the establishment of Fresno’s Social Policy in relationship to cannabis
businesses, our ownership team has already incorporated or exceeded many of the
provisions in their previous business operations and will be applying their commitment
to social justice here. As this industry becomes legalized (read: legitimized), it is
important to attempt to undo past wrongs and retroactively help those who have been
most affected by the criminalization of cannabis.
As part of our hiring plan, we are going to make active efforts to recruit those in our
community with cannabis arrests or convictions, are economically disadvantaged, or
face other levels of adversity and bring them in to our work family. We are dedicating
research, time, and money to recruit those who need assistance. It all starts with our
local commitment. We will be maintaining a staffing level of 75% local residents at all
33.33%40.00%Staffing Commitment
Low Income
80% of AGI
Very Low Income
50% of AGI Low Income
Misdemeanor or Citation Misdemeanor or Citation Cannabis Conviction
Low to Moderate
Census Tract
Low Income
Census Tract Residency
Deployed or Decorated
Armed Forces Veterans
All Retired Veterans
& Law Enforcement Veteran Status
Foster Care Youth Foster Care Youth or Parent Family History
Unemployed Chronically Unemployed Employment Status
Currently Receiving Currently Receiving Public Assistance
n/a Single Parents Childcare
City Reqirements Fresh Farms Standards
Social Policy
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
55
times across all areas of our business. Further detail on this mandate can be found in Section 2.8 – Workforce Plan.
Of that group of local residents, we will commit to 50% of these local staff members, or 40% of our entire staff being part of our Social Policy Program. These positions will
be reserved for individuals who live in poverty, have faced discrimination or socioeconomic barriers, single parents, have cannabis arrests or convictions and reside
in areas that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. We believe that empowering these individuals will help us uplift the entire community. While we will
maintain at minimum the requirements laid out in the municipal code, our program represents an enhancement of the language and more importantly the spirit of the city’s
Social Policy provisions.
With no disrespect meant to the regulations, we wish to strengthen the program
with additional standards to hold ourselves to. For instance, strict adherence to the language would only require that a third of our staff be simply unemployed at the time
of hire or have a household income of almost per year (for a standard family size). In Fresno County with an average median income of $70,700, a single person
making would qualify as low income (roughly 80% of AGI - , according the 2020 State Income limits by the State of California Department of Housing and
Community Development, Division of Housing Policy Development.
Additionally, the state’ definition for Veteran status potentially limits the
requirements to include previous armed forces members who were deployed during time of war or were in receipt of a medal by Congress, but we would like to extend our
program to retired members of the armed forces, reserves, and law enforcement, while still ensuring we exceed the standards laid out by the city.
During our 6-month program, local social equity individuals will receive the identical training to our other staff members but also receive additional supplementary training
such as personal development, mentoring, resume building, and mock interviews that will help them find a permanent job in the community or hopefully stay with us and
grow with our company. The individuals selected will receive all the pay, benefits, and level of autonomy as any other staff member, but will additionally receive training by
our experienced staff members to fill in any knowledge gaps that may have existed in their previous employment situations. This staff member will receive training in shipping
& receiving, customer service, cash handling, as well as general sales knowledge. These individuals will meet regularly with the ownership and management teams for feedback
and to discuss their development through the program. When the positions are vacated at the end of their development trajectory, we will
work together with the community to identify new individuals who would benefit, creating a cascade of personal and professional development in Fresno. Once
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
56
operations are established, we look forward to expanding this program to include more opportunities for advancement and additional higher-level training programs.
This program will be fully funded by Urbn Leaf, but we will be working in concert with the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board. This organization aims to
support economic growth in Fresno County and increase local employment to help fill positions, not just for short term employment, but programs that give long term career
skills. Each quarter we will review our numbers and maintain our commitment to social equity hiring, local hiring and create additional positions if necessary, to reach our goal.
These individuals will be selected only from the Fresno community and will have a permanent place on our roster.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
57
Section 2.5 – Local Enterprise
At its heart, Urbn Leaf is a locally owned and managed operation. Our concept for
the highest class of cannabis retail was envisioned with Fresno in mind. Founder Ashot Gyulnazaruan has brought together a team of professionals that are committed to
making this a reality. Our ownership team is bound together by a mutual passion for the cannabis industry and a shared belief that our success is inextricably linked to the
service we provide to our customers and to our community. Through clearly defined roles in the direction, control, and management of the business, our ownership team will
use their combined experience to develop and operate a high-end retail cannabis experience adhering to the strictest standards of quality.
But an organization is much more than a gathering of professionals with glowing resumes. Urbn Leaf is committed to putting the fire to these individuals. No passive
owners. No absentee management. We believe it is critical that the considerable experience of our leadership team be harnessed daily for the benefit of our
organization, our customers, suppliers, and the community. As such, each member of the Ownership, Advisory, and Management teams will have clearly defined roles and
requirements befitting their position. We intend that this commitment will trickle down to every member of staff.
Representative Local Ownership
The dream of Urbn Leaf was conceived by owner Ashot Gyulnazaruan, long-time
Fresno City resident. Seeing opportunity to create a flourishing business in Fresno, Ashot
tapped his extensive personal and professional network to create the team that will make Urbn Leaf a reality. Ashot will serve as Logistics Director of Urbn Leaf and will focus
on driving efficiency and safety in the operation of the business. This will primarily include maintaining a regular rotation of opening, midday, and closing shifts to give the
greatest exposure to the staff, customers, and business operations.
Ashot will serve as the primary “boots-on-the-ground” member of the ownership
team, taking part in trainings, customer interactions, staffing decisions, and product stock levels. Ashot believes that in order to have a smooth-running operation, it requires
the constant presence of ownership, not to provide a watchdog for staff and procedures, but to uplift the morale of the staff by providing consistent support. Ashot
is committed to being a part of the daily operations of Urbn Leaf and will take part in all staffing, product line, and sales initiatives.
The remaining members of our ownership and operations teams have extensive experience in the regulated cannabis industry and will be providing professional support
to our local owners, staff, and advisory board.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
58
Local Management (!?)
Because we are organized as a “flat” organization, we do not have traditional
“managers” - a fact we are proud of. The cannabis industry has evolved, and we are committed to staying at the leading edge. We do not hire “budtenders”. Our
organization is a collaboration of professionals. Urbn Leaf’s staffing model is based around teams of professionals, broken down by job function, who have direct,
meaningful interaction with our executive staff without the need for additional layers of middle management. In this way, management authority, autonomy, and responsibilities
are distributed evenly among all members of staff. We intend that our staff will be the highest trained, motivated, and compensated workforce in the industry, and this
organization around strategic teams will only enhance their success. Spread among sales, logistics, operations, and safety teams, staff will each play an integral part in the
success of our business through clearly defined roles on each team. So, while it is correct to say that we have no managers, it is also correct to say that all our staff are managers.
We are committed to 75% of our staff to be drawn from existing residents of the City
of Fresno. These efforts will be achieved through concentrated recruitment from the immediate community, an initial hiring and training blitz prior to operation, and
continual vigilance in maintaining our standards. We will hire exclusively from the local population individuals with a passion for the industry who may not yet have any
experience. The remaining 25% of our staff will be composed of individuals with extensive cannabis industry experience that have shown a passion for the products, staff
training, and compliance. These individuals will be tasked with bringing the rest of the teams up to speed regarding all aspects of cannabis products, our responsibilities to the
community, and our role within the industry. For example, Dennis “Smitty” Lewis is not a Fresno local, but he will be moving to Fresno for the position. Dennis
has years of experience in retail cannabis, having been manager of AHHS dispensary in West Hollywood, California since 2007. Smitty has now
devoted himself to a full-time career in cannabis retail management will leverage his experience in retail management to serve as one of Urbn
Leaf’s sales leads, responsible for the oversite of staff, trainings, and an integral part of the operations team.
Advisory Board
To maintain our local commitment as part of our ongoing business operations, we
have established a local Advisory Board. This board will be tasked with maintaining
compliance with both the regulations and the wishes of our community despite the
many upcoming changes in the industry, The Advisory Board is comprised of local
community members, each with a specific role in influencing the organization’s policy.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
59
The advisory board is an entirely local, entirely female group designed to provide a unique local perspective regarding our business operations.
Svetlana Gyulnazaryan will serve as Advisory Board member and Staffing Liaison. Svetlana has lived in the City of Fresno for over two
decades and has family and social ties that run deep in the community. Now retired, Svetlana worked her entire career in distribution logistics for
a medical supply company in Fresno. Since retiring, Svetlana is a committed member of her community, a Parishioner of her local church,
and volunteers for over a dozen local organizations. Her large personal and professional network perfectly qualifies her for our Staffing Liaison. Svetlana will be
responsible for overseeing our Local Hiring Program, aid in recruitment from local job placement organizations for our Social Equity Recruitment Program and preform regular
audits of our staffing levels for compliance with our mandates.
Evelina Poladyan will serve as Advisory Board member and Safety Liaison.
Evelina moved to Fresno in 1995 and has spent the last twenty-five years in service to her community and her family. After completing her
education from Fresno State University in Health Care Management, Evelina began working as a caregiver for local hospice services, caring for
terminally ill patients. It was then that she was first exposed to individuals that sought to use alternative forms of medicine for pain management and
appetite. Evelina then went on to get her nursing degree and is currently a Registered Nurse at a local hospital. As Safety Liaison, Evelina will be committed to ensuring our
interaction with the community is not just consistently positive, but collaborative.
Morita Jones will serve as Advisory Board member and Community
Liaison and has lived in Fresno since 1986. Although she is now retired, Morita will tell you that she is still a teacher. Morita had a long career with
the Central Unified School district as a teacher and special education coordinator and since retiring has used her skills, patience, and
understanding she gained as an educator to give back to the community through her church and local community organizations.
Sarah Prine is a long time Fresno resident and human resources professional in the City of Fresno. Sarah will utilize her experience in
staffing and retention to oversee Urbn Leaf’s staffing and hiring plans. As Community Liaison, Morita will be responsible for evaluating the
effectiveness of our neighborhood compatibility program on a continual basis. Morita will reach out to neighbors, nearby business owners, and
local stakeholders to enhance our relationship with the community.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
60
Section 2.6 – Staff Positions
By the end-of-year two, we expect Urbn Leaf to staff 36 full-time and part-time staff
members, with additional salesforce and delivery staff levels increased proportionally as customer count increases. Of these positions, we are outlining a minimum of 75% of
staff to be local Fresno residents, half of which are reserved for local social policy positions. While we will maintain this minimum threshold at all times, we have woven a
more comprehensive process into our hiring plan for each position. Please see our organizational chart in “Section 1 – Business Plan” for a holistic view of the organization.
We are described as a “flat” organization, where all members of staff interact directly with our ownership team, and there are no middle levels of management in between.
The buck stops with each employee. While this method may seem slightly unconventional, it allows the traditional management authority and responsibility to be
distributed among each member of staff, driving their engagement. A successful flat organization requires both an ownership team that is committed to active involvement
in every aspect of the business and a highly trained staff; and we believe we have that at Urbn Leaf.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
61
Logistics Team (8)
Behind the scenes of the sales floor and the outgoing delivery vehicles is a team of
individuals determined on instituting an accurate and efficient supply chain processes. Under the direction of owners Craig and Skip, receiving staff will process all incoming
cannabis product deliveries in accordance with stringent standard operating procedures. They will be responsible for the maintenance of accurate tracking information for all
cannabis orders and receive deliveries when they arrive. Back of house sales staff will complete the technical aspects of online order preparation and the staging of delivery
orders. We intend for this position to be made up mostly of our local equity program as it is an easy transition into the workforce without the added pressure of customer
interactions. In this position, staff can learn basic job skills while learning about our products, safety, and protocols. Once these skills have been mastered and additional
training programs have been completed, these staff members can be transitioned into a sales or lobby position if requested. We will staff two staff members in shipping,
receiving, and quality assurance, and one in back-of-house sales, and four delivery drivers initially. Staff members will be allowed mobility among positions to ensure they
are well-rounded and have a broad range of skills.
Lobby staff is an entry level position, but every position in our organization carries
with it important responsibilities. Newly hired staff will complete our basic education modules giving them the skills to have meaningful interactions with customers as well as
all regulatory and compliance training related to their intended job duties. With pride, we intend that these individuals may have little to no experience in the cannabis
industry but can be easily caught up with comprehensive training in customer service, compliance, and basic interface with our software platforms. Lobby staff will be
responsible for greeting customers, inputting new customer information profiles, verifying identification and paperwork, scanning any medical documentation, phone and
online customer communication, and maintenance of their workstation. Lobby staff will be trained in the use of Greenbits® for the purposes of ID verification and interface with
the customer loyalty program. This position provides a great transition for locals looking to break into the cannabis industry from retail and customer service careers or for one
of our back-of-house staff. Ideally, staff in this position will transition to the sales team for further education and advancement of their career.
Sales Team (10)
Our cannabis sales team will be comprised of individuals that focus on customer service and product knowledge. Sales staff members will have a deep understanding of
our products, policies, procedures, and most importantly, our vision. Individuals in this position, as a prerequisite, must have prior professional cannabis experience, or have
completed our in-house staff education modules, demonstrating an understanding of all
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
62
aspects of retail cannabis sales. As part of our launch strategy, six months prior to opening, we will be sourcing, staffing, onboarding, and educating residents of the local
area in a sort of “training-blitz” that will allow our upcoming staff the opportunity to become familiar with their job duties before being faced with actual product and actual
customers. We will be extending this training to business participants in Fresno’s Social Equity Program for all of their staff members. This will allow social equity businesses to
receive the benefit of industry-standardized training without the added cost. Additionally, as part of this “training-blitz” program, we will offer educational modules
on safe and responsible cannabis use for the general public. We intend that before we are operational, we have cultivated a highly trained staff for our business as well as
other social equity business and have helped the public understand our place in their neighborhoods. Trained staff will be able to discern the differences in product offerings,
properly relate information about potency and variety, and be able to answer a wide range of customer questions. Once we open, they will be responsible for assisting
customers on the phone, online, and in person in our fluid transaction space. Customers in the store will receive the undivided attention of the sales staff throughout the
duration of their shopping experience and all staff members will be focused on the pillars of knowledge, engagement, and compliance.
Cannabis specialists are members of staff that are recognized as experts in cannabis products. These senior members of staff will have extensive real-world cannabis
experience in sales, cultivation, manufacturing, or cannabis science and have graduated our advanced cannabis training modules. These individuals will have demonstrated a
unique and clear understanding of the cannabis industry and products. They are leaders in the store and are instrumental in the training other members of staff, customer
interactions, and product knowledge. Cannabis specialists will be available in-store daily to provide additional knowledge to the staff and customers as well as run our online
educational platform. Specialists will be responsible for maintaining our customer-facing education modules which cover safe and responsible consumption, legal responsibilities,
and local regulations, as well we informative material on properly discerning between the broad range of products offered at our store. Monthly, cannabis specialists will host
a live-video question-and-answer session through our online platform. Fresno residents and the general public will be able to ask any question about cannabis, cannabis
products, and the industry. While this position is education-based, we intend for it to be a steppingstone into store management in our organization or in the greater industry
the increase the general knowledge of cannabis industry managerial staff.
Operations Team (8)
Urbn Leaf will initially maintain two full time positions for marketing, operations and sales promotion leads. These positions will be responsible for larger marketing and sales
projects and control the function of all online platform sales. Our professional services
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
63
team will be responsible for all launch and first year marketing campaigns and we look to expand this department after year one with additional positions for brand
management and expansion opportunities. We will be adding additional professional positions as we transition from retained services to in-house services for additional
marketing platforms and promotional agendas as well as expanding our compliance, acquisition, and delivery platforms.
With regards to day-to-day operations, our back-of-house staff will be responsible for overseeing all shipping and receiving, quality assurance, and delivery staff. This
position is heavily logistics-based and requires an individual with a strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols and standard operating procedures. Our sales team
handle the softer side of our business and are responsible for overseeing staff on the sales floor as well as our online sales team. Sales team members will relate marketing
and advertising agendas to the sales staff and maintain the daily schedule. Our staff are the eyes and ears of the organization and an integral part of the local community. As
such, we are committed to maintaining our senior level back of house and sales positions exclusively for local residents, two-thirds of our operational staff.
Some of our senior and professional level staff positions will be reserved for local members of the Fresno community that have faced adversity as part of our greater
social policy program, allowing those most harmed to participate in store operations at a high level and will maintain at least five senior positions for social equity hires at all
times. The Social Equity senior staff members selected for this position will receive support from the rest of the ownership team in essentially establishing a long-term
lucrative career after years of adversity and struggle. Our high-level Social Equity position is intended to be a temporary period in which an individual can reorganize their
life around a stable career and eventually transition into a role of their choosing within the industry. More information about this program can be found in Section 2.4: Social
Policy Recruitment.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
64
Section 2.7 – Labor Peace Agreement
Since its adoption into law in 2018, the Medicinal and Adult Use of Cannabis
Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) has required applicants for state cannabis licenses with 20 or more employees to provide a statement that the applicant will enter
into, or demonstrate that it has already entered into, and abide by the terms of a labor peace agreement.”[1] (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 26015.5(a)(5)(A).) This labor peace
agreement, as defined under California’s cannabis laws, must contain commitments to not disrupt efforts by a union to communicate with or attempt to organize and
represent their staff, that unions should be granted reasonable access to staff, and that unions will not engage in business interference activities.
Assembly Bill 1291 was passed with a signature from Governor Gavin Newsom on October 12, 2019 and became effective January 1, 2020, requiring all cannabis
businesses to provide a notarized statement that they will enter into, or demonstrate that it has already entered into, and abide by the terms of a labor peace agreement. If
the applicant has less than 20 employees and has not yet entered into a labor peace agreement, AB 1291 requires the applicant to provide a notarized statement as a part of
its application indicating that the applicant will enter into and abide by the terms of a labor peace agreement within 60 days of employing its 20th employee. Further, the
Fresno Municipal Code Section 9-3316(b)(2) includes requirements for commercial cannabis businesses with five or more employees to sign a labor peace agreement.
While employee unions and industry activists battle it out in the courts over the
constitutionality of AB 1291, Urbn Leaf intends to embrace this commitment. We contend that our staff will be the most highly compensated, supported, and engaged
workforce in the industry and will absolutely support their right to organize and will not interfere in any way with labor union involvement. As part of the licensure process, our
ownership team will enter into a labor-peace agreement as we intend to have over five members of staff at launch and will provide their signature on the city provided forms.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
65
Section 2.8 – Workforce Plan
Section 2.8.1 – Local Hiring Commitment
Our business model is based around integration into the community and we intend for our staff to be the main mouthpiece for this message in their day-to-day interaction
with the public. As such, we have created a comprehensive local hiring program to ensure our store is representative of the neighborhood we are serving and create
opportunities in the community.
At the basis of our program is commitment to having local residents at all levels in
our organization. First, we commit to having 75% (seventy-five percent) of our staff be pulled from the local community. As part of our initial hiring processes, we will have
pop-up events throughout the city and an online platform to engage the community and inform potential applicants about opportunities within the cannabis industry. Our
sales and back-of-house teams will be independently organized and held to this 75% standard of local representation. Our hiring process will include procedures for vetting
potential local hire candidates and hiring staff will ensure that we are hiring “true locals”. We will consider all candidates residing within Fresno city limits who can demonstrate
that they had established residency prior to submittal of an employment application, but preference will be given to candidates with the longest tenure in the community,
individuals with family and business ties to our specific neighborhood, and those who are not simply transplants from neighboring areas.
Further, we have availed two thirds of our management positions for local residents. Many of our senior positions will be reserved for local residents to ensure that the local
community is included in the higher-level decision making of the organization. Management level positions afford local staff members with an opportunity to forge a
lasting career in the cannabis industry. Management will be exposed to our advanced training modules which include staffing and scheduling, advanced conflict resolution,
asset protection, and leadership skills, and they will receive an in-house management certification that will establish their position within the industry.
Our ownership and advisory teams will be tasked with ensuring that we maintain this local staffing levels at all times should our staff composition change. Our monthly
meeting of our ownership and advisory teams will analyze staff metrics and ensure that we are meeting our mandate of 75% local residents in the composition of our staff.
Past our local plan, we will be reaching out to community members that typically do not have access a living wage. As this industry becomes legalized (read: legitimized), it is
important to attempt to undo past wrongs and retroactively help those who have been most affected by the criminalization of cannabis. 50% of our local staff, or around 40%
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
66
of our entire workforce will be comprised of local social equity individuals. More information about this plan can be found in Section 2.4: Social Policy Recruitment.
We will be using Goodhire®.com to perform initial procedural background checks prior to sending any official offer of employment. The Goodhire® platform’s criminal
code classifier automatically organizes offenses into high- and low-level classifications based on International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes to provide context
on criminal records. Goodhire® is able to link applicant records using aliases, Department of Corrections records, dates of birth, and other identifiers to create profiles
with linked criminal, sex offender, and watchlist records for the similar person profiles.
Moreover, the program uses experienced support agents (actual people) to review
and cross-check records against additional data sources to further verify information and ensure that all Fair Credit Reporting Act and Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission laws are complied with. Unverified records are removed to eliminate the possibility of making hiring decisions using unreliable data and through these
safeguards, Goodhire® is able to retain a dispute rate of less than 0.03%. Upon verification from Goodhire®, all employees will then go through fingerprinting and
background check through the Department of Justice Live Scan process.
Once we review the results, a candidate can be offered a position and we will
coordinate their orientation. Rather than develop our own internal background check, we will rely on Goodhire®’s reputation for accurate service and industry leading best
practices.
Following the employment background check, all hired staff will be registered with
the City of Fresno and the Bureau of Cannabis control s a retail cannabis employee and complete the background check process established by the city.
Proficient, happy, and properly compensated employees are the backbone of our business, but we require even more. We encourage our employees to challenge
themselves every day— both professionally and personally. For some members of staff, this means increasing their knowledge of the cannabis business. For others, this means
becoming better integrated into the surrounding community. Accordingly, we will work tirelessly to ensure that our staff are well-rounded individuals, good citizens, friends, and
neighbors, and that they are passionate about what they do for a living.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
67
Section 2.8.2 – Apprenticeships / Training Commitment
Over the years, Owner Skip Motsenbocker has developed an extensive program for
the successful recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention of quality cannabis industry professionals. These best practices have been tailored to our Fresno operation
with input from the ownership team and advisory board into one cohesive document: The Urbn Leaf Handbook. This manual has been created over decades, with input from
human resources professionals, legal consultants, and most importantly, focus groups of actual retail cannabis staff.
Onboarding Education
Beginning with our equal employment and non-discrimination policies, our legal
section contains all information pertaining to worker rights for break and rest periods, family and medical leave, workplace accommodations, workers compensation policies
and a clear statement of all staff rights guaranteed by the federal government, State of California, and City of Fresno. This includes all timekeeping and procedural policies that
are required as continued employment.
Also included are Family and Medical Leave Act policies and an explanation of the
information retained within staff member file. In addition, Urbn Leaf has a detailed
open-door policy, allowing any member of the organization to speak directly in a method of their choosing with any other member of the organization, including
management and ownership groups, creating a clear path for grievances, improvement suggestions, and support that fosters an environment of openness and inclusion. We
will discuss with staff our liberal accommodation policy and outline both federal and state “reasonable accommodations” as well as our more expansive policy.
Led by Owner Artem Artenyan and Advisory Board member Evelina Poladyan, all staff will be trained on proper safety and security procedures that have be developed for
use by Urbn Leaf. An integral part of the initial onboarding training for new staff members, all employees will be trained on our security plan, an outline of security and
safety features, and given a facility tour. Additional modules will cover staff policies related to workplace violence and harassment prevention.
Continuing Education
Staff policy training details the conduct standards required of all full- and part-time
employees, management, ownership team, and vendors in our store. Topics including attendance, substance abuse restrictions, and dress code requirements. A
comprehensive technology policy outlines the use of Urbn Leaf’s internal network systems, including phone, internet, security, and regulatory interfaces. Strict controls
over the company’s marketing, online presence, and community involvement are
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
68
required to ensure that messaging is not delivered to children, in an illegal manner, and in compliance with local community standards. Following is a good-neighbor policy,
outlining our role within our community and a code of conduct for our continued involvement. Further exploration of these policies is outlined in “Section 3 –
Neighborhood Plan” and “Section 7 – Community Benefits % Investment Plan”.
For all regulatory, compliance, drug-use, safety, and security issues, Urbn Leaf will be
following a strict zero-tolerance policy. Supporting the operational and customer service staff conduct policies is a very progressive disciplinary action and conflict resolution
program that focuses more on improving staff development than punitive measures. This program will assess staff needs on an individual basis and work with the struggling
staff member to improve performance, revisit knowledge or understanding gaps, and give them the tools they need to improve.
Beyond rules for basic conduct, our manual outlines for each job position, the associated expectations. For customer service and sales staff, we expect that staff are
polite, friendly, recommend products, and are 100% engaged with the customer at all times. We address soft skills of assisting customers with disabilities and stress product
knowledge. For back of house staff, we focus on compliance, procedures, and accuracy for job expectations. We believe that laying out expectations early in employment gives
way to fewer complications at later stages and allows training to be more effective.
Enrichment Education
Our enrichment training modules are the differentiating factor between our staff and the rest of the industry. While many existing cannabis retail organizations offer great
service and product selection, we expect more from our staff. After staff members have mastered their job duties and have passed proficiency evaluations for safety,
compliance, and company policy, staff will be trained in the finer nuance of our products, our company, and the industry.
Our cannabis product specialists and management staff are positioned to be able to answer any question a customer may have about our products, their intended use, and
how to make informed buying decisions. Advanced training modules will cover the science of cannabis, from cultivation and extraction methods, to the role of terpenes in
the overall cannabis experience, and even how cannabis businesses pay taxes on a local, state, and federal level. Whether these individuals stay with our organization or move on
to another with the knowledge they have gained, the industry is better for it.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
69
Partnered Education
Urbn Leaf will engage in strategic partnerships with cannabis education programs to
offer additional supplementary training and apprenticeship within the industry. Online training modules will be supplemented by materials from THC University (THCU). This
organization boasts certificates in seven different programs through an online interface and students are given certificates in Sales, Horticulture, Product Differentiation, and
Cannabis Business Management. All of their instructors are industry leaders who have been growing and teaching cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and sales techniques
for collectively over a hundred years. THCU also has the world’s largest cannabis job board that helps students prepare resumes and rehearse for job interviews and we will
be partnering with them for our hiring and outreach programs.
Vendor-led training and apprenticeship
programs will be integral to the advancement of our
staff within the cannabis industry. Weekly, vendors
of our products will conduct on- and off-site
training modules in their specific discipline.
Cultivators, manufacturers,
compliance managers, and sales industry
professionals will educate staff on their products,
their company’s vision, and their role within the
greater cannabis industry. These vendor-led sessions
will give staff a well-rounded understanding
of our responsibilities and opportunities as an
organization.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
70
As an additional aspect of our partnered education program, we will also be offering our training manuals and expert staff to aid in the education of employees of cannabis
businesses in Fresno’s Social Equity Program. A part of our incubation efforts, our training programs will be open to qualified employees of Fresno City social equity
cannabis businesses, as detailed in Section 2.9 – Social Equity Business Incubation.
Community Education
The broadest reach of our education platform will be to our community.
We have adapted our internal training plan to a public-facing platform that will offer a
cursory overview of all of our training materials. We intend that this platform will
educate the public generally about cannabis and provide a resource for locals looking to
break into the industry. Please see Section 7.2 – Public Health Education Outreach for
more information.
Section 2.8.3 – Living Wage
Urbn Leaf pledges to offer compensation far above the living wage requirements.
Please refer to Section 2.1 – Living Wage for a full analysis of our living wage
commitment.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
71
Section 2.9 – Social Equity Business Incubation
Urbn Leaf is committed to providing assistance to cannabis businesses that have
been accepted as part of the City of Fresno’s Social Equity Program. While we have
made every effort to give back to the community, local residents, and the city’s cannabis
fund with these we realize there is an opportunity to aid in the city’s effort to assist
those most harmed by the war on cannabis. To this end, we will additionally support
social equity businesses through an incubation program. As industry professionals with
a large network of resources, we will assist these businesses in their licensing,
compliance, training, launch, and sales strategies and hopefully enjoy an ongoing
support role for their business. Our intent is not to see Fresno cannabis business as
competition for market-share, but as a partner to serve as an example to the industry.
Licensing
Our incubation efforts for local social equity applicants begins with assistance
through the licensing process. Applicants that are selected by the city after the initial
screening application and interview processes will be the most deserving, best
organized social equity cannabis businesses in the city and will likely already have many
of the resources available to launch a successful organization. To help these businesses,
we will offer our safety, compliance, and land use staff through the rest of the initial
licensing process including local land use entitlement filing packages, building permit
applications for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, and interface with state regulators
as they go on to apply for their state licenses. Our team has extensive experience in all
sectors of the cannabis industry and will be adept at affording licensing assistance in
retail and delivery, as well as cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution.
Training
Potentially, social equity businesses may make their first entrance into the
cannabis market through this licensing process in Fresno. We anticipate that these
businesses may not have the training infrastructure to adequately equip their employees
in time to open within a competitive timeframe. Our online and in-store training
platform will be shared with the social equity businesses and our staff will be available
to implement any systems they require at their facility. We will assist with software and
hardware setup and integration, customer service and sales promotions, safety and
security, and proper handling of cannabis products. Ideally our incubation training
program will provide a “jump-start” to these cannabis businesses and they can establish
their own standards and protocols, but our organization will always be available for
ongoing training support.
SECTION 2
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCAL PLAN
72
Compliance
Fresno city Social Equity Cannabis Businesses will receive compliance assistance
from our organization to ensure that their ability to do business is protected. We will
provide access to our in-house compliance staff that ensure that local and state licenses
are up to date, that all necessary documentation has been provided to local and state
regulators, and that all orders to comply, violations, and correspondence is responded
to in a timely manner. Additionally, we will review their safety, security, and operational
plans at their request for compliance with current cannabis regulations. If requested, we
can assist by having our compliance professionals audit their facility as well as their
standard operating procedures for potential improvement.
Launch
For a cannabis business to be successful in an incredibly competitive landscape,
they must have an efficient, and effective launch strategy. Before a business can open
their doors, they must have made iron-clad arrangements for financing without delay,
hiring and training of staff members, pre-launch advertising, and integration into the
community. We will help Social Equity Applicants outline and execute a plan to become
licensed, buildout their facility, retain staff, and identify any potential knowledge, skill, or
experience gaps in their ownership team. We commit to assisting social equity
businesses to mirror our launch schedule and will open our doors on the same day in
an indication of solidarity.
Sales
Once our incubation program is fully functioning and our social equity business
partner is operational, we will provide ongoing sales and marketing support through the
sharing of expertise and experience as well as joint sales efforts for the duration of the
program. Programs involving supply-side incubation will include zero- or low-margin
sales partnerships, permanent features and dedicated merchandising space in our store,
and representative space in our online marketplace. For our retail incubator program
with businesses who, on their face, represent competition in the marketplace, we have
developed collaborative procedures to boost sales for both organizations. For instance,
combined marketing efforts to the unlicensed areas surrounding the City of Fresno and
even sharing security and operational staff, will allow for greater efficiencies of both
businesses. On the supply side, we will use our combined buying power to drive lower
product and distribution costs, allowing the social equity business to retain more of its
income.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
73
SECTION 3
NEIGHBORHOOD
COMPATIBILITY PLAN
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
74
SECTION 3 - NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY PLAN
Section 3.1 - Complaints
While we do not anticipate complaints related to our business operations, our
experience in the industry has made us too cautious for complacency. We understand that despite constant surveillance of the property, a neighbor may notice a broken light
or graffiti, or at worst, criminal activity before our staff does.
Supporting stalwart policies, extensive training, and proactive planning is a level of
access and transparency to the neighborhood. Urbn Leaf has established a 24-Hour complaint procedure that allows customers, residents, and passersby from interfacing
directly and immediately with a neighborhood contact. This position is maintained by a collaboration between the staff and the rest of the ownership team to ensure that all
complaints related to noise, light, odor, traffic, and other community concerns are dealt with as quickly as possible. Owner Ashot Gyulnazaryan will serve as the neighborhood
contact for all nuisance related concerns and contact information will be clearly posted and available for all security and safety related concerns.
This procedure supplies any potential complainant with electronic, phone, and text methods for obtaining responses to their concerns. When communication is
received, the designated neighborhood contact will process all complaints of this nature immediately and determine the best course of action related to the issue.
For all crime-related complaints such as suspicious behavior, theft, or vandalism, all complaints will be immediately reported to Fresno Police Department and our security
staff. At that point depending on the level of severity of the incident, security staff will initiate proper protocols including lockdown if necessary.
Other issues that require immediate response include odor and noise disturbances, parking concerns, and crowd control. In addition to measures by both security and store
staff to proactively approach these issues, the owner on duty will be responsible for dealing with the situation immediately. Of primary concern to residents regarding retail
cannabis facilities is the persistence of cannabis odor. Although we believe our policies for containment and removal of odors are “airtight”, we will address all complaints of
odor immediately. Odors will be detected and contained in accordance with our odor control program outlined in the following sections. Noise disturbances, and issues
related to vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be addressed immediately as well. While we do not anticipate a backup of traffic, we will leverage additional staff including store
management and back of house staff members to minimize the amount of time a customer spends in the store and parking lot. During these times, all non-essential staff
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
75
will be directed to customer areas and additional security will be dispatched to parking areas.
All other important but not immediate complaints will be addressed within 24 hours. This includes all complaints for light issues including glare and broken fixtures as well as
graffiti removal. All minor damage done to the property including broken lights or graffiti that are due to vandalism will be repaired within 24 hours. The following
complaint standard operating procedure provides the outline for responding to
neighborhood complaints. More information about our response efforts and commitments can be found in Section 3.2 – Nuisances.
1. Complaint Receipt and Assessment:
1.1 Ashot Gyulnazaryan will serve as primary neighborhood contact and
primary communicator for all nuisance related concerns.
1.2 Artem Artenyan will serve as neighborhood contact and primary
communicator for all safety and security related concerns.
1.3 Any staff member receiving a complaint about our business by any
means— written, orally, or electronically— must promptly refer the
complaint to the General Manager. If complainant is in the store or
on the phone, every effort should be made to have the Store Manager
speak directly with the person. If not, the staff member receiving
the complaint will record the date and time the complaint was
received and the name, address, and telephone number of the
complainant, if available, as well as all of the facts related to
the complaint.
1.4 If the complaint is related to any cannabis product, then the staff
SOP NO. 107.011
COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
Revision Date March 2, 2020
Reference(s) Fresno Municipal Code Section No. 11-445
SOP No. 106.005 (Records Retention)
SOP No. 105.002 (Security Officer
Procedures)
Owner Store Manager
Applicability Store Manager, Security Manager, All
Employees, Security Officer
Legal/Compliance
Approval
S. Motsenbocker, February 12, 2020
Manager Approval A. Gyulnazaryan , February 12, 2020
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
76
member receiving the complaint should at a minimum, obtain the
following: (i) The name and description of the cannabis product,
(ii) The batch number or UID of the cannabis product, if available,
and (iii); the specific nature of the complaint including, if known,
how the product was used.
1.5 All complaints must be logged and processed from whatever source,
including local residents, nearby business owners, social media, or
any other persons expressing a concern about any staff member,
product, or any other aspect of our business, including any noise,
odor, or other impacts that our business may have on our neighbors.
1.6 Upon receiving a complaint, the Store Manager must make an immediate
determination as to whether: (i) the complaint indicates even a
small possibility of a safety hazard, risk of harm, or violation of
law, which shall be deemed a “Type 1 Complaint,” or (ii) the
complaint concerns a non-urgent aspect of the company’s business,
“Type 2 Complaint.” Examples of Type 1 complaints include any
concerns about the Company’s cannabis products, such as a foul odor,
off taste, illness or injury, disintegration or spoilage, color
variation, the presence of foreign material in a cannabis product
container, improper packaging, mislabeling, an incorrect
concentration of cannabinoids, or any unidentified ingredient or
form of contaminant. A Type 2 Complaint may include any other
customer concerns, such as dissatisfaction about store policies,
allegations of poor behavior by a staff member, a neighbor’s
complaint about our customers using their dedicated parking spaces,
or any other matters involving the operation of our business.
1.7 For any reason, if a customer is dissatisfied with their purchase
of our product, the Store Manager has the authority to accept the
returned unused portion, and grant the customer a full refund of
the purchase price that was paid.
2. Logging and Processing of Complaints:
2.1 All received complaints should be recorded in an electronic logbook
(the “Complaint Log”) by the Store Manager that shall be maintained
in accordance with the SOP No. 106.005 (Records Retention).
2.2 All Type 2 Complaints should be acted upon within 24 hours. It is
the responsibility of the General Manager to personally reach out
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
77
to the complaining party and explain how their complaint was handled
and what actions, if any, were taken to resolve their concern. The
closing out of the complaint, and any follow-up actions or
subsequent feedback received from the complainant, shall be recorded
by the General Manager in the Complaint Log.
2.3 The Store Manager should immediately communicate any Type 1
Complaints to the Safety and Compliance Manager along with all
pertinent information that has been collected. Once informed of a
possible safety issue, it is the responsibility of the Safety
Manager to keep a written record of all communications and actions
taken by the Company in a separate electronic logbook (the “Safety
Log”). The Safety Log shall be maintained by the Safety Manager as
with any other critical business records.
2.4 The Safety Log will contain a Corrective and Preventive action plan
(CAPA). If the Store Manager has decided the need for a CAPA after
the investigation of any source compliant documented, the Store
Manager will complete a CAPA form in accordance with SOP 106.175
(CAPA Documentation). The Store Manager shall include the category
source of the complaint, date the CAPA was initiated, a proposed
correction completion date.
2.5 The Store Manager will be responsible for writing a detailed CAPA
description of the issue and a corrective and preventive action
plan, in accordance with 106.175 (CAPA Documentation). For example,
if a customer received an incorrect order from the delivery team;
a CAPA form will document the situation and include actions to
double check outgoing orders by the sales staff as well as a final
confirmation by the deliver driver.
2.6 The Store Manager will write their name along with their signature
and date and will archive the CAPA form for a minimum of five (7)
years, as in accordance with SOP 106.175 (CAPA Documentation)
2.7 The Store Manager will allot a reference number to the CAPA form
and include any relevant entries in the CAPA log. Following that,
the Store Manager will forward the CAPA form to the appropriate
department.
2.8 In accordance with SOP 106.175 (CAPA Documentation), the CAPA shall
be numbered serially in the calendar year for each department with
a unique identification code for the department. A standard CAPA
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
78
form shall be numbered as: CAPA/XXX/YYY/ZZ Where, XXX: Department
Code; YYY: serial number, commencing at 001 in the calendar year;
ZZ: Last two digits of the calendar year.
2.9 Upon completion of proper actions taken for Closure and Verification
of the CAPA, the Store Manager shall certify that the proposed CAPA
was completed and implemented along with associated actions. The
Store Manager shall verify the implementation and completion of
the CAPA with review of supporting documents and verify the same
outcome, in accordance with SOP 106.175 (CAPA Documentation).
2.10 All deviations, discrepancy reports giving rise to a CAPA shall be
addressed through the CAPA form.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
79
Section 3.2 - Nuisances
Community Involvement
The first step to avoiding nuisances is determining what effects the community the most. Prior to business opening, we will develop an open line of communication with
the surrounding community to ensure that our organization has not missed any potential issues that may affect the neighborhood. This program will be spearheaded by
owner Ashot Gyulnazaryan, and he will act as community contact, addressing all complaints as well as having proactive meetings with neighboring business owners, local
residents, and community groups. All issues brought to the attention of management will be dealt with promptly in accordance with our complaint procedures.
Site Maintenance
During use, the property will be maintained by regular local custodial services and
provide adequate waste and recycling receptacles for use by patrons. On-site lighting conditions will provide both safety and security and a 24-hour video surveillance system
will allow for continual monitoring of the premises, the points of ingress and egress, as well as an integrated access system that keeps record who is entering and exiting the
premises at all times. Security staff will regularly view and review security footage in addition to periodic site walks (twice per hour) to notice any potential safety, security, or
maintenance issues at the facility. All maintenance and nuisance issues will be addressed in accordance with our complaint procedures. We have specifically instituted policies for
graffiti and vandalism complaints pertaining to the outside of the building or any areas
visible to the public. All graffiti on the property will be dealt with immediately, with guaranteed removal or cover-up within 24 hours of the registered complaint. All trash
will be maintained in receptacles throughout the interior of the facility and adjacent to the customer entrance door. These receptacles will be emptied regularly and kept clear
of litter and debris. For long term maintenance of the site, Urbn Leaf will commit to maintaining all landscaping, trees, and sidewalks adjacent to the property, including the
cost of all sidewalk repairs along our frontage in the coming years.
Traffic
Traffic nuisances come in two varieties in a commercial cannabis business– people and vehicles. Inherent in our business plan is a large amount of sales; and with sales
come customers. With an expected 250-300 customers per day, we have developed comprehensive mitigation methods for traffic that focus on speed and efficiency of
service. Transferring sales to an online platform, using a streamlined point of sale system, creating a spacious and flowing floorplan, and maintaining high staffing levels
provide the basis for this program. Urbn Leaf’s business operations plans are based around efficient flow of traffic in and out of our facility. An anticipated customer count
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
80
of up to three hundred customers per day in combination with a 1:1 ratio of sales staff to customers requires sufficient planning to ensure that crowds never gather on the
premises. Based on sales metrics of customers per hour, even at peak times, we anticipate no more than 50 customers each hour, with an average transaction time of
roughly six minutes door-to-door. With our intended level of sales staff, plus additional support staff during “rushes”, we are able to serve eleven customers simultaneously,
meeting peak demand. For cashless transactions, we are able to divert customer traffic away from POS terminals, leaving six separate locations for taking cash payments. With
a built-in buffer, we have eleven seats available in the lobby to ensure we always maintain a 1:1 ratio. Advanced planning and proper execution of protocols by staff will
ensure that large crowds will never gather on the premises and there is sufficient room within our facility to prevent customers from ever standing outside. During periods of
peak traffic, additional store and security staff can be dispatched to parking areas, although the premises sits in a commercial shopping center that allows for adequate
passage of vehicles in and out.
Parking
Immediately adjacent to Urbn Leaf are 21 parking stalls, retained under lease from the property owner. The greater parking area consists of a total of 43 parking stalls
shared between other businesses in the immediate shopping center. With this in mind, Urbn Leaf commissioned an extensive traffic analysis to determine if the amount of
spaces provided would be adequate for the proposed use. The study determined an anticipated daily trip calculation for our business at 275 customers per day, with an
expected parking time of ten minutes. Average amount of vehicular traffic is estimated to be 23 vehicles per hour, or roughly four at any one time. The analysis estimated 50
vehicles during the busiest hour, or roughly 8 vehicles at any one time. Analysis of adjacent businesses that would directly share parking included assessment of the
parking load for all adjacent businesses. The combined parking uses of all adjacent businesses totaled 11 stalls for average requirement and 24 stalls at peak, which in
combination with the anticipated load for Urbn Leaf, including staff members would leave 4 stalls remaining even at peak times. Analysis of other businesses that would
potentially share parking include business at the other side of the center included Vallarta Supermarket, the commercial center anchor, the various other adjacent small
businesses, the Jack In the Box on the opposite corner of the center. The adjacent lot yielded sufficient space in the overall commercial development not to require overflow
spill into our lot. Backing up the calculations was an assessment of actual site traffic data, conducted over a month (prior to social distancing retail slowdown). The study
revealed that the parking lot rarely reached an occupancy level over 25% and would have sufficient room for the addition of even a busy commercial cannabis business.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
81
Noise
With no heavy equipment on site, maximum size limitations for our vendor vehicles, and a fleet of electric delivery vehicles, we do not anticipate any noise from vibration on
our property. We have developed protocols to ensure that both vehicular and human created noise sources are limited. Our operating procedures require all activities to be
conducted indoors and in as few daily deliveries as possible. We have entered into purchase agreements with distributers that use electronic or natural gas delivery
vehicles but do anticipate brief noise from the cash pickup vehicle that occurs once per day. Staff will prepare for pickup in anticipation of the arrival of armored services, and
Hardcar® has committed to an in-and-out time of four minutes. In keeping with our vision of a high-class retail environment, special events outside of educational outreach
efforts will be prohibited on the premises at all times.
Glare
Lighting of the building exterior will be low-emittance wall packs to accentuate building architecture and deter graffiti on the subject property. All lighting will be
screened, diffused, and be directed away from adjacent properties and the city streets while still maintaining levels optimal for video surveillance. Lighting during business
hours will be provided throughout the facility and will be high-efficiency and environmentally friendly, high-output, low energy use LED lighting. The covered loading
area at grade level will be well lit throughout business hours and have minimal lighting during non-business hours to deter use. Interior hallway lighting will be on sensors with
timers to limit energy waste.
Odor Control
The most common nuisance associated with commercial cannabis business is odor. Our odor mitigation plan is outlined in the next sections.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
82
Section 3.3 - Odor Mitigation Practices
Odor Identification
The best odor control system requires a team of dedicated individuals committed to persistent maintenance and constant evaluation of the environment. Every odor
emitting room will be continuously monitored with hourly inspections for odor. In addition to olfactory vigilance by staff, Fresh Air Sensors will be installed throughout the
facility which detect cannabis odors at a pre-determined threshold. If a high volume of odor is detected by an employee or the device, the Manager will be informed and if a
filter needs to be changed it will be done so at this time. If doors are not closing automatically, they will be repaired immediately. Please see Section 3.4 – Odor Sources
for more information about our odor detection and identification procedures.
Staff Training
In concert with our HVAC supplier, we have developed an extensive training program that includes training specifically for odor mitigation. The importance of keeping doors
shut, changing carbon filters are among the other Standard Operating Procedures that all employees must follow. We will conduct monthly staff meetings where we discuss
odor mitigation with all departments on the importance of keeping up with the processes we have in place. Please see Section 3.6 – Odor Control Training and
Maintenance for more information about our staff training procedures.
Internal Protocols
We have developed a series of odor control policies to be used by staff to identify
and eliminate any potential odors in the business. Staff will be trained to only receive, stock, or sell sealed, prepackaged products and inventory will be maintained using a
“Just-In-Time” inventory management system to ensure that the lowest possible stock levels are held. This will ensure that staff is easily able to remain vigilant in the analysis
of odor sources, packaging quality, and potential accumulation areas. Any cannabis products discovered to have broken, torn, or otherwise unsealed containers will be
immediately removed from the sales area, placed into an independent vacuum sealed container, and moved to a separately enclosed quarantine section in the secure storage
area.
Maintenance & Records
All odor control equipment will be meticulously maintained by the local licensed HVAC contractor who helped design our system. All carbon scrubbers, HEPA filters,
ducts and manifolds, and control panels will be assessed and maintained according to instructions laid out by the manufacturer. A full odor control maintenance schedule can
be found in Section 3.6 – Odor Control Training and Maintenance.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
83
Section 3.4 - Odor Sources
The odor generated by a collection of cannabis in one place are created
specifically by the accumulation of aromatic terpenes from the plant’s essential oils that are released as part of the natural decomposition and oxidation of cannabis
compounds. Over 200 different terpenes have been identified within the cannabis plant, taking on odors from fondue to hops to lilac. When these compounds mix, they create
the pungent distinctive cannabis odor. These aromatic compounds are strong, last long, and travel far if not properly controlled for and certainly have no place outside of a
cannabis business or in our neighborhoods.
Smells emanating from cannabis products being stored and handled on a
commercial cannabis premises will negatively impact surrounding areas if comprehensive and proactive measures are not undertaken by of the business operator.
Cultivators and distributers that handle very large volumes of raw cannabis have the steepest hill to climb when improving air quality, but even these businesses with proper
planning and investment in the latest technology, a robust air-quality control and odor elimination plan is a relatively straightforward matter. Given that cannabis stores are in
our neighborhoods, so close to places where the public congregates, robust mitigation measures must be instituted even in a retail environment.
Accumulation Areas
Although all of these products are packaged in air-tight containers, properly sealed,
and kept at the minimum possible stock levels, cannabis compounds can still be
detected by a human nose because of the intensity and profile of the terpenes when stored in large quantities. In our facility, this will occur in the secure product storage
room, on the salesfloor where live product is merchandised, and potentially in high traveled hallways such as the areas cannabis product passes through during deliveries.
Once those locations have been identified it is important to isolate these rooms on a separate ventilation and filtration system from the rest of the building to ensure that
areas with already clean air remain clean.
Although this is a rather expensive retrofit
option, it is a necessary part of the design to separate clean air from air that needs to be
scrubbed. All product storage areas will be kept on a separate ventilation system than the sales floor
and non-cannabis areas under negative pressure. In our facility, these accumulation areas will not
present any additional sources of odor.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
84
Critical Control Points
The times in which cannabis odor is introduced to the facility can be minimized by
the proper management of critical control points. These times are when cannabis is delivered, stocked, sold, disposed of, or moved throughout the premises. We have
created comprehensive plans for ensuring that these critical control points are addressed. Prior to accepting deliveries from vendors, all product packaging will be
inspected. Additionally, staff will conduct visual and olfactory inspections of all products as they are stocked, received, and sold to customers. Ensuring that odors are properly
controlled during storage and transportation has a tremendous effect on how much odor escapes into the business. Especially considering the flow of product to delivery
vehicles, mitigation measures at this stage include policies to ensure that all outgoing product is thoroughly inspected for packaging breach before the product leaves the
building to ensure that unwanted odors do not make it into the delivery vehicle.
Breached Packaging
All products sold by Urbn Leaf will be packaged in
sealed, air-tight manufacturer packaging. Any product found to have damaged packaging that allows air to
escape will be quarantined, placed in an air-tight package, and separated for disposal in accordance
with our waste management protocols. At delivery time, during product placement, and at the end of day
when product is returned to the secure storage area, product packaging will be inspected for breaches or
escaped odors.
Illegal Activity
Urbn Leaf will ensure that at no times will a member of the public, customer or otherwise, consume cannabis on the premises, or in the greater commercial center. In
addition to regular monitoring of video surveillance systems, security personnel will
conduct routine site walks (twice per hour) to ensure there is no illegal activity on the
premises. If any cannabis use is identified or suspected, the person will be referred to the
Fresno Police Department. External smoke alarms will be placed strategically around the
building in three locations to alert store staff to consumption of cannabis or tobacco products
on the premises.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
85
Section 3.5 - Odor Control
Traditional ventilation systems have a simple airflow path in which air-quality is
modestly improved by fresh air entering through transfer grilles on one side of the room, then sucked into a ventilator, typically located near the ceiling on the opposite
side of the room. These systems provide adequate ventilation and vary in levels of sophistication, but essentially, they are simply moving these “smelly” particles around
and creating a less intense uniform smell throughout the room, commonly referred to as “locker room” or “dispensary” air. Additionally, because of the path the air travels in
traditional ventilation systems, odors can become concentrated and trapped in the corners and floor of the room.
Here we step in the filtration system. For retail shops that want to actually improve the air in the facility, typically a single phase filtration system will be installed
which will feed through an activated carbon or physical filter which traps about 98.5% of the odor causing molecules and the rest are either recirculated through the system or
fed out of the building through the exhaust and into the surrounding neighborhood. By instituting a multi-phase system, we will eliminate virtually all odor causing particles
without allowing them to escape into the surrounding environment.
Urbn Leaf welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate to the City of Fresno that
nuisance caused by odors will never be a concern for the neighbors of our properly managed commercial cannabis retail shop and that customers will enjoy an air-purity
level on par with first-world hospitals
System Design
We will be utilizing a multi-phase filtration system to purify the air that is being
recirculated throughout the facility and will exhaust all filtered air through roof ducting. Of paramount importance to the design is the location of the intake and exhaust vents
within the rooms. Locating the intake vents along the bottom of the rooms at regular intervals and the exhaust along the top of the opposite wall will ensure that air is
adequately fed into the filtration system to be processed.
Supporting the entire system are negative pressure areas where cannabis product is
stored in greater quantities, our sales floor and product storage room. Our product storage room will be housed under an independent HVAC system from the rest of the
facility to ensure that accumulated odors are not dispersed throughout the building.
All the HVAC systems installed at this facility will be considered “closed-loop”
systems and all the HVAC equipment will recirculate 100% of the supply being distributed to the various application areas throughout the facility. Negative pressure in
a ventilated room will nearly double the efficiency and effectiveness of a traditional ventilation system. Ionization and active carbon filtering will be installed to mitigate
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
86
odors within the facility. But to the extent possible, the odor mitigation will be intended to mitigate odor migration to the outside of the building and surrounding areas.
Exhaust fans will have active carbon rolled filter material installed on the fan inlets which will sanitize the air coming out of the facility to ensure odor is not diverted into the
surrounding community.
Equipment
Exhaust from each area of the business premises will pass through an activated
carbon filter which uses carbon pellets to trap the odor causing compounds as air
passes through the filter before entering a sealed ducting system. The Active Carbon
Filters absorbs the molecular weight of contaminants it contacts with and is the most
advanced technology in the industry.
Adsorption is a distinct process where organic compounds in the air react chemically
with the activated carbon, which causes them to stick to the filter. The more porous the
activated carbon is, the more contaminants it will capture. After the activated charcoal,
the air will then be filtered again by ONA Gel odor-absorbing canisters & high-efficiency
particulate air (“HEPA”) filters as it travels to a centralized air bank. This odor control
system will provide more than sufficient odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust system
so that there is no distinctive odor generated inside the business, outside the business,
or anywhere on adjacent properties, and public right of ways.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
87
Section 3.6 – Odor Control Training & Maintenance
Going hand-in-
hand with this system is a team committed to
supporting our technological investment
with regular maintenance, filter
replacement, and quality checks. An air quality
system is only as good as the team that maintains
it. Support from on-site staff in addition to
regular HVAC servicing and manufacturer
support is paramount to maintaining clean air.
Carbon-filtration systems are a tried-and-true industry standard for odor mitigation, and are used in
virtually every cannabis retail, distribution, testing, manufacturing, and cultivation facility
but are only as effective as the design, implementation, and maintenance of the system.
We will be using local Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning, a local family owned
company, to install our air conditioning and heating system, as well as our custom-designed air purification system. Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning has roots in the
community that date back to the 1930’s and has seen the area grow and change. They will provide maintenance on a regular schedule in accordance with our plan. Weekly
maintenance will include checks by our third-party HVAC contractor for moisture buildup, negative and positive pressure levels.
All filtration equipment will be serviced at regular intervals according to manufacturer guidelines, either monthly or every quarter. Yearly, our HVAC contractor
will conduct a thorough inspection of the entire system as part of a comprehensive maintenance program of all electrical, heating and cooling, and airflow systems. This will
include an inspection of all landscaped areas that may have grown since the previous inspection around air intake and exhaust locations.
Responsibility Maintinence Item Frequency
3rd Party Carbon Scrubbers Monthly
3rd Party Gel Scrubbers Quarterly
3rd Party Hepa Scrubber Quarterly
3rd Party Duct Dust Clearing Quarterly
3rd Party Moisture Accumulation Weekly
3rd Party Pressure Testing Weekly
3rd Party Anti-microbrial Treatment Yearly
3rd Party Full Inspection Yearly
All Staff Exterior Odor Checks Continual
All Staff Automated System Monitoring Continual
All Staff Staff System Monitoring Daily
3rd Party Mold & Contaminant Inspection Seasonally
Management New Hire Training Onboarding
3rd Party Supplemental Training Twice per year
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
88
Section 3.7 - Waste Management
We have developed comprehensive waste management procedures for our retail
facility that have been adapted over years in the regulated industry. In crafting the
standard operating procedures for Urbn Leaf Fresno, we took our comprehensive
procedures outlined for our ownership teams’ manufacturing, and cultivation facilities
and adapted the extensive protocols to a retail operation. We expect only a small
amount of cannabis waste at our facility because we have instituted extensive protocols
along the length of the supply chain, but we will be ready for every eventuality because
we see cannabis waste products as sources of odor, potential diversion, and inefficient
operations.
All waste disposal activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable
state and local laws, regulations, and other requirements, including, but not limited to,
Division 30 of the Public Resources Code. Strict protocols for the handling, logging, and
tracking of cannabis waste will ensure that at no time will our organization or staff sell
cannabis waste, and that all waste is weighed, entered into the track and trace system,
and stored it in a secure receptacle within a designated area under video surveillance.
All cannabis product that have been subjected to improper storage conditions,
extremes in temperature, humidity, smoke, fumes, pressure, age or radiation due to
natural disasters, fires, accidents or equipment failures, as well as product that has
passed its expiration date or subject to a voluntary or manual recall will not be salvaged,
but instead will be properly destroyed. Before cannabis product is entered as cannabis
waste, the product will be mulched and mixed with office waste (paper and paper
product) along with other inert compostable materials until it is not recognizable as
cannabis waste. During the process, the employee performing the disposal will make
sure the waste is reasonably mixed in order to prohibit any future separation of the
waste material. After cannabis is rendered into cannabis waste, the cannabis waste will
be hauled by the local licensed cannabis waste hauler with at least a Distribution –
Transport license from the Bureau of Cannabis Control. Cannabis waste will only be
transported to a staffed and fully permitted solid waste landfill or transformation facility
after it has been properly recorded in the CCTT-METRC system and the on-site logs.
After deposit, our organization will collect a certified weight receipt/ticket to verify the
cannabis waste was disposed of at the solid waste facility. All employees are required to
report any unauthorized destruction of cannabis or cannabis products to the store
management, who in coordination with the Security Manager, will report any incident to
the Bureau and law enforcement.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
89
SOP NO. 102.008
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Revision Date March 2, 2020
Reference(s) Fresno Municipal Code Section No. 11-445
SOP No. 106.010 (Store Returns)
SOP No. 106.014 (Product Recalls)
Owner Store Manager
Applicability Store Manager, Security Manager, All Employees,
Security Officer
Legal/Compliance
Approval
A. Artunian, S. Motsenbocker, February 12, 2020
Operations Approval A. Gyulnazaryan, February 12, 2020
1. Collection & Storage of Unsalable Products:
1.1 Product will be removed from sales and inventory areas that do
not meet the company’s quality standards due to discoloration,
deterioration or the passing of the expiration date, or if the
Store Manager otherwise determines that a cannabis product is
not safe for its intended use or is otherwise inappropriate for
sale due to breached packaging, spoiled contents, mislabeled
product, are not within a child-proof container, or if the
product has otherwise been embargoed pursuant to a safety recall
program.
1.2 The Store Manager will ensure that all such cannabis products
are immediately removed from the sales floor and back-office
inventory and placed into the locked cannabis waste receptacle
that is located in the Product Storage Room in accordance with
SOP No. 106.014 (Product Recalls).
1.3 If product is part of an active or past product recall, Urbn Leaf
will proceed with the product recall Corrective and Preventive
Action plan (CAPA), in accordance with SOP 106.170 (CAPA
Documentation). The Store Manager will identify which products
are to be recalled, determine how many of products have been
compromised within inventory, as well as their location within
storage.
1.4 The Store Manager will handle all cannabis products with
protective gear, in accordance with SOP 106.169 (Preparation
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
90
Against COVID-19).
1.5 If a hazardous cannabis product is recovered by the company
pursuant to a safety recall program conducted pursuant to SOPs,
or if the company accepts the return of a cannabis product from
a customer for any reason, the receiving staff member should fill
out an online Product Return/Exchange Form that describes the
quantity of products returned, the condition of the products and
their packaging, any complaints or problems noted by the
customer, and a description of any exchange, refund or allowance
given the customer.
1.6 The Product Return/Exchange Form will be preserved and maintained
as part of the Company’s vital records, in accordance with SOP
No. 106.010 (Store Returns).
1.7 Urbn Leaf will uphold the responsibility to keep the public
informed of all recalls, and will post notifications about the
product recall on its website as well as make partnering
cultivation centers and dispensing organizations aware of the
product recall as well as post written notices of the recall on
location for patients and customers to view. The recall notice
will include all pertinent information regarding the product
being recalled, contact information and other information
relating to the recall, product name and unique attribute number,
batch number, sale date range of recalled product, and sale
organization locations.
1.8 After documentation, Urbn Leaf will securely store the waste
cannabis in segregated storage until disposal.
1.9 Urbn Leaf has implemented a set of procedures in order to create
a unique quarantine ID, for quarantined products via the Track-
and-Trace database. The unique quarantine ID will be generated
from the month and year the product was sent into quarantine,
the last four digits of Product Number (eg. 1234)
1.10 Following industry best practices, all cannabis and cannabis
products sold to customers will be recorded into the electronic
data log, in case of need to track a contaminated product.
Furthermore, different products might dictate different
communication considerations.
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
91
2 Processing of Unsalable Products:
2.1 After removing from sale or processing the return of a cannabis
product and completing the Product Return/Exchange Form, the
receiving staff member shall clearly mark the cannabis product
with a permanent pen or affix a label with the words “NOT FOR
SALE OR USE.”
2.2 The unusable cannabis products should then be destroyed, rendered
unusable, and non-functioning. Raw cannabis will be mixed with
desiccant, inactivating oils, or mechanical destruction.
2.3 No cannabis product shall be disposed of in its packaging, and
all cannabis waste shall be unrecognizable and unusable as
cannabis or a cannabis product at the time of disposal.
2.4 Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require waste
vape cartridges to be emptied of cannabis oil prior to disposal,
provided that the vape cartridge is itself unrecognizable and
unusable at the time of disposal.
2.5 The allowable method to render cannabis plant waste unusable is
by grinding and incorporating the cannabis plant waste with other
ground materials so the resulting mixture is at least 50% non-
cannabis waste by volume. Raw cannabis will be mixed with
desiccant, inactivating oils, or mechanical destruction.
2.6 Material used to grind with the cannabis falls into two
categories that Urbn Leaf will decipher upon before use:
compostable waste and non-compostable waste. Compostable Mixed
Waste is defined as cannabis waste to be disposed of as compost,
feedstock or in another organic waste method may be mixed with
other organic waste materials. Non-compostable Mixed Waste is
defined within the as cannabis waste that is to be disposed of
in a landfill or another disposal method (e.g., incinerator) may
be mixed with non-organic waste materials:
2.7 All cannabis products shall be disposed of only by EcoWaste, the
Company’s designated cannabis waste contractor.
2.8
2.9 Other methods to render cannabis waste unusable must be approved
by the Department before implementation.
2.10 Any cannabis products that are returned to the store may not be
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
92
sold, transferred, or given away.
2.11 At all times, unsalable cannabis products must be kept separate
and distinct from other cannabis goods and non-staffed employees.
The quarantined areas will be monitored with video surveillance
system that shall be operational during a power outage with a 8-
hour battery backup.
2.12 Product rendered unusable will be placed by the receiving staff
member into the locked product return box that located in the
product storage room.
2.13 Each evening prior to closing, the Store Manager shall ensure
that any returns of cannabis products that have been received
during the business day are removed from the sales floor and
placed into the locked cannabis waste receptacle located in the
back-office Vault Room.
2.14 The Store Manager will reconcile the information contained in
the Product Return/Exchange Form with the actual contents of the
lock boxes.
2.15 The Store Manager will reconcile all waste management tracking
in Greenbits software.
2.16 The Store Manager is responsible for keeping a record of all
unsalable cannabis products which shall be documented in the
Cannabis Waste Log that will be preserved and maintained as part
of the company’s vital records.
3. Waste Pickup and Disposal:
3.1 Cannabis waste will be stored, secured, locked and managed in
accordance with State regulations.
3.2 All waste and unusable product will be digitally weighed, recorded,
and entered in the inventory system prior to mixing and disposal.
3.3 Verification of this event must be performed by a supervisor and
conducted in an area with video surveillance.
3.4 Urbn Leaf will dispose of any cannabis waste in a secured waste
receptacle in a secured area on the premises. For the purposes of
this section, “secured waste receptacle” or “secured area” means
that physical access to the receptacle or area is restricted to
the licensee, employees of Urbn Leaf, the local agency, waste
hauler franchised or contracted by the local agency, or private
SECTION 3
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
93
waste hauler permitted by the local agency only.
3.5 Public access to the designated receptacle or area shall be
prohibited.
3.6 Cannabis waste shall be entered into the track-and-trace system.
3.7 EcoWaste will remove the contents of the secure waste receptacle
from the Company’s Fresno store and take the unsalable, rendered
unusable goods to its local processing location.
3.8 Upon the transfer of the cannabis waste into the possession of
EcoWaste, the Store Manager must receive a written receipt from
the disposal company acknowledging the removal of such materials
from the premises.
3.9 The Company will later receive a written manifest from EcoWaste
confirming the disposal of the cannabis waste at either the
Company’s solid waste or composting facilities, as may be
appropriate. The Store Manager will place copies of both
documents into the Cannabis Waste Log.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
94
SECT ION 4
SAFETY PLAN
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
95
SECTION 4 – SAFETY PLAN
In preparation of Urbn Leaf’s Safety Plan, the ownership team exercised extreme
diligence in insuring that every potential aspect of safety was addressed. While the applicable building and safety codes, state license requirements, and additional
cannabis ordinance requirements provide the foundation for a solid plan, we have pulled from decades of cannabis industry, fire prevention, emergency response, safety,
and compliance experience to create a more comprehensive plan for our business. In addition to fire, safety, and evacuation plans, we have included provisions for dealing
with more recent additions to the safety landscape, such as active shooter protocols and social distancing requirements. We will support this plan with a comprehensive training
program for all levels of staff. We aim to set expectations for the city of our organization and the highest standard that will be supported by every member of our team.
Urbn Leaf has consulted with several fire, life, and safety experts in the development of this plan. In order to deliver this information in a thoughtful and efficient manner, we
have provided summaries of each section that directly address the criteria laid out in the City of Fresno commercial cannabis business application procedure guidelines.
Section 4.1 – Plan Preparation
This safety plan was prepared in collaboration between owner Craig Fry, a retired Los
Angeles Fire Department Chief and fire and building code specialist, and David Meyers, a certified professional fire prevention and suppression consultant and registered
Professional Mechanical Engineer. We solicited input from other members of the ownership and advisory teams, our Security Agent, and look forward to working with the
Fresno Police & Fire Departments in the ratification of these plans
Craig Fry, the safety coordinator for Urbn Leaf, had served as a distinguished
member of the Los Angeles Fire Department for thirty-one years. Craig has worked with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) to help draft sections of the California State
Fire Code, oversaw the fire & life safety laws for the City of Los Angeles, and now sits on the California Earthquake Commission. Craig will enjoy an ongoing role in the
implementation of the Safety Plan through interaction with local regulators, continual revision, and staff training.
Craig is a small business owner and a resident of nearby Los Angeles County, and a long-time safety and compliance maven. His story begins in civil service as a firefighter
for the Los Angeles Fire Department and after a 31-year career took him up the ranks, it culminated in being promoted to the position of Deputy Fire Chief. Craig was
responsible for the management of Emergency Operations in High Profile/Target Areas
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
96
and the safety of over 450,000 citizens. Later in his career, Craig was responsible for overseeing and supervising 240 Fire Prevention Officers and oversaw Emergency
Operations in an area that included over 2 million people as he moved my attention towards the regulatory side of the Department, specifically the enforcement of the fire
and building safety code. As a Fire Chief in Los Angeles, I worked with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) to help draft sections of the California State Fire Code and
was responsible for the oversight of the Fire life Safety laws for the City of Los Angeles. I have served on the Certification Oversight Committee for the Office of Homeland
Security that was convened to assist in the development of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
After 31 years in civil service, Craig retired from the LAFD and formed Craig Fry & Associates, a small fire prevention, safety, building, and permitting consulting firm in
Pasadena, California. Within a year, Craig Fry & Associates transformed into full-service development consulting firm, and now specializes in regulatory compliance in multiple
fields, including the burgeoning cannabis industry, and has managed the launch, operation, and compliance of over 50 cannabis businesses. Craig harnessed his
experience, professional network, and team of professionals to offer services to the cannabis industry. The CF&A compliance team works tirelessly to ensure that owners of
retail, distribution, cultivation, and manufacturing cannabis businesses throughout California remain in full compliance with the labyrinth of state and local regulations
designed to protect our cities and are operating in a safe environment.
Dave Meyers is a Licensed Mechanical Engineer and runs a Fire Protection Consulting
firm in Los Angeles (State of California License No. M 029903) and has extensive experience designing safety plans for cannabis and non-cannabis commercial
operations in the Fresno County area in residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Dave will enjoy an ongoing role in the ratification of all safety plans regarding the
positioning and maintenance of equipment, operating procedures, and emergency response situations. Jack has over 35 years’ experience
in the fire protection industry including fire code analysis, interpretation, and consultation, fire
suppression systems, field inspections, building reviews, and the proper handling of hazardous,
flammable, and combustible material. Dave has served as a fire protection consultant to builders, architects,
engineers and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Fire
Protection Engineers.
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
97
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
98
Section 4.2 – Incident Reporting
A critical aspect of our safety plan and staff training program will be our incident
reporting procedures. Our program has been integrated into our cash management and security plans to address any security or crime related incidents; our neighborhood plan
to properly and effectively address community concerns and complaints; and all matters related to health and safety. We have created safety incident reporting procedures that
include extensive training to ensure our staff and customers are always safe. This model has also been adapted by management to handle all worker compensation and human
resources related reporting. As a part of our incident reporting procedures we have a very defined path for all instances including customer interactions, workplace injuries,
and emergency response according to the following protocols.
Incident Intake
The first step in conducting a thorough incident investigation is to connect with all parties involved and to ensure them of their confidentiality. Once a complaint is
received or an incident occurs, the first step is to reach out to the complainant or original reporter to determine if immediate medical attention or law enforcement is
need. If no such attention is needed, we will assure the individuals involved that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and all proceedings will remain confidential.
This initial step is meant to protect and preserve the integrity of the process and maintains a relationship of trust between the complainant and the investigating member
of the management, ownership, security agent, or third party. We will communicate the
fact that their complaint or allegation is important and will be taken seriously in all circumstances.
Initial Investigation
The next step after an incident or event occurs and all parties have been contacted, is
to determine if an investigation is required and what parties need to be involved. To do this, our management staff must first understand the complaint. This will involve
requesting all parties involved to put their complaint in writing and at this step management will consult their organization’s policies and procedures for any relevant
instruction or guidance they may provide. This is also the point in any investigation that management will determine if law enforcement or mandatory reporting is required or if
the complaint or incident should be forwarded for completion to the operations team, the safety team, or the security team.
Mandatory Reporting
If the incident was determined to involve a product discrepancy, cash discrepancy, or
it is believed that a staff member was conducting illegal activates, we will immediately notify both the Fresno Police Department, Fresno Community Development, and the
Bureau of Cannabis Control within 24 hours of the incident occurring. For all safety
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
99
issues, Urbn Leaf will strictly adhere to our own internal policies as well as the procedures set out by Cal/OSHA, as required by Title 8 regulations, Section 342. We will
adequately log and report the location, time, and date of event, all associated parties contact information, description of the situation, and information about all medical
personnel and law enforcement involved. After mandatory reporting, the case would be referred to our internal teams for investigation.
Investigation
If it has been determined that the complaint does not involve criminal activity or a
discrepancy in cash or inventory, management would then select the investigator based on their specialty. If the incident is related to store or staff member policies, owner Skip
Motsenbocker will be responsible for the investigation and implementation of new standards. For all safety matters, Artem Artenyan will perform the investigations with
assistance from the safety team, comprised of selected members of staff and management. All matters relating to neighborhood involvement will be handled by
owner Ashot Gyulnazaryan and advisory board member Evelina Poladyan. Our Security Manager, Robert Simpson would conduct the investigation for all security incidents in
collaboration with Fresno Private Security, Inc. and the Fresno Police Department. All members of the ownership team will be involved in each investigation, regardless of
defined role. The investigator would gather all physical evidence and information that might verify the complaint and collect supporting documents such as emails, photos,
and witness reports that will be securely retained and evaluated. Finally, management will determine what happens next. If an allegation is against a member of the
management team or may cause changes to current policy, we will have the complaint investigated by a third party such as an impartial external consultant, in accordance with
our human resources policies. Once the findings have been adequately reviewed by a neutral party, the interviews are completed, and the accused has had a final opportunity
to answer to the complaint, a final investigation report will be prepared. Records
All incident records and reports will include the background of the complaint, allegation or incident, the evidence and supporting documents, and the content of the
investigative interviews. It will also include the conclusion or resolution of the case. At the conclusion of the report we will automatically conduct business wide staff training,
an audit of the organization’s policies and procedures, and staffing if deemed necessary. We will retain the case histories in full while maintaining confidentiality and impartiality
and allow all involved parties an opportunity to be heard. In accordance with BCC regulations, Section 5037, all business records related to personnel, training, contracts,
permits, security incidents, destruction of cannabis goods, diversion, and track and trace discrepancies, or all other incidents requiring report will be maintained for a minimum
of seven years.
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
SAFETY PLAN
100
Section 4.3 – Evacuation Routes
The evacuation routes throughout the retail cannabis building are designed to
ensure that even at maximum occupancy, in the event of an emergency everyone can safely exit the building and reach the designated safety zone. In order to ensure this, we
have performed a comprehensive review of the property, room by room, the construction type, and the applicable building codes with our architects, California
Building and Fire Code experts, and our professional fire prevention and suppression consultant.
We were able to ensure that throughout the entire commercial cannabis space, the travel distance from any point within the retail location will be less than 300 feet from an
emergency exit. This is to ensure that during an emergency, our customers and employees will be able to quickly vacate the premises. These common paths of travel
will not exceed 150 in travel distance at any time, regardless of reorganization of fixtures or floorplan, they will not lead to any termination, and we will provide adequate
illumination of the exit corridors to ensure they are highly visible in even the most serious emergencies and during power outages.
All exit corridors will be free of storage, be of sufficient size, and all doors will swing in the direction of egress travel to ensure they cannot be obstructed by clutter or
unattended objects. All exit doors will be equipped with panic and fire exit hardware that will be maintained and operable to ensure that they are opened easily and be self-
closing. All emergency egress doors will be alarmed to ensure that no unauthorized
entering or exiting of the building can occur. During emergency evacuation procedures, either triggered manually by store staff or by the automatic fire detection system, all exit
doors will become unlocked and opened, including the emergency exit door in the retail area, and store officials will
be placed at the points of egress to facilitate travel. All points of egress, passageways and egress doors will meet all ADA
(American with Disabilities Act) requirements and will have automatic door openers.
All of our exit signage will be in full compliance with CBC 1012 and will be of greater than 44 square inches. The units will be connected to an
emergency power system that will provide an illumination of not less than ninety minutes in case of primary power loss. The emergency power system shall consist of
storage batteries, unit equipment and an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system will be in accordance with CBC 2702 and local regulations.
Please see the safety diagram in on the next page for a graphic depiction on the evacuation routes as well as our other integrated safety features.
SECTION 4
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
101
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
102
Section 4.4 – Fire Suppression
Most fires in commercial spaces are not suddenly or initially large and they typically
are started on accident by employees or customers not being thoughtful in their actions. While we hope to prevent any fires from occurring by having policies and procedures in
place that reduce the risk of emergency, we know there is always a possibility for the worst to occur. As such, Craig Fry and fire suppression specialist Dave Meyers have
developed comprehensive fire safety plans that address every possible fire situation from within the property or from adjacent properties.
Portable Suppression
In order to ensure the safety of our employees and customers at all times we will
have portable fire extinguishers with a rating of not less than 2-A or 2-A10 BC located throughout the interior of the cannabis business. We will place these portable fire
extinguishers within 75 feet travel distance to every portion of the building and in every safety zone. This will be throughout both the first and second floors and are depicted on
the diagram in section 3.7. In addition to the previously described open-access fire extinguishers, all electrical rooms will have portable fire extinguishers installed with a
rating not less than 10BC in order to ensure that our team and first responders will be
provided sufficient materials to ensure public safety and evacuate all individuals from the building quickly. All fire extinguishers will have proper, legible, and clearly visible
signage showing their locations and be regularly inspected, maintained, and tested by in full compliance with California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 8 Section 6151 section
(e). The installation of each of fire extinguisher will comply with CBC Section 906, Cal OSHA, and CCR Title 8 Section 6151. They will be placed on hangers at a height of no
greater than five feet and no lower than three and a half feet and will be located in areas that will be free of storage and continually maintained access.
Fixed System
The building is fully sprinklered and along with the new improvements our team
will include readily visible, clear, unobstructed, sprinklers not only to ensure that we are in compliance with all applicable building codes but to ensure the safety of our team
and customers. The upgraded sprinkler system will provide coverage in accordance with NFPA 13 - Standard for the installation of Sprinkler Systems and maintain the existing
sprinkler zoning. Sprinklers will provide for densities in the office and lobby areas in accordance with “Light Hazard” standards, at 0.1 gallons per minute per square foot. All
production, sales, and storage areas will be classified as Ordinary Hazard, Group 2, at 0.2 gallons per minute pe r square foot. This sprinkler design density is considered a
minimum standard by the NFPA but because a building’s fire sprinkler system is not designed to open up every sprinkler head in the building all at once which can risk the
loss of water pressure in a building. This diminishing pressure could ultimately result in a
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
103
failure in the sprinkler system. We have conducted mock fire tests to determine the amount of water provided per square feet in gallons per minute in areas of the
building at the farthest point from where the main water line ties into our sprinkler system. This design density ensures that at even the most remote portion of the
building, the fire sprinkler system will be able to control if not extinguish a fire as long as the minimum design density is met. The sprinkler system will be modified as
necessary to provide the minimum design criteria noted above.
We will ensure the maintenance, inspection, and proper working condition of the fire
sprinkler system by ensuring the regular inspection in compliance with CBC and CFC, and California State Fire Marshall’s standards and regulations. Our fire sprinkler system
will be regularly inspected and serviced by Central California Business Alarm, a local Fresno City alarm company who is located at 1271 N. Wishon Ave. Fresno, Ca. CCBA is a
California state licensed contractor and a California Fire Extinguisher concern licensed operator. They are a family owned and operated company that has developed a
renowned reputation in the 50 years they have been in operation. CCBA Fire Protection has been retained to provide parts and labor for regular servicing of the fire sprinkler
system for a period of 5 years.
In addition to the portable fire extinguishers and the NFPA-13 automatic sprinkler
system, we will install one 6” diameter fire riser, located within a dedicated riser room which room will provide direct exterior access. The existing riser room is of 1-hour fire-
resistance rated construction and provides direct exterior access in accordance with IFC Section 916.3. The riser rooms will be maintained and provided with necessary HVAC
equipment to maintain the temperature of the room between 40- and 100-degrees Fahrenheit and contain permanent lighting with backup power. Signage identifying the
riser room will be maintained on the exterior of the door. The building sprinkler system will be supported by a Fire Department Connection (FDC) with two 2-½” outlets,
sufficient for the intended load mentioned above. The FDC is located along the exterior walkway of the complex. Our building is currently outfitted with NFP-13 rated fire
sprinklers and will not only maintain but upgrade this system to be a complete fire protection monitoring and addressable fire alarm package. The automatic fire sprinkler,
alarm, and monitoring system has been installed and will be upgraded in accordance with CBC 903.2.5 and NFPA 13 and contracted to Central California Business Alarm, as
discussed in the alarms and monitoring section.
Fire Department Access
New Knox® Boxes will be provided outside of the riser rooms and the main entry and will be maintained with keys to allow Fire Department Access. One 2 ½ x 4-inch fire
hydrant access is located adjacent the premises on Blackstone Avenue, within 50’ of the building.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
104
Another fire hydrant is located within 200 feet south of the building on Blackstone Avenue. These fire department access locations will provide sufficient flow for any fire
related issues at our business premises.
An advanced warning and protection system will be a key aspect of ensuring the
safety of our staff, customers, and neighbors’ life and property. We will be maintaining
in good working order an advanced alarm and monitoring system that is fully integrated
with an automatic fire sprinkler, HVAC, and emergency response system and installed in
accordance with California Building Code § 903.2.5 and National Fire Protection Agency,
Chapter 13. Please see the safety diagram in section 3.7 for the location of all alarm and
monitoring devices.
A dedicated space, approved by the Fresno Fire Department, will be used to post a classic fire alarm matrix and graphic annunciator in order to make it simpler for
firefighters to detect the precise location of a fire in the shortest possible time. In addition to the print notification, our alarm system contains a digital readout of alarm
locations, accessible from the front of the building. When one of the system’s components initiates, it indicates the component’s location on the fire alarm panel.
These types of systems are preferred because they can quickly pinpoint where the signal originated, saving valuable time in an emergency as it eliminates the need to search for
the component that produced the signal.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
105
Gas Monitoring
Our gas monitoring system will tie into our fire alarm and
monitoring system and be of the highest quality to ensure the safety of customers, our store, and our community. We will be
utilizing the Siemens HFP-11 intelligent detection devices throughout our establishment, the highest level of detector
intelligence on the market. These same gas detectors will be used throughout the entire building with each specially programed for the location they
are placed in. Detectors in the retail, lobby, and staff areas are able to use separate trigger thresholds than other high-risk areas such as utility, storage areas, and HVAC
ducting systems. The HFP-11 detectors utilize advanced detection technology that allows each detector to distinguish nonthreatening deceptive phenomena such as
heaters, candle flame or cigarette smoke from actual fire hazards and sound the appropriate alarm while optimizing detection for the intended area. Each detector uses
state-of-the-art microprocessor circuitry with error check, self-diagnostics, and supervision programs to ensure proper function. These detectors eliminate the need for
cumbersome, unreliable mechanical programming methods such as dials or switches and instead uses input sensors that include both photoelectric and thermal triggers and
can properly locate for emergency responders.
Located throughout the facility, these units can be automatically triggered and issue
both an audible and visual alarm in addition to interfacing with the monitoring system. Units will be located in all rooms, hallways, and storage areas for complete coverage of
the premises. Additional units will be placed on the exterior of the building to alert store and security personnel to the use of tobacco or cannabis products on our property.
Supporting each individual unit is a network with internal error-checking software. Should the detector sense a fault or failure within its system, the LED light will flash, and
the detector will transmit that data to the control panel. A quick visual inspection will notify staff of the condition of the detector at all times. This will allow us to ensure that
our system is in proper working order and promptly schedule maintenance if required. Please see the safety diagram for the location of all gas monitoring equipment and a full
description and location of all security features.
Alarms
The Fire Alarm System Monitoring will be contracted to Central California Business Alarm. Central California Business Alarm is a family-
run locally operated Fresno security firm, located at 1271 N. Wishon Ave. Fresno, Ca. CCBA is a California state licensed contractor and a
California Fire Extinguisher concern licensed operator. They are a family owned and operated company that has developed a renowned
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
106
reputation in the 50 years they have been in operation. CCBA Fire Protection has been retained to provide parts and labor for regular servicing of the fire sprinkler system for a
period of 5 years.
At the most basic of technology, we will be maintaining and ensuring the
good working order of ten manual fire alarms that activate the occupant notification system in accordance with CBC 907.4, 907.2.5, and our standard
operating procedures. These alarms will be located on the main sales floor, in the backroom hallway, in the security office, and on the second-floor office. The
system is capable of voice activation and disengagement using predetermined codes established by management and will be clearly visible and marked by additional
signage. All staff will be trained in the location of fire alarms as part of the initial onboarding process.
In addition to the manual alarms, the system provides for an automatic alarm sounding through a smoke and heat detection system. Sensors placed along the ceiling
of each room and doorway are programmed to trigger the alarm in accordance with a minimum threshold for disruption. Continual monitoring will ensure the safety
of the occupants of the building with additional monitoring systems for smoke located in the HVAC and sprinkler systems.
The alarm system will be installed per City of Fresno building and fire codes and utilize an audible alarm connected to visible light strobes. This system will
be equipped with Edwards 2452 THS-15/75-W Fire Alarm Temporal Horn and strobe signals throughout the interior of building. These devices are State of
California State Fire Marshall approved and UL rated to produce 85 decibels and utilize extremely bright xenon lighting to notify all occupants
of the alarm, regardless of ability to hear. On the exterior of the building we will utilize a 350 WB Vibratone horn that will be tied into the fire alarm
and monitoring system to alert neighboring business and the public of an emergency. The 350wb Vibratone horn produces a 360-degree alarm of
100 decibels, audible throughout the commercial development. This alarm is located on the outside of the building at unit 200.
In coordination with the Fresno Building Department and the Fresno Fire Department, we will be upgrading the current fire alarm system from a “conventional”
system to an “addressable” fire alarm system. An addressable fire alarm system is the gold standard for safety and security and is the most modern alarm system available on
the commercial market. Addressable fire alarm systems are able to clearly delineate different safety zones, allowing for unique identifiers and alarm thresholds in each area.
Addressable alarms allow for complete control over the facility and quick access for emergency personnel.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
107
Section 4.5 – Emergency Training
Each of the previously described fire, safety, and medical emergencies will be part of
the initial onboarding training of all staff. We will ensure that staff understands the layout of the facility and each component of the safety plan before any other training is
conducted. Prior to any employee passing their 90-day probationary period they must pass a comprehension test that demonstrates they have suitable knowledge to identify
and respond to a wide variety of emergency situations. In addition to this, each employee will be required to obtain their American Red Cross Certificate in basic life
safety prior to passing their probationary period. Supplementary training will be provided at regular intervals and whenever changes are made to the safety plan. All staff
members will be trained in occupational safety and hazard identification as well as receive training tailored to the specific hazards in the cannabis industry such as the
proper handling of cannabis product and cash safety protocols. A dedicated portion of our staff will comprise an internal safety team. Safety Team members will be certified in
compliance with Assembly Bill 2799 which requires all cannabis businesses to employ within one year of receiving or renewing a license, one supervisor and one employee
who have successfully completed a Cal/OSHA 30-hour general industry outreach course
offered by a training provider that is authorized by an OSHA Training Institute Education Center to provide the course. We will exceed this mandate by requiring all store
management and members of our safety team be certified to ensure that at all times a qualified member of staff is present at our facility. Training modules for staff have been
divided according to emergency type. Fire
As a part of our regular training and pre-employment programs all employees are expected to be knowledgeable about all fire alarms, what each alarm signifies, the
location of fire suppression gear and evacuation routes. While employees are not expected to fight fires on company property, we do expect that each employee be
sufficiently trained in fire extinguisher use to fight small fires or to ensure that equipment can be used to safety evacuate all customers and staff out of the immediate
fire area. Our goal is that staff will be sufficiently trained to use fire extinguishers on small fires, in the incipient stage, to allow for proper evacuations to occur and for
emergency responders to be notified quickly.
With proper training our employees will be competent and confident of their ability
to cope with the hazards of a fire, and understand when to terminate firefighting efforts when it has become obvious that there is danger of harm from smoke, heat, or flames.
Large fires will be left to the municipal fire department personnel who are professionally trained and equipped with the necessary protective equipment.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
108
Medical
A key function and emphasis in our staff training will be fire life
safety and medical emergency training. Each member of our staff, regardless of their position, will be Red Cross certified in
providing Basic Life Support (BLS). Within the BLS course, each employee will learn to identify the critical nature an injury, how
to determine a person’s level of consciousness, how to check an individual’s pulse and breathing, and preform primary
assessments and administer CPR/AED to both children and adults. This will ensure that in the event of a medical emergency our
employees will be able to calmly and actively provide a basic level of life support to an individual while simultaneously being able to provide critical and time sensitive
information to first responders. We will hold annual trainings with the Red Cross to ensure staff stays up to date on all facets of first aid.
Additionally, each employee will undergo rigorous training of when to call 911 in a medical emergency, when to rely on security personnel, and how to preform primary
assessments of individuals suffering from trauma, heart attack, seizure, overdose, blood loss and wound trauma, treatment for shock, and how to gather and relay pertinent
medical information to medical first responders over the phone and upon their arrival to the scene. Along with the emergency medical training, each member of our team will be
regularly trained and tested on the procedures that we have outlined in the employee handbook. The procedures outlined in the handbook have been developed by our
security, emergency, and our professional fire prevention and suppression consultant to provide trainable and actionable responses to a wide variety of medical emergencies.
Natural Disaster
Natural disasters pose a threat typically in the form of power outages in Southern
California. Potential complications can arise relating to stable power supply due to earthquakes, severe weather, or rolling black- and brown-outs that occur each summer,
effecting the safety and security systems in our business. Our procedures will include automatic power backup and a lockdown of the facility for such cases. Staff will be
trained on how to respond to natural disaster situations, who to notify and our mandatory response times, and proper immediate procedures to ensure the safety of
our customers and employees.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
109
Hazardous Materials
An additional point of training that will be highly emphasized is how our staff
responds to hazardous material situations. We pride ourselves in providing this training and testing as a part of our employees training as it is often overlooked but can be
critical in saving the lives of our customers, staff, and neighbors. We will teach and train each employee how to identify a plethora of common hazardous materials by sense and
visual detection techniques, how to contain a hazardous material spill, how to read and understand a MSDS (Hazardous Materials Data Sheet), when to evacuate employees and
customers, how to safely evacuate out of the risk zone, how to effectively report hazardous materials to emergency responders and the location
and type of hazardous materials that may be utilized in operations. While we do not store hazardous materials on site in the form of
combustible or flammable agents, we treat cannabis products with similar protocols. All staff will be trained in the proper
storage and handling of cannabis products to prevent diversion, contamination, and potential sources of odor.
Lockdown / Crime
Shelter in Place / Social Distancing
In our most recent addition to safety protocols, we have instituted both temporary
and permanent measures for social distancing in compliance with County Health program initiatives. This involves taking measures to slow the spread of contagious
illnesses by limiting the opportunities for exposure. In the times of pandemics or government mandated social distancing regulations we will have trained our staff to
implement stringent measures to keep employees and customers at least six feet apart. If during a time of social distancing, cannabis retail stores are determined to be essential
businesses and are permitted to operate, we will do so in full compliance with city, county, and state emergency regulations and will not deviate from our approved hours
of operation unless so instructed by the City of Fresno or the Fresno Police department.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
110
We will ensure that each our employees follow social distancing and hygiene best practices and will reserve certain hours of operation for senior citizens, other high-risk
populations, and customers with disabilities.
We will not permit staff who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or other
communicable illness to come to work, and we will ensure that they able to utilize their paid sick leave. Management will emphasize, and if need be re-train, all employees on
ideal hygiene practices, including proper regular handwashing and increased frequency of cleaning and sanitizing to ensure we are complying with all government
recommendations. We will post signage with up to date orders from the County Department of Public Health and will ensure that all patrons follow these guidelines
while on our property.
Persistent changes in our operations include the installation of sanitizing stations for
customers and staff throughout the store as well as any areas where customers may wait. These policies have had far-reaching effects on our standard operating procedures,
and we have instituted protocols for higher degree of cleanliness, the availability of personal protective equipment for staff, and contactless access throughout our facility.
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
111
SECTION 5
SECURITY PLAN
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
149
SECTION 6
LOCATION
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
150
SECTION 6 – LOCATION
Section 6.1 – Property Description
Section 6.1.1 – Property Description
The proposed property located at 4931 North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno is a single level rectangular shaped, corner lot at the intersection of East Shaw and North
Blackstone Avenues in Fresco, California. The property fronts the west side of North Blackstone Avenue and the south side of West Shaw Avenue. The property fronts the
south side of West Shaw Avenue for approximately 240 feet and the property also fronts approximately 410 feet of the West side of North Blackstone Avenue. East Shaw Avenue
acts as the properties northern border and is a well trafficked portion of roadway that runs east to west, connecting several Fresno communities to the California highways 41,
99 and 168 and acts as a major thoroughfare throughout the City and surrounding communities. North Blackstone Avenue acts as the eastern boarder of the property and
is also a well trafficked avenue which runs parallel to the CA 41 Highway. While the property does not front the highway, the property is not more than a quarter mile from
the highway onramp which connects the Fresno community to Interstate 5 and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The project site has seen many building permits issued over a period of years. In accordance with zoning regulations, commercial uses on the property were confined to
the zoning regulations and to the General Central commercial mixed-use district. The existing site provides guest with ample parking for commercial spaces per the Fresno
Building Code, as well as easily accessible ADA parking spaces.
The site is currently occupied by several tenants within the shopping center, there is
a variety of commercial retail establishments that are present in the commercial center including Fiesta Auto Insurance, Check ‘n Go, World Hair Stylist, Med Wrap’s Café, DXL
apparel, Change Up apparel, Sprint Mobil Store, a Lens Crafters and our company Urbn Leaf.
As a result of the property being located within the Central Commercial Mixed-Use District, (CMX) and being located along two major roadways the surrounding properties
along these traffic corridors are similarly zoned for mixed use development. Within the general area there are a variety of differently zoned areas, including the property
directly opposite East Shaw Road, which is zoned as Regional Mixed-Use Zone, (RMX). The RMX and CMX are very similar and share the same goals of transforming auto-
orientated boulevards and corridors into vibrant, diverse and attractive corridors that support a mix of pedestrian-oriented retail, office, and residential uses in order to
achieve an active social environment with a revitalized streetscape.
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
151
Urbn Leaf will blend into the
surrounding community while still providing a complete
revitalization of the property. Pending licensing approval,
the location will be fully remodeled for
aesthetics, safety, and security. Our exterior design
concept blends the common and historic textures that are
unique to Fresno and the Fig Garden neighborhood.
The zoning and the distance from sensitive uses
makes 4931 Blackstone an ideal location for a commercial
cannabis business. In addition, the City of Fresno has listed the address as a potentially eligible parcel for retail cannabis. Please see the attached Zoning Inquiry Letter which
establishes the property as properly zoned and distanced for cannabis retail use.
Layout
Our facility was designed around the concepts of functionality, security, and
aesthetics. The size of our facility, at over 10,000 square feet, has afforded us with a
multitude of options for creating a spacious sprawling floorplan with plenty of room for
next-level security and design features. Please See the floorplan of the flowing page and
the following design renderings for a graphical depiction of our retail space.
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
152
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
153
Design
Urbn Leaf’s floorplan was developed by a collaborative effort between the
ownership team, the operations team, the security team, and the design team to create
a retail environment that is easy to navigate, inviting to customers, safe, and secure.. The
following pages contain interior renderings as well as mood and materials boards
created by our design team. All design and architecture were produced by our local
architecture firm, SEC Development, a development and architecture firm under a with
extensive experience both in the Fresno area and with commercial cannabis facilities.
Vardan’s team has spared no expense in creating a beautiful flowing floorplan
with unique design elements, setting the standard for a retail cannabis experience.
Antoinette Designs is a local Fresno interior design firm that offers full service
commercial and residential design services with the personal attention of a boutique
designer. Services include new construction design, full renovation, and custom
specifications and furnishings. Their in-house interior designer personally designed our
interior motif with input from the ownership team. She came up with a design aesthetic
that is a mixture of modern luxury with influence from the Far East and containing
numerous natural design elements. She has created a truly peaceful area in which to
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
154
interact with our customers. As a certified interior designer who has acquired a colorful
foundation of experience, a graduate of California State University Northridge, School of
Interior Design, and attendee of University of California Los Angeles prestigious School
of Design, she has over 17 years of professional design experience. Please see the
architectural depiction of the floor and site plans in “Section 6.4 – Premises Diagram” for
more details on our floorplan.
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
155
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
156
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
157
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
158
Section 6.2 – Exterior Photographs & Renderings
In addition to an interior remodel, we plan to improve the exterior of the building by
refinishing, retrofitting design and security elements, and improving the overall appeal of the property. Please see the current photographs and conceptual renderings for more
information about the exterior design aesthetic. Image locations are outlined on the
premises diagram.
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
159
Street level view
of Urbn Leaf façade
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
160
Architectural
renderings of Urbn Leaf
commercial center
SECTION 6
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION |
Urbn Leaf
161
Section 6.3 - Premises Site Plan
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
162
SECTION 7
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
& INVESTMENT PLAN
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
163
SECTION 7 – COMMUNITY BENEFITS & INVESTMENT PLAN
Section 7.1 – Social Responsibility Plan
The members of our ownership team have actively been involved in their respective
communities for their entire lives through civil service, charitable giving, and unwavering civic responsibility. Most recently, the cannabis industry has opened new opportunities
to further these goals. In Fresno, we intend to expand these efforts, focusing on what is most in need in the community. We have divided our community benefits plan to
address every aspect of the Fresno community, creating direct giving programs for Fresno non-profits, creating from scratch a program to provide clothing and grooming
services to homeless individuals through a mobile salon, and organized staff around community involvement days. Additionally, we will make a direct donation to the City’s
Cannabis Community Re-Investment Fund to forge a bond with the City of Fresno, the development of the City of Fresno Cannabis Equity Program and pursue strategic
relationships with local businesses.
Section 7.1 i. - Fresno Non-Profit Organizations
The most direct and efficient way for any business to benefit their community is to rely on the experience, reach, and heart of an existing organization within that
community. These organizations are most properly posed to make the most efficient use of charitable contributions to ensure those most in need are assisted. As such, we have
set aside three percent (3.00%) of gross revenue to be distributed directly to two local Fresno community non-profit organizations as well as provisions for additional
organizations as a function of net revenue. Through the consistent support of these organizations, consistent change can make its way through any community. The
landscape has always been difficult for these organizations, many are chronically underfunded, under supported, and held back from fully realizing their core goals.
Unfortunately, in Fresno, this has always been the case. Owner Ashot Gyulnazaruan as well as all his friends and family grew up in Fresno, benefiting from these programs that
stayed functioning despite lack of funds, volunteers, and community support. One organization, in particular, played an extremely important role in the proper upbringing
the Fresno youth, and still does today. It has been said that no youth makes it through the school system in Fresno or Fresno County without this organization having some
effect on their lives.
Marjaree Mason Center supports and empowers adults and their children affected by
domestic violence, while striving to prevent and end the cycle of abuse through education and advocacy. Their vision is simple: A community free of domestic violence.
Marjaree Mason Center is Fresno County's only dedicated provider of domestic violence shelter and support services, including education for victims and youth.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
164
In 1978, Marjaree Mason’s tragic death due to Domestic Violence gained national attention, shining a spotlight on the issue and galvanizing the Fresno community into
taking action to ensure that no one would suffer the same fate. In 1979, the Marjaree Mason Center was born, and has since worked tirelessly to provide a safe, supportive
environment for those exposed to domestic violence.
The Marjaree Mason Center operates two confidentially located safe houses in Fresno
County. These Safe Houses shelter men, women, and children affected by domestic violence. In addition, the Marjaree Mason Center provides a variety of services including
legal advocacy, court accompaniment, education and other services to victims of domestic violence. They provide individual and group therapy for adults and children
affected by domestic violence. Services are offered at the Marjaree Mason Center Administration Building or in-house visits. Additionally, the organization also offers a
variety of education opportunities for those who have experienced domestic violence or for the community at large. Domestic Violence Advocate Training is also provided for
those seeking the certification necessary to work or volunteer providing direct services to victims of domestic violence.
Through a silent partnership with the Marjaree Mason Center, devoid of photo opportunities and brand placement, we believe we have found a way to reach these at-
risk children and adults with the benefits of the profits from the cannabis industry without a direct visible involvement. Our leadership team believes in the importance of
giving troubled young people an opportunity to change their lives, and thus, are values are aligned with Marjaree Mason Center. Our proposed partnership with will consist of
two-faceted program. First, Urbn Leaf will be contributing on an ongoing basis, two percent (2.00%) of annual business revenue to be used by the organization to
underwrite the costs of running their fully staffed program. With this additional revenue, Fresno Pal will be able to upgrade equipment, hire additional staff, and provide a better
overall program for the residents in Fresno. Going forward, Urbn Leaf would like to develop specific programs with the organization to target the donation to those most in
need. We have worked with Jenny Dolio, responsible for Development and Stewardship for the organization and have created a plan for direct giving should we receive a
license in the City of Fresno.
In addition to directly helping the families of Fresno, we understand that those in the
most need should benefit from the profits brought by the cannabis industry. To this end, we have partnered with a selection of non-profit homeless outreach programs based
out of Fresno, California. We have identified organizations to be part of a revolving outreach program, designed to provide the largest scope of empowerment to our
community. Our ownership team and advisory board have been serving as an advocate for homeless individuals in the greater Fresno County area since 2012 by providing basic
necessities that promote health and wellbeing. We h serves extremely low and low-
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
165
income families with no administrative costs and is an entirely volunteer-run certified non-profit organization. Through direct giving, Urbn Leaf will be donating an amount
equivalent to one percent (1.00%) of gross receipts every month to homeless outreach non-profits for exclusive use in the Fresno homeless community.
With funds donated from Urbn Leaf, these organizations will be able to completely transform their operation by bringing on paid staff members and having more
purchasing power when sourcing costly supplies. Our advisory board will be interacting with our community contact and owner, Ashot Gyulnazaruan on piloting programs to
help the most in need.
In a tandem outreach program designed to expand the breadth of the giving to
adults in the community, the Marjaree Mason Center and our homeless outreach programs will assist Urbn Leaf in identifying persons in the community who have been
harmed by domestic violence, the criminalization of cannabis, are chronically unemployed, or affected by poverty as potential candidates for an on-the-job training
program. We will be seeking out individuals from the families of organization participants who need assistance in obtaining employment. More information about this
program can be found in “Section 2 – Labor & Employment Plan”.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
166
Section 7.1 ii. – Local Participation
Outside of established local organizations, Urbn Leaf will be pioneering a separate
program developed specifically with Fresno in mind. Our ownership team has developed a program to give showers, haircuts, and other personal grooming services to homeless
and other economically disadvantaged individuals through a mobile platform. Through a partnership program with Shelter Care Resources, Urbn Leaf will cover the purchase,
operation, and maintenance of a mobile recreational vehicle outfitted with showers, clothing supplies, and a mobile grooming station that can be set up throughout the
City. The service will be provided free of charge to the local population for the purposes of giving those who are economically disenfranchised a feeling of normalcy. We will
retain the services of local barbers and hair stylists to provide these services in combination with our outreach effort.
Through partnership with the local medical and veteran community, we will construct a program that identifies homeless, low income, or wounded veterans who can benefit
from using cannabis products in addition to or as a replacement for their medication for chronic pain or psychiatric distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Currently, the
health and safety regulations prohibit retailers from giving away any amount of cannabis or cannabis products as part of a business promotion, so we will enroll these
veterans in our program to provide heavily discounted medicinal-use cannabis products. We are pursuing relationships with local veteran Groups like the American Legion, the
Veteran Collaborative of Fresno County, and the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation. These organizations will help us identify veterans who can use our assistance. The medical
cannabis goods that will be provided to these qualifying veterans for lowest price we can offer according to the guidelines set forth by the Bureau of Cannabis Control CCR
§5411.
In addition to giving financial contributions to local community organizations, city
activities, and the local economy, Urbn Leaf will be giving our most valuable assets, our time and our hearts. Through an ongoing series of community involvement activities,
Urbn Leaf owners, employees, and patrons will give their time to various organizations throughout the city. We call these events Community Involvement Days and are offered
to our employees in two-day sets to ensure all employees have a chance to participate. Community Involvement Days are designed to spread our reach in the City of Fresno
and enable us to help in as many organizations as we can through an effort that is directly driven by our stakeholders. We want to encourage our employees to be part of
our community and assist us in our giving back. We will be providing all our employees one day of compensated time off every quarter for them to get involved in Fresno
nonprofits they are passionate about. In the weeks prior to each Community Involvement Day, we will notify customers in the store and through the rewards
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
167
program of discounts associated with participation in our community involvement days. This will allow a greater support of the organization and will ideally create a feeling of
community comradery that we can share among our staff and customers. Organizations accepting donations of our time are intended to include beach cleanup, culinary services
for the local foodbank, and a program with the Humane Society of Fresno County to donate animal food, beds, and other supplies to assist in their aid of animals. Through
partnerships with our community non-profit partners, staff will be organizing events with direction from Shelter Care Resources and the Police Activities League.
Extending our educational outreach, Urbn Leaf is to provide scholarship opportunities for students attending the Fresno City College. Established in 1910, Fresno
City College is a California’s first public community college, and it changed the face of education in our great state. FCC is a certified Hispanic-serving institution and has the
largest nursing program in California, nationally recognized student organizations, and transfer agreements to select University of California and California State University
campuses. The Fresno City College athletic program has been nationally recognized and maintains a broad-based program in achieving success in many sports, both men’s and
women’s. FCC provides career and technical programs to the local community in over 80 certificate programs, 24 associates degrees for transfer, and 120 full associates degrees
with classes in over 60 disciplines including athletics, child development, culinary arts, and dental hygiene. Fresno College focuses on their mission to ensure a student’s
success through a diversity of pathways. We will hold art and educational competitions with a local scholarship awarded every quarter to the winner.
In addition to tuition, we will reserve space in our store to feature local art from members of the community. Our ownership team has personal connections to the arts
and believes in fostering the community’s relationship with art. We will be setting aside a section within our retail environment to feature local artists. The front wall as you
enter our retail floor will be our showcase for local artists. A flexible display system will be utilized to allow for rotating collections to be shown as desired. These displays are
easily visible from the lobby providing visual interest in a representation of the local community.
To encourage civic participation and community involvement, we will also be encouraging our customers to partake in Fresno events by offering retail discounts to
those who provide ticket stubs on the day of events in the City. This will include all entertainment and sports events including live performances, street fairs, and farmer’s
markets.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
168
Section 7.4 iii.- Local Business Partnerships
We will not be bringing a foreign shopping experience to Fresno residents, but one
that is a mirror of the City itself. As a business that will be committed to Fresno, we have invested considerable time in establishing a series of win-win business partnerships in
which we will source everything possible from local merchants and service providers. While some of this work is ongoing, we can share a small sample of our commitment to
directing as much of our spending as possible into the Fresno economy. With regards to product procurement, Urbn Leaf will actively pursue business relationships with licensed
Fresno cultivators. Our procurement team will place a priority and preference for Fresno cultivators, and this relationship will be supported with a “local producer” standout that
will be featured in our in-store display cases.
Pending approval of a license, Urbn Leaf will utilize Fresno-based companies for as
many development items and on-going services as we can. We will be using Dixon Painting, a local Fresno County servicer to paint the interior and exterior of our building
who has been voted #1 commercial painting company in Fresno six times by Fresno Bee readers. We will be using and Donald P. Dick HVAC, a family owned company, to install
our air conditioning and heating system, as well as our custom-designed air purification system. Local Central California Business Alarms and Fresno County Private Security will
provide security oversite and a Fresno based design and architecture firm, SEC Development, created our interior motif.
When searching for a design partner, we had a long list of requirements. We wanted to ensure that we developed a design that mixes the delicate aesthetics of a high-
fashion boutique with the robust security features, all while capturing the essence of Fresno. A local partner was the clear answer. The team worked hand-in-hand with the
ownership team to derive a concept that was bright, natural, and fit in well in the slightly beachy Fresno atmosphere. Please see their work in the design section (Section 6 –
Location).
All of these companies have been operating in the Fresno and Fresno County areas
for the last two decades and we would like to leverage their experience with local conditions. During construction, we will be use local wood and building material
suppliers from local yards and after open, we will procure janitorial services from a local custodial services company, who will service our store daily to ensure all exterior and
interior areas, including the front sidewalk, are kept clean, free from debris and maintained in top condition. If we are awarded a retail license, we are committed to
helping our neighbors by directing as much of our spending as possible into the Fresno economy. We have noticed that our store is in proximity to numerous restaurants
including a perfect pairing in our same commercial center. With this mindset, we will build lasting ties with merchants and service providers that have deep roots in the local
community as we begin to establish our own.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
169
Section 7.1.1 – Legal Outreach Services
According to the Drug Policy Alliance, more than 500,000 California residents were
arrested for some sort of cannabis-related crime between 2006 and 2015, the years before voters approved Prop. 64. These criminal convictions can lead to barriers to
employment and extreme financial burdens as well as disproportionately effect different segments of our population. Proposition 64 and subsequent policy enforcement
decisions by state and municipal district attorneys include many provisions that provide a good first step towards reversing the war on cannabis including streamlined
expungement processes, reduced regulatory hurdles, and active engagement by government.
For all members of staff with previous cannabis convictions, we will provide in-house legal services for expungement and reductions for personal possession cultivation, and
transport. All incoming staff will, at their request, be afforded these services at no cost and our team will investigate all avenues at improving their situation.
Past our commitment to our staff, we will also be offering free legal services to the community in the form of expungement clinics for the general public. Fresno city
residents will receive direction from our legal team on the proper application process for expungement of cannabis law violations quarterly. Participants will have access to our
legal resources including our online platform, pop-up events, and our seasoned staff for assistance in applying for expungement of their cannabis conviction. For more
complicated cases involving members of the community, we will provide direction to pro bono or low-cost legal services.
The individuals’ particular state conviction codes will be matched up against eligible conviction codes for expungement or reduction—and the program will clear the
cannabis convictions through a separate piece of software synced up with the state’s registry. There are many options available to individuals that they might not be aware
of. For example, Health and Safety Code 11360, Sales of Marijuana, is a felony that can
be reduced to a misdemeanor under certain circumstances, including many originally charged prior to the passing of Proposition 64. HSC 11357, Possession of Marijuana, is a
misdemeanor that can be expunged under certain circumstances and still carries an active penalty for people possession more than 28.5 grams of cannabis or more than
eight grams of concentrated cannabis.
This program will be fully funded by Urbn Leaf and our legal partners and will be
offered at no cost to the community. Residents with qualified convictions who receive
expungement will be part of a larger program to clear criminal records, combat
joblessness, and uplift the community.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
170
Section 7.1.2 - Sustainable Business Practices
There is a disturbing trend throughout all emerging industries and cannabis businesses, unfortunately, are no exception.
“Greenwashing” (/ɡrēnwäSHɪŋ/) [gerund]. A communication and marketing strategy
adopted by commercial organizations that consists of advancing sustainability messages
in order to forge an ecologically responsible image despite business practices that do not
correspond, or correspond insufficiently, to the content of the messages shared.
Urbn Leaf practices green and sustainable business practices in all aspects of our business. It takes a clever eye to discern the difference between legitimate and
overstated sustainability practices and we have used a series of metrics to define our program.
When obtaining cannabis and cannabis products, it is ideal to work with vendors who display the highest level of sustainability practices. Whether it be the licensed
vendor’s cultivation methods (such as Regenerative Agriculture or Permaculture), packaging approach, facility design, or any other factor that contributes to a more
sustainable end product, focusing on this element of inventory control will ensure that a dispensary aligns itself with the idea of a cleaner, more efficient community.
Additionally, when possible, there should be a focus on sourcing products locally from the community in which the dispensary is located. Local sourcing will lower a
dispensary’s carbon footprint as well as to help support other community businesses. Through interaction with the cultivators and manufacturers, a dispensary can provide
meaningful feedback on ways for these organizations to improve their environmentally friendly practices together.
To reduce our carbon footprint, we selected Nissan Leaf electric vehicles for our delivery fleet that provide fuel-free as well as ostentatiousness-free delivery of cannabis
products. We us LED lighting in all fixtures with low current draw and use all energy-star rated appliances. Even our business cards are 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine free,
and use a non-toxic vegetable-based ink. This is how we operate our business. Going hand in hand with the dispensary design, ongoing energy efficiency is essential for
achieving environmental goals. On a quarterly basis (to coincide with various conditions due to changes in seasons), assessments of the dispensary’s energy usage should be
conducted to determine priorities for improvement. In this process, all systems are checked to ensure they are operating in the proper manner, proposed energy efficiency
improvements are identified, and steps are taken to implement impactful changes.
We have converted all possible paperwork to electronic forms in the operation of our
business except for regulatory requirements such as the printing of delivery manifests. We will also work with our suppliers to offer packaging that meets sustainability
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
171
requirements for waste and post-consumer materials by offering financial incentives to packagers that meet our expectations. In-store, we will provide recycling bins for staff
and customers for all standard recyclable materials including discarded cannabis containers, used vape cartridges, and household products such as batteries.
Additionally, we will be making a direct impact through a series of community clean-up days. We take pride in being from Fresno and we want our employees and others in
the community to feel the same. We will host trash clean up days for the community and area that we are in as well as local beaches and parks. We will split this into two
different days to allow all members of staff to participate and these events will take place every quarter and our employees will take shifts picking up trash in our
community and areas of high traffic.
To prevent the potential trappings of greenwashing on our environmental
stewardship program, our organization will constantly review our practices for areas of improvement. Our safety and compliance team, led by owner Artem Artenyan, will be
personally responsible for quarterly review of our program to identify conformance with our pre-determined metrics. In addition to the steps outlined previously, we commit to
constantly improving our program through this process. Each fiscal year, our safety and compliance team will create new standards for our operating team in regard to
environmentally sustainable business practices and issue a new program for the upcoming year. We commit to reducing our energy consumption by 10% each year for
the first three years and 5% per year thereafter. Further, we will reduce our non-cannabis waste production by the same amount each year. We plan on keeping pace with the
frantic pace of the industry by constantly revisiting our consumption plans with the latest technology and industry best practices.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
172
Section 7.1.3 – Community Revitalization
Our mission statement to our local community is to invest forth valiant time and
effort into the city of Fresno through various acts of compassionate philanthropy. Our
goal is to improve the quality of our community and quality of life for low income
individuals within the city of Fresno Our mission envisions community partnerships with
local residents, donors, business partners, government agencies, volunteers,
stakeholders, and others that share our vision of change in the community. As
previously described we are supporting local non-profits, small businesses, and our local
workforce, but we will also be striving to support our physical communities; the streets
and buildings we see every day. By working together to identify opportunities to
provide revitalization to impoverished blighted areas stricken by brownfield land, and
vacant buildings, we can address areas of our communities that need the most
attention.
Our planning effort will be focused to identify the conditions which have the
greatest blighting impact on the community. Blighted areas are not just run down parts
of town, they are continually deteriorating areas, either due to faulty planning by
landowners, inadequate or improper facilities, or general neglect. Therefore, proposals
will be made in order to respond to the primary cause of the issue within the community
of Fresno. Our philanthropy will bring about the maximum environmental support for
the preservation and upward trajectory of by changing those blighting conditions, that
are detrimental to the vitality of our neighborhood. Urbn Leaf will be involved to change
various issues pertaining to the current condition of those impacted areas.
The building we selected is in a commercial center that is not blighted, but is
adjacent to these areas. We will be extending our revitalization efforts not just to our
store or our commercial center, we have established Focused revitalization strategies will
to improve: faulty streets and lot layout, vacant buildings in disrepair, and accumulation
of litter and debris. Protection of safety and public health of our community is the
catalyst for actions taken to improve public areas, and our involvement to create green
spaces for the public.
Our unit will receive a completely new façade and design elements using
premium construction materials and will be the standout of the center. We have
additionally entered into agreements with the owner of the commercial center to apply
new paint, fixtures, and minor repairs throughout the development.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
173
Branching out in concentric circles around our facility, our staff members and
owners will volunteer to help clean up residential and commercial areas that are in need.
This includes, but is not limited to sweeping of the street that Urbn Leaf is located on,
monthly charitable events such as food drives, planting of trees for a greener
environment, being active participant members within local committees, and active
engagement by the community.
Urbn Leaf will plan to collaborate with the City of Fresno officials, since recently
the city was awarded the Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to encourage the ongoing effort to revitalize
local impacted areas. Our commitment to the City of Fresno is to assist in improving
identified areas of environmental hazards by having detailed strategies for cleaning up
brownfield sites. A brownfield area is defined as a former industrial or commercial site
where expected future use may be impacted by a potential or actual presence of
contamination to the environment. Under the guidance of community clean up for
brownfield sites by the EPA, Urbn Leaf owners will donate to local charities, community
programs, youth development, and education projects to stimulate the local economy.
These donations will go to local government agencies to improve local brownfield sites.
Specified brownfield areas that do contain contaminants within soil, will receive our time
donations to be able to go towards various safe processes to improve the environment;
including excavating the contaminated soil on the surface or subsurface from the site to
be safely transported offsite for treatment or proper disposal in a landfill, or a greener
approach of bioremediation and/or phytoremediation. Through our efforts, vast
improvements to public facilities, such as public parks and recreations would be the
objective to returning pride and excitement to the communities.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
174
Section 7.2 – Public Health Education Outreach
Urbn Leaf’s primary goal is to ensure our customers know what they are
consuming, how to safely use cannabis, and how to effectively use cannabis. As industry
professionals and experts, our ownership team feels it is our responsibility to provide
clear and accurate information to not only our customers, but the general public as well.
To ensure we are able to reach the widest audience possible, Urbn Leaf has developed
multiple level education components for our customers that approaches this in a similar
manner as our employee education -through several medias. Our customer education
modules are interactive, individualized, and can also be done in isolation or as part of a
larger education plan. Our team has created several programs through which customers
will be educated.
Direct Interaction
The most direct source of knowledge for consumers will be our staff. Our sales
staff and cannabis specialists will be arbiters of cannabis knowledge and will be the
customers’ first interaction when they enter our store. Because of our robust employee
education program, will be able to help any customer that comes in and wants to learn
about cannabis products and their safe, intended use.
We see many new customers who are curious, eager to learn but do not know
where to start. We find people underestimating cannabis effects, the variety of products,
the purpose of products, how to use products, and unfortunately this information has
previously been given to them through word of mouth by “budtenders” and no one
else. In efforts to reach these “curious” customers, we will engage with the public
through periodic community events. Each month in the first two years of operation and
each quarter thereafter, we will hold pop-up events throughout the city with a focus on
education. Our innovative seminars have a concept that has been built by our team to
create an inviting, safe, and informative space for every consumer on the spectrum to
come and learn about cannabis. Our seminars are being spearheaded by owner Skip
Motsenbocker and other members of our management team with cannabis experience
to answer common questions that many people have. These seminars will also contain
an online component to allow for remote participants.
Our online educational platform will always be available to the public and the
curriculum mirrors many of the content and teaching methodology employed as part of
our comprehensive staff training program. The categories covered in our public-facing
education platform is outline in the following sections. Additionally, printed education
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
175
materials available in-store or solicited through our website will provide information on
buying and giving cannabis, adult use limitations, driving with cannabis, personal
possession and growing, violations and penalties, and negative effects of cannabis on
youth.
Health Effects
Our public facing modules on the health effects of cannabis cover both the
positive intended effects of responsible use and the potential negative effects of misuse,
overuse, or abuse. When used properly, the inhalation or ingestion of cannabis products
can potentially relieve chronic pain, treat depression and anxiety, reduce inflammation,
and even regulate seizures or fight cancer. When misused, cannabis can have a negative
effect on many organ systems including memory and attention problems, poor lung
health, and a potential source of dependency. Through an easy-to-navigate platform,
visitors to our education portal will be able to take a self guided tour through all the
potential health effects of using cannabis
Responsible Use
The public will be informed on the many short- and long-term effects of cannabis
use including altered senses, perception of time, mood, impaired movement and
cognition, and potentially hallucinations or delusions. For our responsible use section,
we will rely heavily on cannabis science, data, and required testing of all products to
drive our curriculum. We are operating in an environment where every product is
required by law to be tested for potency and that information is included right on the
label. New and experienced users will be taught to interpret this information to better
understand proper dosing, especially with edible products which may take longer to
activate.
Legal Responsibility
Going hand-in-hand with responsible use, is an understanding of the legal
responsibility of all cannabis users. In these modules, we break down the local and state
regulations regarding personal use in a clear, concise, easy to understand way. While
federally illegal, the State of California and the City of Fresno regulates where cannabis
can be legally purchased or consumed, personal possession limits, and proper storage in
a vehicle. Additionally, we will cover the difference in regulations between CBD and THC
products and how to locate licensed retailers in their area.
SECTION 7
FRESNO RETAIL CCB APPLICATION | Urbn Leaf
LOCATION
177
Section 7.3 – Community Reinvestment Fund
In order to support equity in the local cannabis industry, The City of Fresno will
establish the Fresno Community Reinvestment Fund (“the Fund”) to support local equity
businesses operating in the City of Fresno under Article 33 Section 9-3315(b)(6). The
fund will support local equity businesses in the area of workforce development, access
to affordable commercial real estate, access to investment financing, and access to legal
services and business administration technical assistance.
While the plan has not yet been completed, the city is more specifically looking
to supply local social equity businesses with assistance in paying state regulatory and
licensing fees, assistance securing business locations prior to or during the application
process, assistance securing capital investments, and business loans and/or grants, as
well as assistance in recruiting, training, and retention of a qualified and diverse
workforce.
While we have established an incubation program with a licensing and
compliance assistance, a mirrored launch schedule, and combined sales and purchasing
efforts, we will also commit to participating in the Community Reinvestment Fund.
Potentially, the city can initially grant up to two Social Equity retail licenses and two
cannabis production licenses according to the current ordinance. While the city outlines
guidelines for costs and intended contribution amount, our analysis estimates that the
services afforded to social equity businesses could total as much as per
applicant. Spread evenly among the anticipated number of non-social equity businesses
would net an expected contribution of around each. We pledge initial
contribution to the city’s Community Reinvestment fund based on this preliminary
analysis but will augment the amount in accordance with city guidelines.
4. STREET ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE CITY STATE ZIP CODE
If there has been no change in any of the information contained in the last Statement of Information filed with the California Secretary of State,
check the box and proceed to Item 17.
Jun - 27 2013
IMPORTANT - READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM
BLUE WATERS ENTERPRISES, INC.
3.If there have been any changes to the information contained in the last Statement of Information filed with the California Secretary of
State, or no statement of information has been previously filed, this form must be completed in its entirety.
2. CALIFORNIA CORPORATE NUMBER C1791925
372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
5. STREET ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA, IF ANY CITY STATE ZIP CODE
372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
S
FEES (Filing and Disclosure): $25.00.
If this is an amendment, see instructions.In the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of California
FILED
E-T06936
This Space For Filing Use Only
1. CORPORATE NAME
Statement of Information
(Domestic Stock and Agricultural Cooperative Corporations)
Secretary of State
State of California
Complete Addresses for the Following (Do not abbreviate the name of the city. Items 4 and 5 cannot be P.O. Boxes.)
6. MAILING ADDRESS OF CORPORATION, IF DIFFERENT THAN ITEM 4 CITY STATE ZIP CODE
ALAN ARTUNIAN 372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
CEO
FOOD TRUCK MANAGEMENT
ALAN ARTUNIAN 372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
ALAN ARTUNIAN 372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
ALAN ARTUNIAN 372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
9. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/ ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
7. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
8. SECRETARY ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Names and Complete Addresses of the Following Officers (The corporation must list these three officers. A comparable title for the specific officer may
be added; however, the preprinted titles on this form must not be altered.)
SIGNATURE
APPROVED BY SECRETARY OF STATE
17.
13. NUMBER OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IF ANY:
372 W. ARDEN AVE. (#103 ) GLENDALE CA 91203
06/27/2013
ALAN ARTUNIAN
14. NAME OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS
15. STREET ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN CALIFORNIA, IF AN INDIVIDUAL CITY STATE ZIP CODE
16. DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF BUSINESS OF THE CORPORATION
BY SUBMITTING THIS STATEMENT OF INFORMATION TO THE CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE, THE CORPORATION CERTIFIES THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN, INCLUDING ANY ATTACHMENTS, IS TRUE AND CORRECT.
TYPE/PRINT NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING FORM TITLEDATE
ALAN ARTUNIAN
SI-200 (REV 01/2012)
12. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
11. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
10. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Names and Complete Addresses of All Directors, Including Directors Who Are Also Officers (The corporation must have at least one director.
Attach additional pages, if necessary.)
Type of Business
Agent for Service of Process If the agent is an individual, the agent must reside in California and Item 15 must be completed with a California street
address, a P.O.Box
Blue Waters Enterprises, Inc
Owner
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
December 4, 2020 Please reply to:
Rob Holt
(559) 621-8056
Alan Artunian
Blue Waters Enterprises, Inc.
10153 ½ Riverside Dr, #748
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Dear Applicant:
SUBJECT: ZONING INQUIRY NUMBER P20-04465 REQUESTING INFORMATION
REGARDING CANNABIS RETAIL FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4931
NORTH BLACKSTONE AVENUE
(APN 425-092-30)
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 CMX , which is one of the allowable zone districts for
cannabis retail businesses. Development standards of the CMX zone district are
available in Sections 15-1103, 15-1104, and 15-1105 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 P20-04465
4931 North Blackstone Avenue
Page 2
December 4, 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 4. There are currently no cannabis retail
businesses located in Council District 4. 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