How many applications were received before the close of the application period? 
16 applications were received prior to the close of the application period on Thursday, October 24, 2024 by 3 pm. (Updated 3/7/25)

I am looking for additional guidance on the Phase IV interview format including: (1) when should I arrive, (2) who can attend, (4) what is the format, (3) what can I prepare, (5) how much time will I have, and (6) will there be a public comment period?
Phase IV interview instructions were provided to CCB applicant representatives on June 26, 2025, with updated instructions being provided on July 1, 2025. 
 
The instruction letters outlined the following:  

1. The Phase IV interviews will take place during a City Council special meeting occurring over three days (July 8, 10, 11, 2025).  
   
   • • Tuesday, July 8th starting at 8:30 AM, is reserved for a staff presentation and the start of the applicant interviews. 
     • Thursday, July 10th starting at 8:00 AM, is reserved for the completion of the applicant interviews.  
     • Friday, July 11th starting at 8:00 AM, is reserved for public comments, City Council deliberations and the selection process. 
   • Those participating in a scheduled interview are to arrive 15 minutes before the interview to ensure a prompt start time. Participants are to be mindful when entering the Chambers as the special meeting will be in progress.  
     
     
2. There is no limitation on the number of attendees and no particular people on the applicant’s team are required or restricted from attending. All participating attendees must be in person and interviews will not be rescheduled or changed. It is up to the applicant team if they would like to attend times outside of their scheduled interview. On Friday 7/11, the City Council may want to ask follow up questions of applicants during deliberations. Those available in person will be able to respond to potential questions.  There will not be a way for those not available in person to respond to potential questions directed toward them. 
    
   Those wishing to watch the interviews but not participate in them may do so on SanteeTV: https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/departments/city-clerk/agendas-minutes  
    
   The interviews are part of a public meeting, and members of the public are permitted to attend.  
   
   
3. As set forth on pages 6-7 of the Application Procedures and Review Criteria for a Commercial Cannabis Business Permit (Procedures), “In making this decision, the City Council has full discretion over which Applicant(s), if any, will be awarded a CCB permit, consistent with the purposes and intent of the City’s Cannabis Business Permit Ordinance.  In making this decision, the City Council shall not be limited by the specific Evaluation Criteria identified in Appendix A or these Procedures.”  
    
   Applicants will be able to make a short introduction presentation, of no more than five minutes, followed by the Q & A style interviews. The seven questions noted below will be asked, and the applicant team will have a total of 45 minutes to present and respond. It is the responsibility of the applicant team to ensure that the short introduction presentation is no longer than five minutes and all seven questions are covered within the 45-minute timeframe.  
    
   The following seven questions being asked to each applicant:  
   1. Why did you choose Santee and your specific site?   
   2. Please describe how you will go above state requirements to ensure your business does not become a nuisance and fits within the Santee community.   
   3. Please explain your business model in detail, including your target market. Please include how your business model will serve the community’s needs.  
   4. What measures will be taken to ensure your business operations are sustainable and adaptable related to regulation compliance and the overall cannabis industry? Are you currently in default or have you ever defaulted in payment with a vendor?  
   5. Please describe how you expect your business will contribute to the community over the next three years. Please include the direct fee that will be offered to the City, and describe the methodology used to determine the estimated gross receipts included in your proforma.  
   6. Tell us about a time when you had to build trust with a skeptical community or government body. How did you earn their support, and how will you apply that knowledge here?   
   7. If selected, all applicable licenses are required to be renewed through the City and the Department of Cannabis Control on a yearly basis. Please explain your prior experience working with the Department of Cannabis Control, including the compliance and licensing divisions, and your process for ensuring timely filing of renewals.  
      
      
4. Demonstrative materials taken from the submitted application will be allowed but a citation to where the material is located in the application must be provided. The demonstrative material may be enlarged for visibility purposes. No new information should be provided through the demonstrative materials. 
   
   
5. PowerPoint slides may be used during the introduction presentation and interview. Those using slides must email them to cannabisinfo@cityofsanteeca.gov no later than Monday (7/7/25) by 9:00 am. Slides are to be provided in a PDF format to reduce any formatting and presenting errors. Slides used for the introduction presentation shall contain no new information not contained within the submitted application.  Slides used during the interview questions are limited to reproduction of pages or portions of pages from the submitted application. 
   
   
6. Public comment will be received at one fixed time, on Friday July 11th during the Special Meeting, as reflected in the published agenda. Members of the public who wish to comment on the City Council agenda item must appear in person and submit a speaker slip before the public comment period is called.  While members of the public are generally permitted to speak for three minutes during the public comment period, in accordance with City Council Policy 2019-1, the Mayor may reduce the usual three-minute time limit to provide for an orderly meeting when numerous comments are expected. (City Council Policy 2019-1, § 10.2; Gov. Code § 54954.3) Any reduction of speaker time will be announced before the public comment period begins.  
    
   It is not anticipated that applicants will speak during public comment.  The public comment period is intended to provide members of the public who do not otherwise have a time to address the Council with the opportunity to comment on the item.  Applicants should address the Council during their scheduled interview time. 
    
   Prior to the special meeting, members of the public may submit written public comments through the City Clerk’s office at clerk@cityofsanteeca.gov. (Updated 7/2/25) 

What is the current status of the CCB permit retail applications? 
There are four phases to the CCB permit retail application review, scoring and approval process as outlined in the Application Procedure and Review Criteria. The CCB permit application period has closed, and the 16 received applications are currently in Phase III of the review process. (Updated 4/8/25) 
  
How many of the CCB permit retail applications were determined eligible for advancement from Phase I to Phase II? 
All 16 applications were determined eligible for advancement from Phase I to Phase II. The Determination of Eligibility Letters for Phase I can be found under each applicant name on the cannabis webpage. (Updated 3/7/25)

If my application is determined not eligible for advancement during the four-phase process, is there an opportunity to appeal the determination? 
A determination that an application is not eligible for advancement is subject to appeal in the manner prescribed by City Council Resolution No. 022-2024 and in accordance with SMC 7.04.220.

An applicant or permittee may appeal a decision to deny advancement in the selection process at each phase of the process leading to (but not including) the final selection phase by the City Council by filing a written appeal within 10 calendar days from the date of service of the notice of decision or action through SanteePortal.org. 

Any decision made by the City Council to award or not to award a CCB permit shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal. (Updated 3/7/25) 

2025

7/8, 7/10 & 7/11
Phase IV City Council Interviews and Selection Process

6/25/25
Direction on Phase IV Selection Process
Recording

6/11/25
Cannabis 101
Recording*
*Please note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio from the State's presentation did not transmit to our broadcast system. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

April - May
Completed Phase III Interviews

January - March
Completed Phase II Application Evaluation and Review Criteria 

2024

October - January (2025)
Completed Phase I Determination of Eligibility. 

10/24/25
Closed 45 day application period for Retail Cannabis Businesses.

9/10/24
Opened 45 day application period for Retail Cannabis Businesses. 

3/27/24
Cannabis Business Update at the 3-27-2024 Santee City Council Meeting

Cannabis Business agenda item (Item #11 | Item #11 Correspondence)

Meeting Recording | Minutes

Cannabis Business agenda item (Item #6)  Click Here

Meeting Recording | Minutes

To watch the discussion, please visit the timestamp 0:41:26 for the February 28, 2024 Santee City Council Meeting recording on SanteeTV.

2/23/24 - Meeting Notice Sent Out
Cannabis Business Update at the 2-28-2024 Santee City Council Meeting .

Cannabis Business agenda item (Item #7)  Click Here.

Meeting Recording | Minutes

2/16/24
The City of Santee is seeking proposals from qualified individuals to serve as a contract Administrative Hearing Officer to preside over hearings on cannabis appeals, review case documentation, prepare written determinations and all other services as outlined in the agreement for services. The RFP opened for bid on February 16, 2024 at 8am and closes on March 18, 2024 at 5pm.

1/25/24
A Cannabis Workshop was held at the January 24, 2024 Santee City Council Meeting.

To watch the update, please visit the timestamp 0:31:20 for the January 24, 2024 Santee City Council Meeting recording on SanteeTV.

1/19/24 - Meeting Notice Sent Out
We will have a Cannabis Workshop at the next Santee City Council Meeting occurring on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 6:30pm at Santee City Hall, Council Chambers (10601 Magnolia Ave. Santee, CA 92071). To view the Cannabis Workshop agenda item, please visit Item #5 on the agenda for the January 24 meeting*.

You can watch the meeting live on SanteeTV or AT&T channel 99, Cox channel 117 or Facebook Live @CityofSantee .

*Members of the public who wish to comment on matters on the City Council agenda or during Non-Agenda Public Comment may appear in person only and submit a speaker slip, before the item is called.  Your name will be called when it is time to speak. Please note that while members of the public are generally permitted to speak for three minutes during the public comment period, in accordance with City Council Policy 2019-1, the Mayor may reduce the usual three minute time limit to provide for an orderly meeting when numerous comments are expected. (City Council Policy 2019-1, § 10.2; Gov. Code § 54954.3) Any reduction of speaker time will be announced before the public comment period begins

2023

12/8/23
We will have a Cannabis Business update at the next Santee City Council Meeting occurring on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 6:30pm at Santee City Hall, Council Chambers (10601 Magnolia Ave. Santee, CA 92071). To view the Cannabis Business update agenda item, please visit Item #15 on the agenda for the December 13 meeting*.

You can watch the meeting live on SanteeTV or AT&T channel 99, Cox channel 117 or Facebook Live @CityofSantee .

*Members of the public who wish to comment on matters on the City Council agenda or during Non-Agenda Public Comment may appear in person only and submit a speaker slip, before the item is called.  Your name will be called when it is time to speak. Please note that while members of the public are generally permitted to speak for three minutes during the public comment period, in accordance with City Council Policy 2019-1, the Mayor may reduce the usual three minute time limit to provide for an orderly meeting when numerous comments are expected. (City Council Policy 2019-1, § 10.2; Gov. Code § 54954.3) Any reduction of speaker time will be announced before the public comment period begins

2022

11/10/22
On Wednesday, August 10 2022, the Santee City Council approved the Amendment to Chapter 7.04 of Title 7 (“Public Peace, Morals, and Welfare”) of the Santee Municipal Code to Regulate Cannabis Businesses. The ordinance went into effect on September 9, 2022. (Certified Copy of Ordinance No. 602). View the Ordinance map here.

City Council Meeting 11/10/2022 (Time Stamp 1:44:10)

• Application Procedures Manual
• Cannabis Business Permit Application
• Financial Responsibility
• Indemnification Agreement
• How to Apply for a Cannabis Business Permit
• Property Owner Consent Landlord Affidavit
• Zoning Verification Letter Request Form
• Determination of Legal Parcel
• Request for Live Scan Service
• Background Application and Release Waiver