The proposed ordinance instituting a cap of 48 cannabis licenses in Jersey City, and eight per ward, was tabled Wednesday night.The issue has long been debated by the City Council and follows a year-long moratorium on the approval of new applications.The ordinance allows for the grandfathering of applications submitted before the moratorium, meaning the number of total cannabis establishments could be ultimately closer to 70 in the short term, according to Acting Corporation Counsel Brittany Murray.  The City Council met for its regular meeting on Wednesday. Councilman Yousef Saleh was present, but had stepped away. (Credit: Andy Milone) The council will now take some more time to consider other changes to the caps and cannabis regulations included within Ordinance 24-078 after voting 7-0 to table it on second reading.Councilmembers Daniel Rivera and Amy DeGise were absent. The tabling followed an outcry during a public hearing in part over fears of oversaturation.“Oversaturation brings loss of jobs. Oversaturation makes these small business owners, who’ve been trying to open a facility, the loser business,” said Hugh Giordano, a union representative with United Food and Commercial Workers.The ordinance included a cap on consumption lounges of six, or one per ward, and changed the allowable closure time from 2 a.m. to 11 p.m.These lounges, where customers can actually use the cannabis product, make up at least one aspect of the ordinance the council may analyze in the coming weeks.Calling it a “substantial change,” Councilman James Solomon said that he wanted “to dive into” the consumption lounges.” I want to really understand where the city intends to go on that.”Other notable goals of the ordinance and proposed sister ordinance 23-078, according to Murray and Supervising Planner Matt Ward, include:Streamlining the process and removing hoops for aspiring business owners. Instituting less strict 600-foot requirements between establishments. Giving the Cannabis Control Board more control and the Planning Board less. Establishing “enrollment periods,” outlining how and when the Cannabis Control Board goes about considering new applications. Clarifying how vehicles are allowed to be used for delivery with the proper certification.The ordinance has brought mixed feelings and new ideas.During the caucus meeting Monday, President Joyce Watterman wanted to crack down on unregulated cannabis vending at public events like festivals.“I’m telling you what I’m seeing. What can we put in place to safeguard it? That’s all. It is happening,” said Watterman. But Ward and others noted their belief that the “council should opine and make a decision” on these new rules.“I think at some point we’re either going to have to vote this thing up or vote it down,” said Councilman Frank Gilmore.In other business, the council:Voted 7-0 to table Ordinance 24-091, on the first of two readings, at the request of Councilman Rich Boggiano. The measure amends the construction code chapter and at issue is a change allowing for construction on Saturdays. Voted 7-0 to defeat Ordinance 24-088, on the second and final reading, creating a new permit necessary for removing trees on private property. Expectations are that a revised version will return at some point to address some burdensome aspects of the law, proposed at the request of the Department of Environmental Protection. Voted 7-0 to approve Resolution 24-776 to authorize a contract with a new insurance broker that Politico reports is replacing the city’s choice of 10 years, Acrisure, a firm run by Gary Taffet, the former chief of staff of Jim McGreevey, then governor and now mayoral candidate. Taffet is also a close ally of Middlesex County Democratic Chair Kevin McCabe.  Effective Nov. 1 will be the one-year contract, valued at $440,000, with the new firm RD Parisie. Heard from a couple dozen Portside Tower residents, who’ve been attending council meetings for some two years, and are now saying Shyrone Richardson, director of landlord/tenant relations, recently inspected their buildings and deemed the corporate landlord Equity Residential to be in compliance with the city’s rent control ordinance despite noticeable issues. Heard from several supporters of adding a protected bike lane to Manhattan Avenue in the Heights after a trial run this summer.The post City Council Tables Proposed Cannabis Ordinance, Nixes Tree Removal Proposal appeared first on Jersey City Times.