SPRINGFIELD -- A new City Council committee will consider guidelines and regulations for recreational marijuana businesses in Springfield, addressing issues such as where they can be located, any caps on their number, city revenues and security.

Council President Orlando Ramos on Friday announced the three-member subcommittee will be chaired by Councilor Justin Hurst and also include Councilors Kateri Walsh and Adam Gomez.

Ramos said he believes a city ordinance for marijuana facilities can be finalized and approved by the full council by late September. The new committee will conduct open meetings and will encourage public participation at those meetings, councilors said.

Voters statewide approved the sale of recreational marijuana in November of 2016, and it was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in July 2017. Regulations were approved by the state Cannabis Control Commission in March of this year, with cities and towns able to impose additional local regulations.

The Springfield City Council received draft regulations from the city's Planning Department and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in June. Around the same time, Ramos and all three members of the new City Council Committee on Marijuana Regulations were in Denver on a fact-finding mission about marijuana facilities there.

Councilors said the Colorado trip and draft regulations will help in drafting a city ordinance on marijuana businesses.

"So as you can see, this has been a very long process, and we received many questions from people asking about our regulations and timeline as to when the city of Springfield will be ready for recreational marijuana," Ramos said. "So today I'm here to announce the creation of a new subcommittee that will help us get to the finish line."

Hurst said the committee will take a hard look at all factors "and we'll make the best decision that is in the best interest of the citizens of Springfield."

The city has a moratorium in effect that blocks marijuana retailers through September. The moratorium can be extended.

Although the Cannabis Control Commission has begun issuing licenses to recreational marijuana retailers elsewhere in the state, sales cannot begin until recreational marijuana testing labs are established. So far no labs have been proposed or approved.

The Committee on Marijuana Regulations has its first meeting scheduled on Aug. 16 at noon at City Hall. A second meeting is scheduled Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

There will be a City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. in which all councilors are invited to discuss the ordinance on marijuana establishments.

Current plans call for a draft ordinance to be ready for Planning Board consideration on Sept. 19, and for a final vote by the City Council on Sept. 25.

All meetings are open to the public.

Hurst said that key considerations will include if there should be a cap on the number of marijuana facilities allowed in Springfield, and what types of buffers should be created, such as minimum distances from schools and residential buildings.

Draft regulations from the Planning Department suggest a prohibition on marijuana establishments within 500 feet of any residence or residential district, and none within 500 feet of a school. There is also a proposed buffer of at least 500 feet between individual marijuana businesses.

Ramos said he is not concerned that some communities are moving quicker than Springfield in adopting regulations and soliciting marijuana businesses.

As Springfield is the third largest city in Massachusetts, it is a complex issue to provide local guidelines and regulations, he said.

In Holyoke, a City Council committee is considering proposed companies and sites for recreational marijuana facilities.

In Chicopee, the city has finalized guidelines and is accepting applications for marijuana retailers until Aug. 23.