SPRINGFIELD — City councilors said Wednesday they question why a proposed marijuana shop is being asked to provide grants totaling $200,000 to programs at Riverfront Park and Forest Park.

Representatives of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who negotiated host community agreements with INSA Inc. and three other marijuana businesses looking to open in the city, are expected to provide the answer to that and other questions during a meeting of the Economic Development Committee Thursday at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

Under a proposed agreement, INSA would pay $20,000 a year for five years, for the Environmental Center for Our Schools (ECOS) program at Forest Park, and $20,000 a year for five years for maintenance and repairs at Riverfront Park.

“I’m not against money going to ECOS and the riverfront,” said Council President Justin Hurst. “I just think citizens deserve to know how we arrived at this point. There is no other dispensary that is donating to a specific program or project.”

All four companies must also pay to the city 3% of their gross revenue from the retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products — the highest local tax on marijuana allowed under state law. The funds from gross sales will go the city budget for general uses.

Under state law, the mayor is empowered to negotiate and sign host community agreements with marijuana businesses, which need approval from the City Council. The council could consider approval of the four agreements at its next regular meeting Sept. 16.

The Economic Development Committee hearing Thursday will address the INSA agreement and ones negotiated with 311 Page Blvd LLC, Holistic Industries and 6 Brick’s LLC. The hearing may continue Friday at 1 p.m. if more time is needed.

Councilor Adam Gomez, the committee chairman, said there are neighborhoods such as Forest Park that do not want marijuana dispensaries but do want resources from marijuana sales.

"It's just odd that there is no other specific organization or community area that has received any of these funds or grants," Gomez said. "There could have been a lot more done."

Tasheena Davis, who is a former Law Department attorney who was involved in the discussions of host community agreements, said the grants were a “negotiated term selected and suggested by INSA.”

“All terms of the Host Community Agreement were negotiated with the companies and no company was made/forced to provide anything unwillingly to the City,” said Davis, who is now city clerk in Springfield.

INSA is proposing to locate a marijuana store at the former Luxe Burger Bar at 1200 West Columbus Ave., along the Connecticut River.

A separate agreement with 311 Page Blvd LLC, which is proposing a marijuana shop at that address in East Springfield, requires the company to provide traffic lane strips and an automated traffic speed sign on Page Boulevard.

Holistic Industries plans a store in a shopping plaza at 1300 Boston Road next to Moe’s Southwest Grill, and 6 Brick’s LLC proposes a store at the Gasoline Alley business site, 259 Albany St. in McKnight.

Hurst said the proposed agreements require three of the four companies, excluding INSA, to provide marijuana awareness and education programs.

“Why is INSA doing something different?” Hurst said.

The School Committee did not request the funds for the ECOS program, said Hurst. His wife, Denise Hurst, is on the School Committee.

“It leads me to believe something maybe is happening behind the scenes that the public is not aware of,” Hurst said. “And it might be an issue that the Cannabis Control Commission ought to look into.”