COSTA MESA In its first meeting of the new year, the City Council unanimously approved a temporary ordinance banning marijuana uses allowed under Proposition 64 to give the city time to come up with ways to implement the voter-approved law.

At issue is if the city should permit the cultivation of the more than six marijuana plants allowed, outdoor cultivation and if recreational marijuana businesses should be allowed in the city, and if so, where.

The council voted 5-0 with no discussion to enact the 45-day ban so staff can research options on how to execute the law to bring back to the council.

Staff will most likely ask the council at its Feb. 7 meeting to extend the ordinance to evaluate options, said Interim Director of Development Services Jay Trevino.

The ordinance will not effect Measure X, which was recently passed by voters and allows businesses to test, research, process, manufacture and develop medical marijuana products. Retail sales are not allowed.

San Clemente, Santa Ana and Aliso Viejo recently enacted temporary bans on outdoor marijuana growing.

From CEO to City Manager

In a 3-2 vote, the council voted to change the title of Chief Executive Officer Tom Hatch back to city manager. Council members Jim Righeimer and Allan Mansoor dissented.

The item has to go through a second reading to become official, and the change will become effective 30 days after. The change is expected to cost less than $5,000 for replacing signage and other expenses.

The title of the city’s top employee was changed in 2011 to bring it more in line with the previous council majority’s philosophy of running the city like a business. Mayor Katrina Foley said she initiated the change to better reflect what a person in Hatch’s position does.

Righeimer said lots of government agencies use the term CEO, and the switch to city manager had more to do with transparency.

“The idea that it has to do with a profit-making business to not a profit-making business had nothing to do with it,” he said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com