By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council is scheduled to make a landmark decision Monday night whether to allow cannabis-related businesses in the town when recreational marijuana use becomes legal in Illinois on New Year’s Day.

Also on the council’s agenda is whether the town should renew a contract with a Washington D.C. consultant to help secure federal funds for Uptown Normal, and if the community should continue providing tax breaks to north Normal hotel owners who want to change the hotel’s franchise.

Town staffers are urging the council to accept a “conservative” recommendation on marijuana sales adopted by the Normal Planning Commission on a seven to one vote.

Normal’s proposed ordinance forbids recreational users from smoking pot at dispensaries or any of the five other cannabis-related businesses. The Bloomington Planning Commission, on the other hand, favors onsite consumption at dispensaries because people who don’t own their homes might not have a private place to legally smoke marijuana.

Like Bloomington’s proposal, Normal staffers recommend forcing businesses to go through the public hearing process necessary to receive a special use permit.

The council is being asked to approve a one-year consulting contract with Washington-based Cardinal Infrastructure to help the town navigate the federal grant process for Uptown Normal, and also find federal funding for West College Avenue and other capital projects.

The firm would be paid $48,000, and up to $3,000 more for expenses. Staffers credit the company for securing $13 million for the railroad underpass at Uptown Station, even though that falls short of the $16 million total cost. All told, staffers believe with the consultant’s help, the town has received $45.5 million in federal transportation funds for Uptown.

Staffers are also asking the council to allow tax breaks to continue for owners of the hotel and conference center on Traders Circle who want to change the franchise from the Radisson to Holiday Inn. The owners received $10,144 in tax increment financing last year and $72,529 dollars this year, according to the staff’s report. The report said the town has also rebated $158,178 in hotel taxes over a two year period.

The TIF district expires in 2031. The hotel tax rebate runs out in 2024. Staffers said Holiday Inn has a larger customer base, and there’s greater opportunity to draw more special events and activities at the hotel, in addition to increased overnight stays. The owners tell the town they plan about $1 million more in upgrades to the property.

The Normal Town Council meets Monday for a 5:30 p.m. work session, to be followed by its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]