Submission 2025-54 and Submission 2023-97

The project involves commercial cannabis cultivation and retail sales at 353 Webb Rd., Watsonville, California, under the operational framework of Root 1 Research LLC, with Jody Pemberton as the applicant and owner. Cultivation occurs in hoop houses for both nursery and flowering stages, with on-site drying, trimming, and secure storage of products in Trailer #3. Retail sales are conducted through a designated metal farm stand located on the property, allowing the direct sale of cannabis goods—including dried flower, clones, and seeds—that are grown exclusively at the site. Operations run seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., employing three to four full-time staff with additional seasonal hires during harvest periods. The facility includes perimeter fencing, motion-sensor lighting, surveillance cameras, and a bolted safe within a wheeled trailer for securing cannabis and cash, all in compliance with Santa Cruz County’s Best Management and Operational Practices (BMOPs) under Chapter 7.128. The project received a categorical exemption under CEQA (Classes 1, 4, and 11) due to the use of existing agricultural infrastructure with only minor alterations, making it a ministerial approval process governed by local regulatory compliance rather than competitive bidding or federal procurement standards. All activities must align with state and county regulations administered by the Santa Cruz County Cannabis Licensing Office, including adherence to environmental protections for water supply, riparian buffers, waste management, and herbivory prevention. Products are stored and distributed from the site to other licensed entities, though no formal FOB terms, bar-coding systems, or packaging specifications beyond secure trailer storage are detailed. Labeling and traceability standards for strain, potency, or batch information are not explicitly defined in the documentation, and no federal contract clauses, FAR provisions, or federal funding mechanisms apply; payment obligations are limited to local filing fees remitted to the County of Santa Cruz. The application was submitted under Submission 2025-54 and Submission 2023-97, with no solicitation number assigned and no contract value estimated, as the activity is a local license permitting cultivation and retail operations rather than a formal procurement. Oversight is managed by the Cannabis Licensing Office, with Sam LoForti as the Licensing Manager and Lori Welch Bettencourt as the administrative signature authority, and no formal COR, COTR, or PCO roles are designated. The project relies on compliance with county codes and environmental guidelines, with no federal military