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PL 12/06/1989 - 30713� CITY OF FRIDLEY PLANNIN(�1 COMMI88ION MEETING, DECEMHER 6, 1989 ti��NwMN�►���Nwwr�.►�NMNNw�►N�►NNMMMw��.►.►.►�►��N�MNwMMMMM�NNNMNwN�Y���M��Y CALL TO ORDER• Chairperson Betzold called the December 6, 1989, Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL• Members Present: Don Betzold, Dean Saba, Sue Sherek, Paul Dahlberg Members Absent: Dave Kondrick, Alex Barna Others Present: Barbara Dacy, Planning Coordinator APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 8, 1989. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to approve the November 8, 1989, Planning Commission minutes as written. ^ IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON BETZOLD DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. 1. UPDATE ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS: Ms. Dacy stated that at the November 14, 1989, City Council Conference meeting, the Council agreed in concept to the necessity to update the Comprehensive Plan and the general process. But, the Council expressed some of the same concerns they had in the early 80's, and that is the amount of requirements and policies the Metropolitan Council will impose and how those will conflict with local policy. Ms. Dacy stated staff was directed to make a list of those issues, but the primary emphasis the Metropolitan Council is making right now is what the City is doing in the Transportation Chapter and the Waste Water Management Chapter, because the Metropolitan Council has amended its plans for those two issues. Ms. Dacy stated Council also felt it was very important to reverse the process. Instead of having the drafts, which would include the goals and policies, reviewed by the Planning Commission first, they want those to go to the Council first. The Council wants to be aware of the types of information staff is making available to the �� Commission and what is going to be proposed. �� n � PLANNINa COMMISBION MEETING. DECEMBER 6, 1989 PAGE 2 Ms. Dacy stated making to this outlines of the chapter. she told the Council that there has been no policy date, and that staff has just been preparing types of information that would be included in each Mr. Dahlberg stated, that intending no disrespect to the Council, he was a little concerned about reversing the process. The Planning Commission acts as a planning commission body--in a review and recommendation role, rather than in a reactive role. In fact, they would be acting in a reactive role if the process is reversed. Maybe it is not a priority issue from the standpoint of the Council, but the Planning Commission should still have the ability to make recommendations and just take positions relative to certain planning issues that may have relevance. He is very concerned that they then become an ineffective commission. Mr. Dahlberg stated maybe the Council can be made aware of the issues the Planning Commission would be dealing with and the Council could make their position known to the Commission. The Commission can then use that information as a resource in their discussions and recommendations. He would be concerned that it is going to be a situation where the Council tells the Commission to only deal with certain things. Mr. Dahlberg stated that Ms. Dacy had included some information she had received from the American Planning Institute Conference she attended on November 9, 1989. One of the handouts she received was "Fourteen Ways to Build a Better Commission." Mr. Dahlberg stated that item #7 stated: ��Meet periodically with your City Council or County Board to exchange ideas and to assess your mutual objectives." He stated this seems to be a more valuable, more productive, and more positive way to deal with issues than for a City Council to tell a Commission to only deal with certain issues and then come back with a recommendation. Mr. Betzold stated Mr. Dahlberg is right. The Planning Commission has never really had meetings with the City Council, and he felt the Council should meet regularly with the Planning Commission. He is not opposed to the Council knowing in advance what the Commission is going to be reviewing and discussing. However, he is very concerned about a situation where the Council wants to see the drafts first and then send their opinions to the Planning Commission. Those opinions could very well affect the Planning Commission's review and recommendations. He did not want to see the Planning Commission rubberstamping something already decided by the Council. He wanted the Planning Commission to be able to give the Council their full input and thoughts on any issue. It is certainly the Council's prerogative to see everything before it comes to Planning Commission, but he did not think it was a good policy to do that. PLANNING CONIIriI88ION MEETINa� D�CEMBER 6, 1989 PAGE 3 !"'1 Mr. Dahlberg stated this has got to be more a complimentary situation with the Planning Commission than an adversary situation. There is no need for the Planning Commission or any other commission within the City to have an adversarial role with the City Council. If the Council is suggesting that they direct the Planning Commission to only deal with certain issues, then, in his opinion, that is not productive. Ms. Sherek stated she also agreed with Mr. Dahlberg. She has always felt that the function of the Planning Commission is to make recommendations to the City Council and not vice versa. Mr. Saba stated this could also limit the creativity of the Planning Commission body. Mr. Betzold stated that if the Council's objective is to avoid controversy, then he did not think that was all good. Disagreements and disputes along the way make for better discussions and better policies. Mr. Betzold again stated he did not mind if the Council wants to be briefed and advised of issues that are to come before the Planning Commission, but he is very uncomfortable with the thought that they would require staff to send draft proposals and /'� information to the Council before the Planning Commission. The Commissioners agreed. Ms. Dacy stated the Human Resources Commission has requested that they look at a number of chapters (Transportation, Housing, Land Use, Human Resources) for input. In view of a process, it would be good that the Human Resources Commission and Parks & Recreation Commission review chapters prior to the chapters going to the Planning Commission. Ms. Sherek stated she had some concerns regarding Metropolitan Council, and that was that the City not get one-third to one-half way through the Comprehensive Plan process, and then have to backtrack because of Metropolitan Council requirements. Ms. Dacy stated that, as they prepare the drafts, City staff could work informally with Metropolitan Council staff to avoid any back- tracking. Mr. Saba stated he thought the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission should be involved in the following chapters: Environmental Resources, Land Use, Transportation, Parks and Open Space, Solid Waste. Mr. Saba stated he really appreciated the information and data ^ supplied by staff. They have done a good job. � PLANNING COI�IIKI88ION MEETING. DECEMHER 6, 1989 PAGE 4 2. UPDATE ON SYSTEMATIC CODE ENFORCEMENT: Ms. Dacy stated that at the November 14, 1989, Council Conference meeting, the Council agreed to further consider systematic code enforcement provided no additional staff is required and certain issues are clarified. Mr. Barg, Code Enforcement Officer, is to come back to the Council in January with answers to the following questions: l. �+ihat types of violations have been a problem in the past? 2. Tahat codes are to be targeted in this policy? 3. Are changes necessary to make these codes clear, efficient, and fully enforceable? 4. What is the planned inspection schedule? 5. 6Jhat are the other "nuts and bolts" of the policy? Mr. Saba stated it might be a good idea to highlight some of the real code enforcement problems in the City in a future newsletter, i.e., junk cars, outside storage, etc., so people are made aware � that these are code violations. Ms. Sherek agreed. That should really go in the next newsletter before the initial code enforcement program begins early next year. Mr. Dahlberg stated the major violations could also be listed and the actual code language for each violations. Ms. Sherek stated that with code enforcement, staff should keep in mind that a lot of the worst offenders are not residential. 3. NEW COMMISSION MEMBER ORIENTATION HANDBOOK• Ms. Dacy stated this was an idea which originated from the Human Resources Commission. That Commission directed staff to assist them in preparing an orientation handbook for the Commission. In further discussions, the Commission decided an orientation handbook would be useful for all of the commissions. Ms. Dacy stated the proposal is that staff would create an orientation handbook that would have two parts. The first part would contain reference materials and information regarding elected representatives and the City organization. The second part would contain items specifically relating to a particular commission. ^ Ms. Dacy stated once a commission member has been appointed by the City Council, a personal meeting will be scheduled at the Municipal PLANNING COMMIBSION MEETING. DECEMHER 6. 1989 PAGE 5 � Center with the new appointee, the chairperson of the commission, possibly the Mayor, and staff liaison. Mr. Betzold suggested that new Commission members be invited to attend a Planning Commission meeting. That would also help them get acquainted with the commission process and structure. The Planning Commission members were in agreement with the concept and approach for the commission member orientation handbook and confirmed the following 12 items specifically related to the Planning Commission: 1. Commission's role 2. State Statutes, enabling legislation 3. Basic land use definitions 4. Application flow chart - blanks for meeting dates, list of subrequirement applications, ordinances 5. Copy of applications 6. Scheduled meetings � 7. APA citizen's guide to commissions 8. Zoning map 9. Zoning ordinance 10. Subdivision ordinance 11. Sign ordinance 12. LRT information 4. REPORT ON AMERICAN PLANNING INSTITUTE CONFERENCE: Ms. Dacy stated that she had included the handout, "Fourteen Ways to Build a Better Commission" for the Commission's information. Ms. Dacy referred to #11: "Tour about as a commission to see what others are doing.�� Mr. Betzold stated he would like to see the Commission do that once in awhile. ^ Mr. Dahlberg stated that earlier he had referred to #7: "To meet periodically with your City Council or County Board to exchange ideas and to assess your mutual obj ectives .�� He stated # 12 was PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING. DECEMHER 6. 1989 PAGE 6 �� related to that also: "Appoint a commission representative to appear before the elected body when it is necessary to explain or sell an action. Don't expect staff to do your job." Mr. Betzold stated that when there is a specific item going to the Council, maybe it would be appropriate for staff to invite the chairperson or commission to the Council meeting. Mr. Dahlberg stated the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission has asked to be informed by staff when there is an issue on solid waste or recycling on the Council agenda. It seems only fair to inform either the Planning Commission body or a separate commission so they can be at the Council meeting to answer questions or just to observe. Ms. Sherek stated that when there is an item that a staff person knows has been under serious discussion or has been controversial at the commission level, maybe that staff person should either flag the item on the Council agenda and send it to the chairperson or all the chairperson. Many times, the chairperson or commission does not even know when a certain item will be on the Council agenda. If the chairperson cannot attend, maybe another member of the commission would be willing to be the spokesperson. � Ms. Dacy stated that in the past, the Planning Commission has done an annual workplan, and she was going to present that workplan at the January meeting. She will incorporate into the workplan the items in which the Planning Commission has expressed an interest (items 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 12 of the "Fourteen Ways to Build a Better Commission"). Mr. Saba stated he would like to include item 10 also: "Attend some short courses on new planning techniques or the latest in land use law, and expect your staff to do the same.�� He stated the Commission doesn't necessarily have to attend courses, but whenever staff attends a planning seminar, maybe staff can spend 10-15 minutes at a Commission meeting updating the Commission on the key issues discussed at that seminar. Mr. Dahlberg agreed. He stated Commission members also have the option to attend planning seminars whenever possible. 5. RECEIVE OCTOBER 17 1989 JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL OUALITY COMMISSION AND ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to receive the October 17, 1989, Joint Environmental Quality Commission and Energy Commission minutes. IIPON A VOICE DOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPER80N BETZOLD DECLARED THE ^ MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. PLANNIN(3_COMMI88ION MEETIATG. DECEMHER 6. 1989 PAGB 7 � 6. RECEIVE NOVEMBER 2, 1989, HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Saba, to receive the November 2, 1989, Human Resources Commission minutes. Mr. Betzold stated Ms. Sherek had made a very valid point in questioning the Council's priorities that public funding be used to help finance commercial development rather than senior housing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERBON BETZOLD DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBLY. 7. OTIiER BUSINESS: Mr. Betzold stated he had attended the public informational meeting on LRT held on November 29, 1989, at 7:00 p.m. at Murzyn Hall in Columbia Heights. Jock Robertson, Steve Billings, and Ed Fitzpatrick also attended the meeting. About 250 people attended the meeting. He stated Anoka County Commissioner Paul McCarron was in charge of leading the meeting, and he did a very good job. Mr. Betzold stated there were some problems in the presentation by BRW. A film was shown which was too long and boring. He stated they did not do a very good job of explaining the "why" of LRT. � That was kind of skimmed over, and the people were more interested in what it is going to cost. n Mr. Betzold stated he believed a lot of people left the meeting thinking that the LRT is going to go down both University and Central Avenue, because the information that it was to be one or the other was unclear. He also believed some people left the meeting a little confused. Ms. Sherek stated she has talked to some people who attended the meeting who felt there were some points raised at the public meeting that were not addressed. One point was the closing of some intersections for the LRT and that people will have to cross at limited intersections. Mr. Betzold stated he did feel, however, that the public meeting was a worthwhile endeavor. The City definitely needs to be involved in the process and have a public meeting; however, the meeting should be held in a location separate from the Municipal Center. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Ms. Sherek, meeting. IIpon a voice declared the December a8journed at 9s20 p.m. seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to adjourn the vote, all vot3nq aye, Chairperson Betzold 6, 1989, Planninq commiseion meetinq �„� PLANNINa COMMISSION ME$TINa DECEMBER 6, 1989 PAGE 8 Res ectfully sub itted, Ly e Saba Recording Secretary � �