Minutes - Planning Commission - 08/01/1995 - Workshop

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Commissioner Bawden, referencing the Comprehensive Plan process, stated that he views the Comprehensive Plan as a constantly changing document which is "not cast in concrete." Therefore maybe every six months to a year it should be reviewed to see what is occurring in the City. However, this most recent process was a 1 1/2 year effort for something that should have taken maybe a couple of months to accomplish. This wouldn't have occurred if it were a constantly changing and constantly approved plan. "Everyone was at each other's throats, and I don't feel that needed to happen." Commissioner Bawden concluded that whether it should be up to the City Council to review the plan or one of the other commissions, he definitely felt it should not be looked at by two commissions at one time. Commissioner Holland advised that he's been on the Planning Commission for two years, and although he has had the opportunity to meet Councilmember Zimmerman, he has not met the rest of Council. He felt having meetings on a quarterly basis is best, and he stressed following through on this idea by having them on a regular schedule. He also stated an agenda is needed in order to be prepared for discussion at these meetings. Commissioner Hendriksen stated "I have no illusions that the Planning Commission is a recommending body and that the City Council can do whatever they want to do with no obligation to follow our recommendation, but I am very disappointed with the ruse as far as the Economic Development Commission was concerned. When documents were sent to us that were incorrect and we couldn't get corrections made to those, it makes me wonder why we made the honest and sincere effort to get to that point when the outcome was already predetermined. Instead of being open and honest about what was going on, there was this ruse that cost $5-15,000 in consultant time. The process that took place really disappointed me. In retrospect, I don't believe it was what it appeared to be on the surface. We spent a lot of time trying to get proposed what we recommended. Councilmember Beyer admitted that she is ashamed of what happened. Councilmember Zimmerman declared that "the residents of Ramsey expect that we work together. In the next elections coming up, they are not going to elect any of us if we don't work together. We need to set aside personal differences and work together." He felt that the Council received crossover information from the Economic Development Commission and the Planning Commission, and that shouldn't have happened. Councilmember Zimmerman suggested that possibly the City Administrator should sit down and define what the authority of each commission is, because the City needs the commissions to start working together more. Commissioner Deemer specified that his frustration arises when a Staff person doesn't want to happen what we want to happen. They seem to shove it under the carpet or build a case against it. He cited the thoroughfare setback as an example where a recommendation was sent to City Council, and it hasn't gotten there yet because Commissioner Deemer believes City Engineer Jankowski doesn't want it to take place. "He is defending people beyond the City's position. We are looking at the resident's position." Commissioner Deemer added he was sure that this particular item will come to a fruitful end, but it is just one example. Commissioner Holland commented that this meeting is an opportunity to talk to Council directly, and it's good that we address these types of things. Commissioner Deemer remarked that "when this board [Planning Commission] finally agrees on something and act in a public forum, then Staff shouldn't have a contrary recommendation because this is what government is all about. Once we hold the public hearing, listen to everybody, and make a recommendation, their position should be presented to us. Council should be able to make a decision based on what we have heard." City Council-Planning Commission/August 1, 1995 Page 2 of 5