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<br />Commissioner Cleveland stated there is not a definitive list included to guide her to follow the <br />vision, like a checklist. She stated the Planning Commission did receive the public comments <br />and discussed them at a W orksession. She stated that while she likes what she sees, as a person <br />who has to make decisions and look at information, she needs something more objective. She <br />asked how the Commission knows they are conducting a forum that is as Ramse~ has <br />envisioned. She asked if it means the Commission's public hearing process no longer has value, <br />noting it is the old fashioned democratic process to have people come forward to the governing <br />body to express their opinions. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer stated the traditional American process, and oldest process, is the Town <br />meeting and that is what the OST process is about. <br /> <br />Assistant Community Development Director Frolik stated the overarching theme will come <br />forward in guidelines and there will be major changes in the Zoning Ordinance. Additional <br />processes will be added to the way development plans are processed. Town meetings can be' <br />incorporated and some issues resolved prior to the public hearing stage. She noted it identifies <br />some ways to engage residents more than done in the past. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland stated she is trying to determine how to use the final report information <br />along with the Comp Plan in making planning decision, but it appears some issues will not apply. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt stated there have been previous discussions about whether the Planning <br />Commission is policy makers or planners. He again suggested the Planning Commission ask the <br />City Council to advise as to how the Planning Commission can best utilize the findings in the <br />report. He noted the statements in the report are broad sweeping; however, the Planning <br />Commission is specific in its considerations. Chairperson Nixt asked staff to request direction <br />from the City Council as to how the Ramsey3 findings should be used by the Planning <br />Commission. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hunt stated he 'was involved with the entire process so the information presented <br />tonight makes sense to him. He stated he supports sending the visioning statement to the City <br />Council and indicating this is direction we want the City to go and for the planners who are <br />preparing the Comp Plan to use as a guideline. Commissioner Hunt stated that most of what is in <br />the final report will not show up until the Comp Plan is more developed. He noted if the Comp <br />Plan consultant is given a vision and guideline to work by, then they can make sure it is <br />implemented and Ramsey will have something by which to measure proposals. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt stated he is sure it was a good process to gather ideas from the community but <br />to take those comments and create recommendations that can be worked into a process still needs <br />to be done. He stated the presentation was overly general so he thinks there could be challenges <br />in working them into a planning process. Chairperson Nixt pointed out that making policy is <br />within the Council's purview, not the Planning Commission's purview. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt extended kudos to Ramsey3 for their work in this process and applying for and <br />receiving a grant from the McKnight Foundation to create an open public process. <br /> <br />Planning Commission / August 7, 2008 <br />Page 9 of 10 <br />