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Commissioner Johnson stated that the Commission needs to have some type of direction. In the <br />situation of the sidewalk/trail ordinance they were given a very narrow scope, if they had been <br />told to develop a comprehensive approach to the sidewalks in Ramsey it would have been <br />handled differently. <br /> <br />Councilmember Connolly stated that she was under the impression that the issue would be <br />presented to the Planning Commission first to determine the definition of a sidewalk and then <br />present the item to the Park Commission. <br /> <br />Commissioner Nixt replied that the Commission is not sure what their direction is from time to <br />time on certain matters. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson stated that another good example of where the Council direction is <br />unclear is the Tower Ordinance. He questioned what the Council is looking for regarding the <br />ordinance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Connolly replied that the tower ordinance will probably require assistance from <br />outside consultants and that both the Council and Planning Commission should work on the <br />issue. <br /> <br />Chairperson Anderson reviewed the discussions that had taken place at the Commission level <br />regarding the tower ordinance. <br /> <br />Mr. Hudson explained that when frustration builds than people begin to theorize. The <br />Commission could feel that the Council does not know what direction they want to take or that <br />the Council knows what they want but keep sending an issue back to the Commission until the <br />Council gets what they want. <br /> <br />Commissioner Nixt replied that if the Council does not know what they want that is okay, but if <br />they do know then they should give that direction to the Commission. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he thinks the Council has done both and that they have <br />been criticized for doing both. <br /> <br />Commissioner Nixt questioned Councilmember Hendriksen as to what he would do to correct the <br />problem. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen replied that at times the Council expects the Commissions creativity <br />to work on an issue. <br /> <br />Mr. Hudson stated that in the business world there is an assumption that there is a right answer, <br />but in many of the city's situations the right answer needs to be created. <br /> <br />City Council/March 20, 2000 <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />