Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Senior Planner Anderson shared that ACE had originally proposed an increase for the last contract; <br />however, after discussions, they did propose a flat fee. <br /> <br />The consensus of the Council was to direct Staff to negotiate a contract for recycling services with <br />ACE Solid Waste. <br /> <br />2.02: Variance Appeals <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson reviewed the Staff report concerning the process of variance appeals. <br />He shared that there will be a variance appeal at the next two Council meetings. <br /> <br />City Attorney Knaak shared that the Planning Commission has been given decision-making <br />authority over variances, which means that the Council no longer has to review the Planning <br />Commission's recommendations for these variances and would only see a request if it goes through <br />the appeals process. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley suggested that they change the process to not give the Planning Commission <br />final authority to approve variances, and their recommendations would be placed on the Consent <br />Agenda or regular Agenda for the Council to vote on. <br /> <br />Councilmember Stewart asked if the Planning Commission has always had final authority over <br />variances. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Anderson explained that the Planning Commission has always had the authority <br />for variances. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht shared that he had a resident who reached out to him with concerns that <br />an unelected Commission was making these decisions. He noted that he respects the Planning <br />Commission and understands that they play an important role; however, he likes the idea of them <br />giving a recommendation to Council to make the final vote as the elected body. <br /> <br />Councilmember Peters agreed. <br /> <br />City Attorney Knaak noted that when these items would come forward to the Council for final <br />approval, no supplemental information could be used in this consideration. <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher asked what other cities in the area are doing to approve these variances. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson shared that Staff can research this and put together a City Code <br />amendment to change this process. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman noted that the practical difficulties outlined for a variance are all subjective. He <br />said the Planning Commission could believe the practical difficulties to be not present, and the <br />Council could believe them to be different. He asked if this would be allowed through the appeals <br />process. <br />City Council Work Session / September 23, 2025 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br />