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12-19-68 PC Minutes �... F� �e��� REGULAR MEETING OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION December 19 ,1968 A regular meeting of the Goiden Valley Planning Commission was held on Thursday, December 19 ,1968 , at 7 : 30 p .m. at the Golden Valley Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road , Golden Valley , Minnesota . Chairman Senstad presided and the following were present : Vice Chairman Christiansen , Planner Schmid , Village Attorney Skare , Acting Village Manager Murphy and Commissioners Provost , Swedberg, Silverman , Johnston , and Daly. Members Absent : Fran2en & Swanson. Also in attendance were Mayor Teresi and Trustees Stockman and Carlson . 1 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - December 5 , 1968 MOVED by Christiansen , seconded by Swedberg , to approve the minutes as mailed , carried unanimously . 2 . PROPOSED ORDINANCE - GROUP HOMES : The Commission Chairman welcomed to the meeting the following : Charlotte Bearman , Family and Children Service , John Doman , State Dept. of Public Welfare , Mylan Brenk , St. Joseph Home for Boys , and Harland Dalluge , Bar None Ranch . The chairman noted that the Commission had asked these professionals in the field of Social work to attend and to relate their thoughts on group homes to the Commission members . The Planner then told the Commissioners of a telephone conversa= tion he had with Dr. Gisela Konopka of the University of Minnesota and Brother Aquinas Thomas of Manhattan College . He related that Dr. Konopka said t-hat the group home concept was not new in this country and that group homes are usually found in the better neighborhoods . She also said group home parents are the key to a successful group home and should have an appropriate education . She noted that a degree in education or social work would be appropriate but not necessary . In addition , the house parent should have understanding and kindness . Dr . Konopka said the group home must be agency operated because only a social work agency can provide the caliber of professional help necessary . One important factor was that the neighborhood in which the home operates must have an attitude of welcome . She noted the section in the proposed ordinance dealing with the advisory committee and said this should make the problem of neighborhood acceptance easier . Dr . Konopka also suggested that a member of the Childrens ' peer group be placed on the advisory committee . Brother Aquinas Thomas said that all of his experiences dealth with judicated delinquents . They atempted to construct group homes similar to a duplex and placed no more than 7 or 8 adolescents in each home . They hired older parents who had already raised their own family and always attempted to locate in a middle-class , inte- grated neighborhood . If the neighborhood did not accept the group home , they moved to one that would . He said there is a salutory effect upon those in the community when they realize these children would have no place to live if they did not give them a corner of their neighborhood and a taste of what they should aspire to in later life . In closing , he noted that group homes must be a neigh- borhood project and should have a neighborhood committee , composed �_���� Golden Valley Planning Commission Minutes 12-19-68 Page 2 of inembers of the neighborhood , members of the agency and other concerned professionals . Chairman Senstad then asked the Planner to read the proposed Group Home Ordinance for the benefit of those in attendance . After the proposal wa$ read , the Chairman asked for comments . John Doman , State Dept. of Welfare Group Home Consultant , pre- sented a set of recommended State Standards . Ne noted that require- ments for group home parents are that they be over 21 and have a high school diploma with additional experience , as necessary . He noted that a three member board would review house parents for a public agency , but private agencies review their own . Mr . Doman also noted that the State pays rates from $7 .50 a day to $14 .00 a day per child taken into a gorup home . He said the actual rate is determined by the Agency itself and is charged to the State . Mylan_ Brenk , representing Catholic Welfare , told the Commission of his experience with group homes . He ntoed that they fee1 a five day work week is quite demanding when working with ' narcissist children ' . They therefore , make pravisions for relief for the group home super- visors every five days . Mr. Brenk said his organization looks for a neighborhood that is of the type that would not be condusive to juvenille delinquency and on� that the kids could compete in . He stated that the Section in the proposed ordinance dealing with a neighborhood advisory corrmittee is good and that his agency selects a liaison group between group home and neighbors to solve pro- blems which may arise . He also noted that the City of Minneapolis allows group homes only in certain residential zoned areas , such as the R-4 district. Mrs . Bearman noted that the concept of a family operated foster home and an agency operated group home is the same . She also thought the proposed ordinance seemed acceptable and workable . Harland Dalluge from the Volunteers of American Bar None Ranch , noted that group homes are needed ta mmpliment the activities of the Ranch . When boys are ready to be brought back to the Urban en- vironment , the group home is the ideal way , he said . Mr . William Soules , Attorney for the VOA , taok issue with sec- tions af the Ordinance wi�ich limits the numbers of children in an agency operated group home in the Residential Zoning District . He felt that this section of the Ordinance may be unconstitutional . Chairman Senstad then closed discussion and thanked those who spoke before the Commission for their thoughts . The Commission then discussed the proposed ordinance . They asked Attorney Skare what his impressions of the Ordinance were . He said that he felt the Ordinance was a good one and in his judgment was not uncon- stitutional . He said the Village was not banning group homes , but merely setting standards . Commissioner Swedberg discussed the possibility of providing for certification by a professional in the field of social work that no severely disturbed children would reside in a group home . Commissioner Daly suggested that the Ordinance set standards for group home parents . Attorney Skare noted that in order to do this a whole new set of standards would be needed . MOVED by Silverman , seconded by Christiansen , carried unanimously to recommend acceptance of the group home ordinance as written . A r,,. :.. �. �� Golden Valley Planning Commission P�inutes 12-19-68 Page � motion was then made by Swedberg , seconded by Silverman, carried unanimously to send letters of appreciatQOn to those who spoke to the Commission tonight . 3 . VACA7IOiJ OF EASEMENT - BRIDAL PATFI The Planner noted that P+lr. Cleo Kennedy was proposinq to subdivide Outlot B of Tyrol Hills Addition and would like the Bridal Path vacated to alloar him greater freedorn for determining new road patterns and lot lines . Mr. George Loughland , ) �+20 A] pine Pass , was present and expressed his opposition to the proposal . Ne believed a future use may be found for Bridal Path and noted that someday property owners on the north side of this easement might wish to gain access to the rear of their lots by using the Bridal Path . MOVED by Daly , seconded by Christiansen , ur�animously carried , to defer action on this vacation easement until a proposed platting of Outlot B has been submitted . 4 . REMOVAL OF SETBACK RESTRICTION : 2511 Douglas Drive , Mr. Wiliiam Thomas , 2511 Douglas Drive , requrested that the specia] 35 foot setback requirement, plaEed along the north line of his lot be removed . The Planner explained that this 35 foot restriction was placed along the north line at the time a division was approved in January, 1966 . It was hoped that all the property owners in the area would get together and replat . This has never happened . In addition , the Planner noted that the Village has been asking for additional right-of-way for Florida , so as full 50 foot street can be constructed . MOVED by Silverman , seconded by Provost, to recommend removal of the 35 foot requirement on the north side yard so the normal 15 foot setback would apply , This motion carried unanimously , The Commission also ntoed that an additional l0 feet of right-of-way should be obtained from Mr, Thomas for Florida Avenue , but this should not be a condition for the setback change , 5 . REVIEW OF PLANS : Trunk Highway 12 The Commission reviewed plans for the tupgrading of T H 12 from Colorada Avenue West to county Raad 18 . The Commission recommends approval of the Plans , Layout No , 14B, Copy 10 , as ' recommended by the Staff. 6 . GENERAL : NOh1INATING COMMITTEE REPORT The Nominating Committee placed the name of G1enn Christiansen before the Commission for Chairman for the year , 1969 . MOVED by Swedberg , seconded by Daly, carried unanimously, to close nomin- ations for Chairman. The Nominating Cammittee placed the name of Don Franzen before the Gommission for Vice Chairman for the year 1969 , Further nominations from the floor were as follows : Jack Daly, nominated by Mary Johnston ; f�ah�on Swedberg , nominated by f�ort Silverman . MOVE� by Christiansen , seconded by Silverman to close nominations for Vice CF�airman , carried unanimously . .t :a � G V Planning Commission Minutes 12-19-68 Page 4 B . AMENDMENTS TO BY LAWS : MOVED by Christiansen , seconded by Silverman , to approve the following �y-Law a�rendments as proposed at the December 5 ,1968 meeting , carried unanimously . Section 2 . Regular meetings of the commission shall be held at 7 : 30 p .m, on the secand and fourth Monday of each month . Attendance is required at ali meetings . Absence from a third of the regularly scheduled meetings in any one year shall constitute grounds for automatic review of a member ' s appointment by the Council . Section 13 : The Vice President shall act for the President when the President is absent or disabled . All duties of the President' s office or as a member of any committee shall tempararily dev�lve upon the Vice-President. The Vice-President shall serve as a member of the 6oard of Zoning Appeals . The Vice-President shall perform all other duties the Commission may prescribe . There being no further business , the meeting adjourned at 11 :3Q p .m. � � `'�'�'� - `� /�)` � � t^\```) � -� �� ,/ �'�°� . ,�`r l ,!� � �--------_�=-- ----- �. .., ., . �,�� ------- � �� President Senstad Secretary Schmid