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02-11-02 PC Minutes Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission February 11, 2002 A regular meeting ofthe Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Conference Room, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Monday, February 11, 2002. Chair Pentel called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Those present were Chair Pentel and Commissioners Eck, Groger, Hoffman, McAleese, Rasmussen and Shaffer. Also present were Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes, City Planner Dan Olson and Recording Secretary Lisa Wittman. I. Approval of Minutes - December 17, 2001 Planning Commission Meeting MOVED by Eck, seconded by Hoffman and motion carried unanimously to approve the December 17, 2001 minutes as submitted. e II. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other Meetings Shaffer discussed the January 22, 2002, Board of Zoning Appeals meeting where the Perkins Restaurant variance application was discussed. He stated that Perkins plans to remodel their existing restaurant instead of rebuilding a new one on the same lot. Hoffman stated that he attended the January 22, 2002, City Council meeting and reported that the Council voted to approve the request from Carlson Brown for rezoning the property at 5411 Circle Down and that they also approved the request from Carousel Automobiles for Preliminary Design Plan Approval of PUD #95 Amendment #1. III. Other Business , e A. Presentation of new Golden Valley Commission Guidelines. Pentel asked about the Planning Commission being subject to the state statute regarding the open meeting law. Grimes clarified that the State requires a planning body but that cities can set up commtssions or committees how they want to. McAleese further clarified that the State requires a planning agency but not necessarily a planning commission. Pentel discussed council members meeting with each other outside of a council meeting. Grimes stated that two council members can get together outside of a council meeting, but if there is more than that, it has to bean open meeting. He stated that the only time the Council can have a closed meeting is if the meeting is regarding personnel or legal matters. Pentel stated that the Planning Commission will elect officers in March and discussed the policy regarding the Council appointing a chair to various committees. She asked if the attendance report should run from March to March or if it should run by the calendar year. Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission February 11, 2002 Page 2 She stated that she would be watching the attendance of the Commissioners and sending out letters if there is a concern regarding attendance. McAleese stated that he thought the attendance reportshould run from March to March. The other Commissioners agreed. Pentel discussed the Planning Commission By-laws and asked the commissioners if they had a copy of the by-laws. Pentel discussed the Code of Ethics Ordinance and stated that paragraph D is exactly the same at paragraph B. Groger stated that paragraph F is also the same as paragraph D and paragraph B. B. Mark Grimes report on City Council retreat - February 9, 2002. e Grimes stated that the. City Council retreat was very productive. He discussed the retreat agenda and stated that Council Member Scott Grayson and Mayor Linda Loomis are rec~mmending that a search firm be hired to help with finding a new City Manager. He told the Commission that the current City Manager would be staying until the end of June 2002. Grimes discussed the budget and stated that there is going to be about $400,000 worth of cuts that must take place this year based on the approved 2002 City Budget. He then discussed some of the proposed cuts. Pentel asked where the biggest part of the budget was allocated. Grimes stated that similar to other cities, it is allocated to the Public Safety Department. He stated that the City is not recommending personnel cuts because they want to keep the services to the residents the same. e Eck asked why no one from the Planning Commission was involved in the visioning process. Grimes stated that the visioning process was done by choosing a random selection of residents. McAleese stated the Planning Commission historically has not been involved in the visioning process. Pentel discussed the Comprehensive Plan and stated that there was very little public input involved when it was last re-written. Grimes stated that he would ask Cheryl Weiler, Communications Coordinator, to come to a planning commission meeting and discuss the visioning process. Grimes discussed the Bassett Creek Watershed Commission and the impact that it has on the budget. Pentel asked if that Commission has taxing authority. Grimes stated that if the Commission were to go away, then the county would take it over and would have taxing authority. c. Review of Planning Commission work completed in 2001 and discussion of 2002 Work Plan. Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission February 11, 2002 Page 3 Grimes distributed the staff 2002 Work Plan and discussed the Planning issues that were on it. He discussed the variance process, a better way to monitor existing conditional use permits and putting the zoning map on the City's website. He discussed the need for on- call daytime fire fighters and stated that Finance Director Don Taylor, will be coming to the Planning Commission soon to discuss the Capital Improvement Program. Eck asked about the status of the overall future planning of the 1-394 Corridor. Grimes stated that Staff has not been directed to do anything regarding the 1-394 corridor planning and that that is something the Planning Commission should talk with the Council about. e Pentel asked about the status of rewriting the P.U.D. Ordinance. Grimes stated that that is also an issue that should be discussed with the Council this year. Pentel asked if Grimes could provide some information or clarification on how density is calculated and what it represents. Grimes stated that the Metropolitan Council has predicted that the population will rise by another one million people by the year 2030 and suggested that the Planning Commissioners read the Metropolitan Council Blueprint. Grimes stated that he would like to see one visit from the Council representative to the Planning Commission this year and have one joint meeting with the Park Board and also suggested a tour of the City for the Planning Commissioners. Pentel stated that she thinks ajoint meeting between the City Council and the Planning Commission would also be a good idea. Rasmussen asked about the status of the Sheriff's site property. Olson stated that issue would need to be revisited by the HRA because there are three new council members who don't have the background information. He stated that Habitat for Humanity has said they need a large subsidy in order to develop the site as affordable housing. e McAleese stated that he thinks the rewriting of the P.U.D. Ordinance is a high priority and that a joint meeting with the Council is needed. Rasmussen asked if there are any proposals or projects in the works. Olson stated that Staff is in the process of rewriting the Telecommunications Ordinance and that it would be coming before the Planning Commission soon. IV. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm.