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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-11 WSLAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL /PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING MINUTES APRIL 4, 2011 Mayor Bellows called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Bellows Council Members LaBeau, Little, Rieb and Swecker. Commissioners Adler, Blee, Boerschel, Davis, Drotning, Grenz, Lillehei and Maguire. Also Present: Steven Mielke, City Administrator Daryl Morey, Planning Director Charlene Friedges, City Clerk Mayor Bellows distributed copies of an outline from the City Administrator regarding a proposed development process forum. He explained that staff was asked to develop a process in which the City could learn from those customers that interact with the City on development related business how the City might be able to improve in servicing those customers. The proposed outline suggests a process that includes a mailed survey to developers, contractors and property owners who have pulled a building permit or processed a planning application within the last 2 -3 years. The City would then host an invitation event with an outside facilitator to review and discuss survey results. Council Member Swecker suggested that staff could seek assistance from several developers in composing the survey questions. Council Member LaBeau and Mayor Bellows suggested that the survey questions should also focus on a comparison of Lakeville to other communities. Commissioner Grenz stated he feels the survey should also be mailed to all homeowners who have pulled a building permit. Mr. Mielke stated the Inspections Department issues over 14,000 building permits a year. It was suggested that specific types of residential building permits could be included. Commissioner Drotning pointed out that the role of the Planning Commission is to make recommendations to the City Council that are based on the City's ordinances. He stated that the City is operating under development policies that were put in place as a result of Growth Management Task Force LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL /PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING MINUTES APRIL 4, 2011 Page 2 recommendations in the 1990s. He felt that while soliciting feedback from the development community is a good start, the City must also consider input from Lakeville residents. Council Member Little encouraged the commissioners to provide recommendations to the City Council and staff related to possible ordinance changes when they come across an ordinance that is difficult to enforce. Council Member LaBeau stated she has solicited feedback from some members of the development community. She listed several examples where developers expressed frustration with specific City ordinance requirements, development fees and customer service by City staff. Mr. Mielke explained that the purpose of this forum is to listen to the development community to learn how the City can improve its interaction with them. With respect to development related fees, however, he explained that the City Council would need to change its policies if it wishes to assess more development costs to the taxpayers. Commissioner Davis suggested that City staff should not attend the facilitated event and allow the outside facilitator to provide a summary. However, the event could be videotaped so that the City Council, Planning Commission and staff could view it at a later date. The council members and commissioners agreed that another joint meeting should be held after the development forum is completed to analyze the information and discuss possible policy and process changes. Mayor Bellows adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Charlene Friedges, Ci y Clerk Mark Bellows, Mayor ( r Bart ' vis, Chair