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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 07-01-1997 SpecialMinutes Special Council Meeting July 1, 1997 A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at 7:00 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on July 1, 1997. COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Preus, Wold, Spigner, Bildsoe, Johnson, and Black. ABSENT: None. PLANNING COMMISSION PRESENT: Chairperson Stulberg; Commissioners Berkowitz, Koehnen, Ribbe, and Stein. CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Planning Supervisor Senness, Public Works Director Moore, Public Safety Director Gerdes, and City Clerk Ahrens. Mayor Tierney announced that the purpose of this joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council is to review the results of the May 14 Public Forum on Northwest Plymouth Planning. Community Development Director Hurlburt and Planning Supervisor Senness provided an overview of planning required by the legislature in 1997 and 1998 and reviewed the interactive survey results from May 14 Forum. Councilmember Wold said that many more respondents indicated that some type of development should occur in Northwest Plymouth than favored installation of sanitary sewer. Director Hurlburt said that there may have been the belief that low density development could be done with septic systems. She said that some homes could be built with septic systems, but any type of urban density development in this area would require sewer because the soils cannot handle long-range septic. Commissioner Koehnen said that the variation in the number of survey participants from each designated area could skew the summary results. Councilmember Bildsoe said that the results may also be skewed because not all property owners were represented in the survey. Those who attended may have been more opposed to development than owners not in attendance. There are strong opinions both for and against development of this area. Special Council Meeting July 1, 1997 Page 2 Councilmember Johnson said that there was also more than one survey participant per household in some instances. Commissioner Ribbe expressed concern that the group was questioning the validity of the survey results. He believes that the results are predictable. Owners who live there don't want development. Those who own but don't live there are most likely investors who support development. He doesn't think the survey indicates distorted results. He noted concern that at the beginning of the Public Forum, 78 percent of respondents said they are not getting adequate information about the process. By the end of the meeting, that percentage had increased. Councilmember Black said she spoken with several residents after the meeting. The residents don't feel they have enough information, but don't have suggestions for how the City could improve the situation. Councilmember Preus believed that the survey questions were skewed in subtle ways. There was an underlying message that the area will develop, and the questions were asking when and how much should the area develop. He believes that residents feel they don't have enough information because they believe the City wants to develop the area. The citizen participation at the meeting was good, but individuals came to the meeting hopeful and left frustrated. It was too large a group to be effective. Councilmember Bildsoe said that residents also expected some conclusion from the meeting. He believes that each geographical area needs to be discussed separately because the owners have different motivations with respect to development. The landowners in certain areas were very clear about what they want, and this conflicts with the desires of owners in other areas. He said that more and smaller meetings are needed on the topic. Councilmember Wold agreed that it may be helpful to meet individually with the four planning areas and then decide how to proceed. Chairperson Stulberg did not support breaking up the group. The City invited everyone who may be potentially affected to attend a meeting and participate in a process. He said that dealing individually with the areas could result in transition problems. The City needs to address transition, and make major decisions on issues such as sewers, with an eye on the entire area. Councilmember Black agreed that it may not be wise to divide the group at this point. Discussion with smaller groups of owners can occur at the same time as the entire group continues to meet. Special Council Meeting July 1, 1997 Page 3 Councilmember Bildsoe said the City has never presented as a plausible option that this area will not develop. Councilmember Wold said that perhaps the City needs to first make a decision on the sewer expansion. If there is no sewer extension, then there is no reason to discuss development options. Director Hurlburt said there are development options other than complete development with sewer or no development without sewer. There may be portions of the area which could be served from the existing sewer, and the Elm Creek interceptor will be constructed whether the City wants it or not. The City will have the decision of whether to connect to it. Public Works Director Moore stated that if Plymouth decides not to connect with the Elm Creek sewer, it would be constructed much smaller. Plymouth would have no options for development in the future. He said the entire area must be taken into account when considering infrastructure improvements. Commissioner Koehnen said that the City needs to indicate to residents that a "no build" alternative is a viable option to be considered. Commissioner Berkowitz said that the City is concentrating on the desires of the landowners of Northwest Plymouth, but the other 60,000 residents of the City and the school district will be greatly impacted by the decision made. Information needs to be provided to all residents on the overall impact of development or no development. Community Development Director Hurlburt discussed the decision-making process. She presented draft criteria for evaluation of alternative plans and asked the group to identify the most important factors to be considered. Councilmember Preus questioned why the evaluation criteria would be considered before the development options are considered. Chairman Stulberg said that as a resident of Northwest Plymouth and a member of the Planning Commission, he would like the question answered: "Does the City need to grow?" If the answer is no, then the Council and Planning Commission can honestly go to residents with a possible "no development" option. If the City needs to grow, then there are less alternatives to consider. Manager Johnson said that it may take several months to sort out the issues involved to answer the question "Does the City need to grow?" Special Council Meeting July 1, 1997 Page 4 Councilmember Black said that she would like the planning to consider what uses in surrounding cities abut the Plymouth border, i.e. types of housing, commercial development, etc. Councilmember Preus said that if reality dictates that this area must develop, then the City needs to tell residents that. He said that issue is currently unknown, but he considers a "no development" option a viable alternative. Chairman Stulberg asked whether the State or Federal government could require the City to allow development in this area. Manager Johnson responded that legally this could be done, but there is no precedent for it. Councilmember Bildsoe said that if the City does not actively address whether development should occur and consider the related land use issues, development will seep into the area anyway. He said this area is currently being slowly developed south to north without land use planning. Development has already extended into an area outside of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area. If discussion is held with smaller groups of Northwest Plymouth owners, more information can be obtained. Councilmember Black suggested that individuals may be willing to serve on a committee, but there needs to be tangible goals and a task for the group. Community Development Director Hurlburt asked whether this committee would be advisory to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Wold questioned whether a committee is needed and noted that it will be difficult to appoint members to a committee because of the varying and strong opinions about Northwest Plymouth development. Chairman Stulberg also questioned the wisdom of establishing a committee. He said the planning process and Planning Commission public hearing will provide a forum for input from all interested residents. Discussion was held on the use of a consultant in the process. Councilmember Wold said that he would like clear instruction to the consultants before they begin a process and that they should first interview the councilmembers. Councilmembers Bildsoe and Johnson expressed interest in interviewing the consultants. Director Hurlburt explained that on July 9, the City Council will be asked to authorize application for a local planning assistance grant. On July 23, the Council will consider issuing a request for qualifications for consulting services on the project. A work plan and schedule will be drafted by September. Special Council Meeting July 1, 1997 Page 5 Councilmember Preus suggested that the City should communicate with. residents now to inform them of the upcoming process. Director Hurlburt said that a brief newsletter could be sent every 4 to 6 weeks to provide a status report on the project. Motion was made by Councilmember Spigner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson, to direct staff to communicate to Northwest Plymouth owners via a newsletter and to all Plymouth residents via the Plymouth News that "zero development" will be a fully studied alternative and to provide information on the planning process. Motion carried, seven ayes. The group discussed the draft evaluation criteria, phasing and planning alternatives proposed by Community Development staff. Commissioner Berkowitz said the consultant could revise the criteria, with final approval by the Planning Commission. The group concurred. The group discussed the desired level of City Council involvement throughout the process. Chairman Stulberg said the planning work and recommendation are the responsibility of the Planning Commission. The City Council is responsible for communication with residents and for final action. Councilmember Preus said that it is also the responsibility of the City Council to decide whether a committee should be established. The City Council should closely follow the process through the Planning Commission, paying particular attention to public meetings and attending open forums on the planning process. If Councilmembers feel a need for input during the planning process, another joint meeting with the Planning Commission can be scheduled. He said it is important that the City give the public as much information as possible on this process, and as often as possible. He would like a standard update in the Plymouth News, as well as regular news releases to the Plymouth Sailor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. aune Ahrens City Clerk