2C, 2011 Planning Commission Goals and Work Plan

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Council's meetings, Staff will finalize the priority projects and report to the Planning Commission. - Planning Commission and City Council Training Opportunities As part of the 2011 goals, there has been discussion by the Commission Chair, Councilmember Holmes, and Staff to provide training opportunities to Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners regarding land use planning and the law. The League of MN Cities offers an e-learning land use series as part of their loss control program. The League provides liability insurance to many communities in Minnesota, including Arden Hills. They have found that cities that have Commissioners and Councilmembers who are educated about land use law and make sound rulings are less likely to be sued, or to lose lawsuits when they are filed, than communities where there has not been special training provided. The website-based training is designed to make land use decisions less confusing, and will help cities avoid expensive land use claims and lawsuits. The first course, and the only one currently offered, is called `Land-Use Basics — Grasping the Ground Rules'; the course is offered online, and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Staff will provide additional information via email. Staff s goal would be to have every Planning Commissioner and at least a quorum of the City Council complete the online course. Government Training Services (GTS) is also offering their twice-annual land use planning series throughout the months of March and April. Courses are designed for Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners, and are typically offered in full and half day sessions throughout the Twin Cities. Of the many courses offered, the following are upcoming sessions that would certainly be useful to attend: • Your Role as a Planning Commission Member: Tuesday, March 22; St. Paul; 8:30 am — 12:30 pm • Basics of Planning and Zoning: Thursday, April 7; Bloomington; 9:00 am---4:30 pin There has been discussion that attendance at one of these sessions at least once during each term, as well as participation in the League's e-learning courses, be mandatory in order to serve on the Planning Commission and be able to be considered for a subsequent term. The details about how -- that might work have not yet been determined; however, it is clear that members of the City Council and Staff believe that these are invaluable learning opportunities that Commissioners and Councilmembers should take advantage of. City ofArden Hills City Council and Planning Commission Joint Work Session for February 22, 2011 1 Metro-inet.uslardenhilisUdmtnlCouncilUgendas&Packet lnformation1201112-22-11 WorksessionlPacket Infortnationl02-22-11-PC and CC Joint Work Session-2011 Goals and Project Priorities-Memo.dVage 3 of 3