CCP 05-29-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ARDEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: May 24, 2001 TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joe Lynch, City Administrato SUBJECT: Interim Planning Services Background Mike Cronin has served as Planning Consultant to the City of Arden Hills since 2000. He has assisted both Nancy Randall and Jennifer Chaput in providing experience,research, knowledge and information about various topics and assistance with some planning applications. Mr. Cronin was previously employed by the City of Minneapolis for fourteen(14)years as one of their principal planners, and has seen a wide variety of cases. Jennifer's last day will be May 25"', and we will have no one to provide on-site planning services after that date. Mr. Cronin has provided a proposal to the City for planning consultant services in the interim period, until such time that we can hire a new City Planner. Enclosed within is a copy of the estimated time spent one afternoon at City Hall for clients,attendance at two(2)Planning Commission meetings, attendance at one(1) City Council meeting to present and provide the Planning Cases,and availability to City staff for questions by telephone. I anticipate the process taking approximately two(2)months to hire, and have a new person in place as a City Planner. As you can see,the upper end estimate for the number of hours required is 93. This does not take into account if there are any additional cases, or if any of the current application cases are expanded or become more complex(i.e.,Vaughan tower case). We have discussed the fact that the Planning Commission would like to tackle the antenna ordinance next, and that would be a separate proposal to provide those services, and one that I would frankly like to see Mr. Cronin handle. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council hire Mr. Cronin as the Interim Planner with the understanding that he is to be in City Hall one afternoon per week to meet with applicants, customers and clients to provide information to them and review their potential cases; to attend the Planning Commission in June for presentation of the cases reviewed and prepared by Ms. Chaput; attend the Planning Commission in July and prepare and present all the background information on those cases; and to attend the June City Council meeting to present the recommendations of the Planning Commission to the City Council on all pending Planning Cases. Also,to attend the July City Council meeting in support of a City Planner, or to present the cases in lieu of the absence of a City Planner at that time. Also, Mr. Cronin will be available by telephone to answer staff questions and to converse with support staff about any appointments for the following week,verify follow-up and preparatory publication and hearing notices are being done correctly and promptly; and to answer any questions between site visits.