12-20-21-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — DECEMBER 20, 2021 4 intersection isn't signed appropriately. The County responded that it is signed appropriately according to their policies. Councilmember Holden suggested they contact Nicole Frethem to see if she could help get a sign posted. Councilmember Holmes disagreed. She felt they should follow the sign standards. Councilmember Scott said there is a lot of traffic at that intersections and an awkward pedestrian crossing. He was in favor of improving crosswalk markings and a sign. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen noted that signs make a difference initially, but as they travel the route day after day they tend to get used to the sign and don't pay attention to it. A sign could create a false sense of security for the pedestrian. He recommended a sign to the County but they pushed back because of their standards. Councilmember Holmes suggested striping could be make reflective to help people be more aware. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said they could ask to have the County look at the intersection again to potentially enhance signage, lighting and striping, or possibly the pedestrian signal. Mayor Grant directed staff to draft a letter to Nicole Frethem requesting enhanced pedestrian safety measures at the intersection. D. Planning Commission Onboarding Policy City Planner Jagoe stated that the first resource that the Council looked at was the Zoning Approval and Plan Review Guide, created to assist with the onboarding process of Planning Commissioners. This document started out as a detailed checklist similar to what staff uses to review planning cases and transformed into an informational tool that contained questions Commissioners should ask themselves when reviewing submittal documents and plans. The general consensus of the Council was that the Zoning Approvals and Plan Review Guide would be beneficial as part of the onboarding and as a refresher resource for Commissioners. However, the Council still felt that a checklist document should be created that assists in review of land use applications for completeness. Staff met with the Council Liaison to discuss the checklist content, the idea was to have a one -page document that would supplement the staff report in reviewing whether or not an applicant had provided all of the plan sheets in a complete manner. The staff report would still serve as the primary document for evaluation of specific code provisions and continue to provide a summary evaluation table at the end of the report. This checklist would act as a summary for completeness of application materials. Councilmember Scott said he liked the document and the background it gives to Commissioners. City Planner Jagoe said it was her understanding they would use Attachments A and B when a new Commissioner comes on or for refresher training, and Attachment C would be a way to assist Commissioners in their review of planning cases.