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126 role of the Planning Commission to listen to public opinion and base their decision-making on all the <br />12 7' facts before them,, and available through their research. Commissioner Gottfried opined that it appeared <br />1 28 the process was working. <br />1 � 9 Further discussion included ramifications to staff without codified procedures and lack of ability to <br />1 3o enforce the process. <br />131 Commissioner Doherty opined that it was a perceived lack of trust,, and a text amendment was not going <br />132 to alleviate that lack of trust. Commissioner Doherty questioned whether the lack of trust originated <br />133 from the fact that some people disagreed with the vote; and whether the mistrust was of the process, or <br />I <br />134 was based on several isolated cases (i.e., Twin Lakes; Mueller Property). <br />135 Commissioner Doherty, as well as Commissioner Gottfried, concurred that they had changed their <br />136 minds at the bench based on public input; however, noted that there was a substantial lack of public <br />13 7' input, and at times only a vocal minority. <br />138 Chair Bakeman observed that it had to do with the spirit of compromise and whether you were in <br />139 agreement or disagreement with a decision; and that rewriting City Code would not alleviate that <br />140 situation. Chair Bake man noted that the Commission considered the City as a whole; while people <br />1,41 looked at their individual neighborhood or a specific project, not the overall impact or result. <br />142, Chair Brat eman proposed that, rather than considering a text amendment at this time,, that the <br />143 Commission and staff use 2008 land use cases as a "test" throughout the year to track the development <br />144 process and how it worked. <br />145 Further discussion included informing the Planning Commission of the location and date of the open <br />146 house/informational meetings for projects as outlined in staff report,, Section 5.4; notification area if <br />14 7, beyond 500'; and logistics and legalities for staff in some suggestions addressed by the White Paper. <br />148 Chair Brat eman closed the Public Hearing. <br />149 Mr. Paschke asked that Commissioners reconsider making the process mandatory through codification, <br />1 5o rather than placing staff in the position of creating policy, with no written guidelines, and subject to <br />151 inconsistencies among staff, and to provide defined boundaries and requirements. <br />152, Commissioner Boers ter recognized staffs concerns,, and agreed from the standpoint that if open houses <br />153 were going to be strongly recommended that they be made a requirement of the land use process; <br />154 however, questioned how this would address the White Paper and perceived lack of trust and <br />155 unwillingness to listen to citizen input. Commissioner B Berl gter reiterated his previous comments on the <br />156 need,, if this is codified,, that the logistics, notice recipients and notification area, criteria for notification, <br />15 7' and the entire process be defined in detail. <br />158 Staff and Commissioners further discussed the challenges for staff due to the lack of codification that <br />159 provides a clear and concise direction for which staff can verify and deliver upon. <br />160 Mr. Paschke advised that there was no urgency to the ordinance; and suggested that staff utilize <br />161 tonight's discussion to reframe a draft ordinance proposal for consideration at the March 2008 Planning <br />162, Commission meeting,, for recommendation to the City Council. <br />163 Further discussion included concerns about enforcing such ordinance language, and whether it was <br />164 establishing another potential avenue for project opponents to delay projects; distinguishing between the <br />165 open house and a formal Public Hearing; merit of the open house at the project's initiation, while <br />166 recognizing the existing process and further diminishing the perception that when a case came before the <br />16 7 ' Plannin Commission it was a "done deal-"' eliminating the perception of distrust by providing another <br />9 1 <br />