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Regular Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, July 11, 2012 <br />Page 16 <br />Mart as Target’s largest competitor is zoned Community Business. Personally, Member <br />773 <br />Strohmeier opined that he connected them both as a Regional Businesses. <br />774 <br />Member Strohmeier opined that he saw zoning as the key issue; and while the numerous uses <br />775 <br />could be discussed, based on the zoning, he thought the appellants provided good examples to <br />776 <br />overturn staff’s administrative determination. <br />777 <br />Member Lester <br />778 <br />Member Lester concurred with Member Boguszewski’s comments, and advised he would not <br />779 <br />reiterate them, given the efficient summary provided. <br />780 <br />Member Lester opined that his biggest point was with the appeals, and while bringing out some <br />781 <br />good points, noted that it was the charge of the Planning Commission to remove opinion and look <br />782 <br />at the facts. Specific to the appeals, and what had been brought forward related to whether or not <br />783 <br />the use violates the zoning ordinance, Member Lester opined that this needed to be the deciding <br />784 <br />factor, not who the developer was, but the use itself. <br />785 <br />Member Lester advised that his position remained as it had from the beginning, that staff’s <br />786 <br />analysis was accurate, and based on his personal research and public testimony, his findings <br />787 <br />were no different than those findings previously presented. <br />788 <br />Member Cunningham <br />789 <br />Member Cunningham, from a procedural point, referenced the letter from the City Attorney’s Office <br />790 <br />provided as a bench handout out tonight, and addressing any potential conflicts of interest or <br />791 <br />perceptions thereof. For clarification, Member Cunningham opined that she believed that legal <br />792 <br />opinion requested by staff had been directed at her. <br />793 <br />Member Cunningham advised that, prior to her service as a Planning Commissioner, but upon <br />794 <br />hearing of a Wal-Mart in Roseville, her husband was extremely opposed to the idea and sent a <br />795 <br />letter to that affect stating his opposition. Member Cunningham noted that her name had been <br />796 <br />included on that letter as well. Since that original letter, and her subsequent appointment as a <br />797 <br />Planning Commissioner, Member Cunningham noted that she had taken an Oath to abide by all of <br />798 <br />the good faith standards and make decisions for the best of Roseville, not her personal <br />799 <br />preferences. As part of that disclosure, and meaning no offense to SWARN, Member Cunningham <br />800 <br />expressed her confusion, as well as that of her husband, in his listing as a founding member of <br />801 <br />SWARN. Member Cunningham advised that he was unaware of that status, and had never <br />802 <br />actually attended a SWARN meeting or taken an active role with the group, or even met with <br />803 <br />anyone associated with SWARN, including Mr. Grefenberg. <br />804 <br />Member Cunningham advised that she had also consulted with her personal attorney, and had <br />805 <br />been offered a different opinion than that of the City Attorney in the bench handout, indicating that <br />806 <br />her personal attorney did not see any conflict of interest. However, in the interest of full disclosure, <br />807 <br />Member Cunningham brought the matter to the attention of the Commission for their <br />808 <br />determination; and would respect the decision of the body as to whether she should recuse herself <br />809 <br />or not. <br />810 <br />Member Cunningham advised that she took her role seriously in serving the citizens of Roseville <br />811 <br />and her decision to do so objectively; and admitted that she sometimes could be found shopping <br />812 <br />at a Wal-Mart! <br />813 <br />Member Boguszewski advised that his interpretation of the City Attorney’s opinion didn’t seem to <br />814 <br />indicate a conflict of interest, just noting that, upon such disclosure, the body may determine <br />815 <br />recusal of a member may be appropriate. <br />816 <br />Chair Boerigter advised that, after his consultations with staff, and the disclosure offered by <br />817 <br />Member Cunningham, from his perspective, it was up to Member Cunningham whether or not she <br />818 <br />wished to recuse herself. Chair Boerigter noted that the City Attorney offered his opinion based on <br />819 <br />the apparent facts before him at that time; and Member Cunningham’s disclosure as to whether <br />820 <br />she has any relationship to SWARM had clarified any misconception in his mind. <br />821 <br /> <br />