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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, May 13, 2013 <br /> Page 11 <br /> Councilmember Willmus expressed his concern that what Councilmember <br /> McGehee was advocating and what guidance the Commission was seeking were <br /> comparable. In his observation of the statutory authority of the Commission <br /> compared to other citizen advisory commissions to the City Council, Coun- <br /> cilmember Willmus opined that their main focus needed to remain hearing land <br /> use issues. Councilmember Willmus thanked Commissioners for their current <br /> proactive stance in personally visiting sites for land use issues coming before <br /> them, and for using that outreach opportunity with applicants, property owners, <br /> and the broader community. Councilmember Willmus opined that he saw an ex- <br /> panded role for the Commission when the community was going through a vision- <br /> ing process, or when the Comprehensive Plan was being updated; but remained <br /> uncertain of what additional role was being suggested to the Commission based <br /> on this discussion. Councilmember Willmus noted that amount of time volunteer <br /> Commissioners were currently committing to for their research, analysis, site vis- <br /> its, and meeting time, and expressed his concern in overloading the body further. <br /> Councilmember Willmus opined that he was lost in the direction being suggested <br /> by Councilmember McGehee, and questioned whether the Commission did also <br /> not fully understand that direction as well. <br /> Mayor Roe concurred with Councilmember McGehee's suggestion, citing the re- <br /> cent asphalt plant application as an example, noting the initial discomfort of some <br /> of the Planning Commissioners in recommending approval of the application, and <br /> their observation at that time that there may be a broader issue to address in per- <br /> mitted uses. As a first line of defense, and if the Commission was uncomfortable <br /> with a particular application, Mayor Roe suggested it may serve as an indication <br /> that further or more detailed review was needed, or code changes recommended, <br /> or a larger notification area considered as a recommended policy question for the <br /> City Council. However, Mayor Roe noted that obviously, considering a change in <br /> the notification distance was not appropriate in the midst of considering a specific <br /> use application, but anytime the Commission observed a current procedure that <br /> needed attention, it could initiate such a recommendation to the City Council for <br /> their review and taking a closer look. From his perspective, Mayor Roe suggested <br /> that, if the Commission felt there was a problem in the process itself, or if they <br /> were uncomfortable with their specific role, that they should bring it to the City <br /> Council's attention. <br /> Councilmember McGehee opined that, over the whole asphalt plant process, the <br /> lesson learned was that, from a legal standpoint, the City Code needed to specifi- <br /> cally and clearly exclude an undesirable use, putting further burden on the Com- <br /> mission and City Council. If the Commission became aware of similar situations, <br /> Councilmember McGehee opined that they should make it known to the City <br /> Council. <br />