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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 03, 2013 Page 9 sion and review. At the request of Mayor Roe, Mr. Trudgeon suggested that the discussion be free-form including a broader policy discussion on how land use decisions are made and at what level. General Discussion/Developers Open House Councilmember McGehee initiated discussions by seeking the City Council to have more of a role in land use decisions, while remaining cognizant of the 60- day review period. Councilmember McGehee offered, as an example, implement- ing an open house prior to the 60-day clock being initiated. Mr. Trudgeon concurred, advising that would be staff's suggestion to incorporate as part of the subdivision application process, referencing the current practice for some land use cases, advising that the application process required that be done before the permit was accepted at the staff level, and starting the 60-day review period according to State Statute, and as a checklist item for the application itself. Mayor Roe recognized that current policy for certain applications, and suggested the subdivision application process parallel that as well. Councilmember McGehee referenced the issues that came up with the most recent preliminary plat review (Josephine Heights), and legitimate concerns raised by residents about tree preservation and how that was monitored/enforced; and opined that the developer had been unwilling to grant a two-week delay to address those concerns by meeting with residents. Councilmember McGehee opined that if there was an obvious area of great aggravation within the community on a po- tential project or about a specific aspect; there was currently no way to stop the clock if the City didn't own the land; and supported something in the application process to provide for negotiation when there was a serious issue among constitu- ents or residents around the area with the developer's plans. Councilmember McGehee suggested a way to get those groups together to find a more acceptable solution before the clock started running. Mr. Trudgeon questioned if there was anything under State Statutes that would help mediate those types of situations. City Planner Thomas Paschke concurred, noting that if a developer/applicant met the requirements of City Ordinance and State Statute, it put staff in a difficult po- sition. Mayor Roe suggested that one solution would be to require an open house and identify significant issues, and have the application process address those issues, whether resolved to everyone's satisfaction or not, but at least to demonstrate that the issues were brought forward and an attempt made to work together.