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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, February 12, 2024 <br /> Page 16 <br /> which is in the City Zoning Code. There are specific duties and functions and <br /> processes related to the Planning Commission outlined there so he made a reference <br /> to that specific Code. Item C stays largely the same with minor changes and he <br /> added item D, which is in other Commissions codes <br /> Councilmember Etten indicated he would generally support this. Both members of <br /> this subcommittee had taken a big circle around the Comprehensive Plan part of <br /> the Planning Commission Code, and he wondered what it was doing in there. He <br /> thought it got after what the subcommittee was doing. This is what he thought <br /> needed to happen to make it fit in the other Commissions' Codes and to clarify <br /> where people will find this important information. <br /> City Attorney Tierney explained the amendments to Chapter 10 in the Zoning Code <br /> will have to go through the Planning Commission but then this amended Chapter <br /> 202 should also refer to that section. <br /> Mayor Roe indicated Item C makes a reference to that. He noted in Title 10 there <br /> is a specific reference to when the Planning Commission and Variance Board meet <br /> so that might need to be removed if it is being addressed in Title 2. <br /> Councilmember Etten explained there is ongoing discussion between City Staff, <br /> himself, and former and current members or other diverse members of the <br /> community about the HRIEC. Some common themes are starting to come up and <br /> become apparent. There is a lot of frustration from former and some current <br /> members about the whole Code and what is going on with the Commission. There <br /> is general frustration with big pieces of that and pointing towards some sort of <br /> evolution of the current format and purpose and trying to think about this in bigger <br /> ways. There is more discussion to have so his thought is to have a bigger discussion <br /> at the March Council Worksession. <br /> Councilmember Schroeder indicated the environment has changed since the <br /> original development of that Commission. She thought the City needed to figure <br /> out how to get people wanting to do meaningful work and also have it be useful for <br /> the City and Council. <br /> Councilmember Strahan asked how the Council would go about offering their own <br /> ideas or suggestions along those lines. She wondered if this was something best <br /> waited until the Council meets with the HRIEC. She had two things. A couple of <br /> years ago, the HRIEC came to the Council and explained they wanted to propose <br /> compensating the members. It would set a City precedent to do that, but the City <br /> is asking people to do a different level of work and the City is having a harder time <br /> with engagement. She understands that Ramsey County and the State of Minnesota <br /> do compensate their Commissioners and they have a lot higher level of engagement. <br /> She thought it should be on the table to entertain that possibility and consider how <br /> it can be a powerful tool. <br />