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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, May 11, 2009 Page 5 Boerigter recognized that the final decision would be at the City Council level, but respectfully requested that the City involve the Planning Commission in initial and ongoing dialogue. Mayor Klausing thanked Mr. Boerigter for sharing his research on form-based zoning with the City Council, opining that he found it very interesting. Roundtable discussion among Commissioners and Councilmembers included po- tential hybrid of form-based zoning for the City; how the dialogue was best han- dled between the bodies during the process; research needed .and implications of zoning code revisions; timesaving for the City Council by reviewing deliberations and discussion at the Commission level and review of those minutes; and effi- ciencies of City Council time in accepting recommendations to the City Council on land use cases. Further discussion included ideals or goals versus realities of zoning issues (i.e., urbanism and locating buildings closer to streets; or higher density to meet Met- ropolitan Council mandates); more educational presentations at the Commission level that Councilmembers could attend and/or review via tape; comparisons by the Planning Commission to the Council on options, potential conflicts, and other considerations in various zoning issues, rather than a formal recommendation, but still allowing for the education and dialogue. Additional discussion included how tonight's dialogue could help staff prepare educational components prior to final scoping for the consultant's Request for Proposals (RFP), with 1-2 hours dedicated for that educational component at the Planning Commission level, followed by shaping the RFP to the Planning Com- mission and then forwarded onto the City Council. Discussion regarding perspectives from the Planning Commission and City Coun- cil levels was addressed; along with deference and frustration from both perspec- tives; attempting to balance both to various factors and objectives; and the public hearing process at the Planning Commission level allowing for a better sense of what is realistic and beyond an academic planner. Councilmembers Pust and Johnson opined that they didn't have hours to spend reviewing which type of zoning should be provided or continued in the City, and expressed appreciation for the research and deliberations to be provided at the Planning Commission level and their recommendations proceeding to the City Council. Further discussion included areas proposed for review in the zoning code rewrite (i.e., shoreland ordinances); defining a "complete street" and educational aspects planned for that concept; and the need for more emphasis on bicycle and pedes- trian accesses, including incorporating them into the Park Master Plan process.