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RaseviIle City Council - DRAFT Minutes of 2/06/07 Special Meeting Pg S a�` 10 � hearings should be held at the Planning Commission level and the rationale � for time-savings for Council meetings by moving the hearings to the = Planning Commission on land use cases. � � Additional discussion included the Council majority appreciating tlle � advance agenda and �aeket information; determining work load by r Councilmembers in addition to staff; management of agendas to meet � curfews; whether the agendas needed to have fewer business items; and how � to ��d those efficiencies, particularly with land use issues. Discussion � i, ensued regarding the Council's need to focus on long-term issues; Charter l 1 City procedures; clarification between Councilmembers discussing issues or � y positions on a one-to-one basis and avoiding serial Council meetings; l� differing opinions on how much public comment to allow at City Council I� meetings; other options for public comment (i.e,, e-mail, phone, written �� correspondence) and whether it needed to be in the context of a public City �I � Council meeting; and how to structure a subcommittee process. i, �� City Manager Ma�inen noted that the purpose of the Public Hearing at the � 9 Planning Commission level was to reduce time for land use cases at the City �� Council level, by developing a record at the Planning Commission, legally � t noticing meetings with a deadline for receiving public comment — in writing �? or by public testimony. Mr. Malinen advised that this was a normal and �� legal process by government bodies, allowed for a deadline in order to ��G pursue a timely resolution, and provided a respectful public process, as per �� State Statute. Mr. Malinen opined that the Planning Commission was a �� well-trained body who understood land use issues well; and that a repetitive �� process for public testimony that was already a matter of record served no � � one well. �+� ��} City Manager Malinen further noted that standing committees required a �� certain level of staff time for preparation, in addition to the City Council � f ineeting preparation, and �'om his perspective, he encouraged more task �� forces, rather than creation of additional standing committees. Mr. Malinez� �� described the effectiveness of the "three touch" rule: 1) The City Council �� receives a preliminary memo regarding an upcoming issue; 2) Opportunity �[� provided to discuss the issue in Study Session, depending on the item's .}? significance; 3) Followed by action for an up or down vote at a future �� business meeting. Mr.1Vlalinen opined thai this process provided the City _�t� Council with ample opportunity for dialogue on the issue; staff input and