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Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, August 04, 2010 <br />Page 15 <br />Commission. Chair Doherty opined that he seemed to be hearing that citizens <br />704 <br />didn’t trust the outcome when the outcome had yet to be determined. <br />705 <br />Member Gottfried noted that, at an open meeting such as this one, there was an <br />706 <br />opportunity to fill the room and make your point; and that it was the job of the <br />707 <br />citizen volunteer Planning Commission to listen. Member Gottfried opined that, if <br />708 <br />government had failed, it was because the public had failed to show up and let <br />709 <br />the government know what they wanted it to do or not to do. <br />710 <br />Mr. Grefenberg opined that the City website and a Public Hearing format may not <br />711 <br />be the most appropriate way to provide comment; and further opined that there <br />712 <br />was no plan that couldn’t be improved upon. <br />713 <br />Member Gottfried opined that this is the public process and that the process was <br />714 <br />available to every citizen of Roseville, and that they could choose to make it <br />715 <br />effective or not, and one way to make it ineffective was to not show up. Member <br />716 <br />Gottfried noted that anyone attending the meeting had the opportunity to step up <br />717 <br />to the microphone to be heard, and assured everyone that they were listened to; <br />718 <br />and that their comments were often reflected in the Commission’s <br />719 <br />recommendations to the City Council. <br />720 <br />Mr. Paschke noted that, not to take away from the concept of an open house, <br />721 <br />staff had gone to extreme measures to provide public notification, made <br />722 <br />repeatedly revised drafts of proposed chapters available on the City website; <br />723 <br />and attempted to make the entire process, as approved by the City Council as <br />724 <br />part of the Consultant contract, as transparent as possible. Mr. Paschke noted <br />725 <br />that the Employment District chapters currently under discussion had been on <br />726 <br />the website for a number of weeks. Mr. Paschke advised that, if there were to <br />727 <br />now be an abrupt disruption to the critical timeline being followed for completion <br />728 <br />of the major portion of this project, it could have negative consequences. Mr. <br />729 <br />Paschke encouraged the public that there was as much to be gained by <br />730 <br />comment by e-mail to staff, the Commission and City Council, as by scheduling <br />731 <br />and/or attending an open house with limited attendance. <br />732 <br />Member Gottfried spoke in support of Chair Doherty’s previous comments related <br />733 <br />to the public hearing process providing an opportunity, for the public record, of <br />734 <br />discussion and to hear comments, concerns, and suggestions related to any item <br />735 <br />before this body. Member Gottfried noted that you didn’t have to agree with what <br />736 <br />was going on, or what you perceived was going on; and noted that some things <br />737 <br />were not et completed vetted out, and that many residents were under the <br />738 <br />impression that this was a “done deal.” However, Member Gottfried suggested <br />739 <br />that, the fact that they were present at a public hearing, was a good indication <br />740 <br />that it was not a “done deal,” ant that this was the purpose of the hearing and <br />741 <br />public comment to have your voice heard. Member Gottfried encouraged <br />742 <br />citizens to take advantage of the multiple opportunities to do so; and that the <br />743 <br />Commission was available to hear those voices. <br />744 <br />Chair Doherty opined that the discussion related to this chapter was at a <br />745 <br />disadvantage since the message and focus coming forth was that it was due to <br />746 <br />the asphalt plant. Chair Doherty noted that he was unaware of the status of the <br />747 <br />asphalt plant, and asked for an update from staff on the plant, rather than to hear <br />748 <br />different rumors and misconstrued perceptions. <br />749 <br />Mr. Grefenberg volunteered that public comments would be heard on the <br />750 <br />proposed asphalt plan regarding the Environmental Assessment Worksheet <br />751 <br />(EAW) before the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) with the deadline <br />752 <br />of August 11, 2010 to get comments to the MPCA on the EAW and the <br />753 <br />application by the asphalt plant for a preliminary emission permit. <br />754 <br /> <br />