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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, February 14, 2011 Page 16 Ms. Mix advised that the neighbors thought they could start with another petition for zoning within 500' of the subject properties, and still deal with the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, but that to apply to rezone, it would cost the neighbors $600.00. Member Pust advised that the cost would be just like any other applicant seeking rezoning; and that the City Council had offered to make arrangements for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment process to run parallel with their rezoning application in order to assist their group with the only legal path available to them, but that ultimately it was the neighbors' choice to make. Member Pust opined that she thought the City Council had made the process clear when this was last dis- cussed; and further opined that she knew that City staff was willing to assist them; and that she failed to understand the continuing miscommunication. Ms. Mix opined that she didn't understand that to be a choice for their neighborhood and that she assumed that this process of appeal needed to be completed. Ms. Mix further opined that the Planning Commission had first initiated a discussion for Medium Density Residential (MDR) and that it was important to complete this process that was started under a different set of laws and that the new law or code just went into effect on January 1, 2011. Member Pust clarified that the new code did not change procedural options; and suggested that the neighborhood's representatives sit down with staff to clearly review options. Member McGehee concurred with Member Pust's interpretation of current rules, noting that she had made the motion at the last City Council discussion to move this back to the Planning Com- mission and City Council hoping that she would get majority support to do so, but that did not pursue that path. Member McGehee opined that she got the same impression when three (3) op- tions were before the City Council and only the one that the neighbors had no standing was re- ferred back to the Planning Commission . Member McGehee opined that it was her understand- ing that the Planning Commission was once again willing to reaffirm their compromise for MDR zoning and land use designation and could have referred it back to the City Council under their authority, but were not encouraged to do so or advised to bring the request back before the City Council. Member McGehee noted that the City Council could also initiate a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and a Rezoning Request without the neighbors having to pay $600 or continue to jump through hoops. Community Development Trudgeon agreed with Member McGehee's statement that a request could be initiated by the Planning Commission or the City Council without the City charging it- self a fee; and that the applicants had been encouraged to move forward with their request. Mr. Trudgeon noted that, while the Planning Commission had discussed whether to initiate a Com- prehensive Plan Amendment, there appeared to be no collective interest in doing so through a formal vote. Mr. Trudgeon further clarified that it was not for staff to make such a recommenda- tion in that situation. Member McGehee questioned if the group could return with a petition to initiate the review process.