ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

SPECIAL MEETING

FEBRUARY 8, 2007

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER – Fields called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street.

Fields introduced David Stalheim, Community Development Director.

OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

PRESENTATION by David Stalheim

Stalheim gave a PowerPoint presentation (attached to the minutes), reporting his observations of the planning process in Ashland.  Discussion by the Commissioners followed with agreement on Stalheim’s five key recommendations.  The Commissioners prioritized the items from the short-term “mud bucket.”

[00:44:00]  DISCUSSION POINTS AND COMMENTS

1.            Materials need to be sent out in well in advance of the meeting. 

2.            Polarizing groups/issues – Bring developers and residents together.  Bring newcomers and old-timers together.  How?  Through planning. 

3.            Planning Commission is always in emergency mode.  Looking forward to making timelines and following through.

4.            How much time will be expected of the Commissioners?

After determining what the Commission wishes to accomplish, Stalheim wants to work with staff on a cohesive work plan.  What are out outcomes and what process will we use to get there?  He mentioned the Disappearing Task Force (forming committees that meet and finish their appointed task and then go away rather than going on and on forever).

5.            Need a vision before we look at the Comprehensive Plan. 

6.            Shift from an addiction to process to an addiction to outcomes.

7.            Planning study sessions in advance.

8.            Key to efficiencies is good preparation. 

9.            Conduct at meetings.

10.          Excitement/concern about ambitiousness of plans but where to find time to meet our goals.

11.          Planning Commission needs structure.       

12.          What is the Commission’s mission?

Stalheim reminded the Commission that Commissioner Dotterrer has been working on clarifying roles and responsibilities and his work will be coming before the Commission at the February Study Session. 

PUBLIC INPUT

PHILIP LANG, 758 B Street, discussed the importance of balancing competing interests (policy interests vs. development issues and values in theory and values in practice). 

AARON BENJAMIN, 740 Emigrant Creek Road, said we are lacking a vision of where we are going.  He believes we are missing a closer analysis between the economic/industrial development that flows into the question of re-zoning and annexing into implementation to guide economic/industrial development.  This relates to the question of infill vs. expansion.

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

Susan Yates, Executive Secretary