ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

STUDY SESSION

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 27, 2007

CALL TO ORDER – Chair John Fields called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Ashland Civic Center, 1175 E. Main Street, Ashland, OR.

I.             ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Commission open house will be held March 12, 2007 from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Grove. 

II.            POWERS AND DUTIES

Dotterrer went through the consensus/majority points and positions relating to the Roles and Responsibilities of the Planning Commission.  This is a culmination of several months of meetings both with the Planning Commission and individual meetings Dotterrer has had with Planning Commissioners.  He is soliciting help for writing these up in a final draft ordinance language and then will take it to the Assistant City Attorney for his revisions. It will come back to the Planning Commission again before moving it on to the Council.

Discussion Points

1.            Write an introduction or preamble.

2.            Include environmental stewardship in the next draft (potential #13).

3.            The Comprehensive Plan is the foundation of what the Planning Commission does, therefore, it is developed, maintained and nurtured. 

4             Citizen involvement – Stalheim, Molnar, Harris and Goldman are working on this piece. 

5.            There are many facets within the Commissions’ roles and responsibilities.

6.            Question about inclusion of urban renewal agency.  Stalheim wanted to investigate further.

7.            Be sure the list of items that the Commission is not including as their responsibility goes to the Council so they can see where to the holes are.

8.            Commissioners want to see draft Roles and Responsibilities a week in advance of the meeting.

9.            Are the items on the list consensus or majority?  Some of the items left off the list had a majority, but they are not on the list.  Transportation and Sustainability are Council responsibilities.

10.          The Commission’s core functions make up the list.  It does not mean the Commission won’t be involved in transportation or sustainability or other things. 

11.          Put the housing issue back on the list to discuss at the next meeting. (#11)

12.          Guidance before the next meeting as to the difference between a goal and Roles and Responsibilities. Function vs. goal.

13.          Housing has two components:   a)  affordability (Housing Commission) and b) all zones are suitable for a particular type of housing (Planning Commission).      

III.           PROPOSED CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE

The purpose of this ordinance is to make sure the Commissioners understand the ethics and the ramifications of violating this ordinance.

The Commissioners reviewed the ordinance.  Stalheim made electronic changes as they moved through the ordinance.  This is scheduled to go before the Council on March 6^th. 

IV.           PLANNING COMMISSION RULES

Stalheim said they will only be discussing the rules tonight.  They will not be making a final decision until it comes back to them at the next study session.  Stalheim made electronic changes as they moved through the rules. 

V.            REGIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING UPDATE

Due to lack of time, Kate Jackson will come to the next study session to give the update.

VI.           STUDY SESSION LOOK AHEAD

April 4, 2007 (Special Meeting) – Everyone agreed to this meeting.

The May 22^nd meeting has been changed to Tuesday, May 29^th at the Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.

VII.          RETREAT

The suggested date of May 19^th did not work for everyone.  The Commissioners said they would be available to have the retreat on June 2, 2007.  Stalheim asked them to send him ideas of what they would like to do on that day.

VIII.         ELECTION OF OFFICERS

It was decided to defer the election of officers to the May regular Planning Commission meeting.

IX.           ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

Susan Yates, Executive Secretary