01-04-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 4, 2010 APPROVED 82 7. Retirement Incentive Question (from 12/28 meeting)—Acting Administrator 83 Tesch noted that the council has been questioned about the impact of the city's recent L 84 retirement incentive on an employee who voluntarily left city service prior to 85 implementation of the incentive program. Mr. Tesch explained that there was never any 86 intent to make the incentive retroactive and the window of time that the incentive would 87 cover was clearly defined and explained. He is recommending no variation from the 88 established period. 89 The council concurred, recalling that an incentive was not even under discussion during 90 the period in question. 91 8. City Administrator Search—Acting Administrator Tesch reported that the 92 council has indicated that they wish to reengage in the process for hiring a new city 93 administrator. There are five finalists identified and he is recommending that the council 94 look at dates in February to begin the interview process. 95 A council member indicated a preference for a process that allows for more open 96 questioning (not canned questions for each) as well as includes the opportunity to speak 97 with people who have worked with the candidates. 98 4. Home Occupation Ordinance Review—City Planner Bengtson reported that this 99 item is a review of the current home occupation regulations compared to the proposed 100 new regulations. In his written report he has tried to provide lots of comparative 101 information showing how regulations would change. The original goal for staff was to 102 amend the city's regulations in the area of home occupations based on the discovery in 103 the comprehensive plan update process that the regulations need review and perhaps 104 updating. He explained that the regulations are intended to focus on actual home 105 businesses—not day care, conditional uses, etc. The intent is to create a clear three-tiered 106 system that allows those who will not have external evidence of a home business to 107 operate without a permit but also allows those with a unique property(based on size, 108 zoning or frontage on an arterial)to have additional allowances. The discussions of the 109 Planning and Zoning Board on the subject resulted in some additions to the tier system as 110 outlined in the minutes included in the staff report. 111 The council's discussion included review of different circumstances and what tier would 112 apply. They clarified that there is no intent of the council to make home business more 113 difficult. 114 Mr. Bengtson noted that the reorganization of some other regulations in the area of 115 exterior storage and residential parking is included in the ordinance but not included in 116 this report to avoid confusion. 1 1 7 The council requested that staff report further at the next regular work session. 118 3