01/26/1987 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPECIAL MEETING January 26, 1987 A special meeting of the Lino Lakes City Council was opened by Mayor Benson at 6:15 PM. Council members present were: Marier, Bisel, Bohjanen, Reinert. City Administrator Randy Schumacher and Clerk - Treasurer Marilyn Anderson were also present. The purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the actions of the Planning and Zoning Board. Mr. Bisel explained that he was very frustrated by the actions of the Planning and Zoning Board. He felt people were coming before the Board and do not get a lot of satisfaction. He questioned if the Council could originate a proposal or must all items for consideration originate at the P & Z level. He referred to the Ross' Liquor application and the proposed Central Business District Code Amendment. Originally, Ross asked for a variance for side yard set back and the P & Z felt this request did not meet the criteria. The attorney suggested a code amendment and the City Planner did not agree with the idea. Mr. Schumacher and the Planner prepared an ordinance establishing a Central Business (CB) District and the P & Z Board did not like this proposal, so they acted on the variance. In the mean time, no action had been taken on the request for site and plan approval. He outlined the actions of the Council on January 12, 1987, and the actions of the P & Z Board on the 14th and 21st. Mr. Bisel felt this was a very poor way to handle this matter. He would like to see better communications and coordination of ideas and better routing of materials. Mr. Reinert asked if the Council was not giving clear enough leadership. Where is the breakdown between Council and P & Z? Mr. Bisel said he feels this organization does not operate as one body but rather two completely separate operations and he feels P & Z resents the idea of Council sending some- thing to them. Mr. Reinert said he had a feeling that in some cases one person on the P & Z Board tries to direct the Board too much. He creates an element of fracturing or aleinates people. Mr. Bisel felt the problem went beyond this. There has not been strong enough leadership and at times a couple of the members are quite intimidating. However, he thought Mr. Cody was showing some leadership. Mayor Benson suggested the Council may have been at fault for not giving clear enough directions to all Boards. He suggested sitting down with each Board and saying "here is where we are going as a Council" and then give them some 1 1