10/27/2008 Council Minutes (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

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• CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 27, 2008 APPROVED 89 90 Community Development Director Grochala discussed the economic development 91 element of the Plan, including goals. The area within the city that are planned or 92 involved in economic development were identified. Job growth has been ahead of 93 schedule and projections for the future are included in the Plan. Office, retail and 94 industrial space needs are projected also. Economic development strategies for the 95 coming years are included in the Plan and were reviewed. 96 A member suggested that the Plan should include some control over growth management 97 and staff has said there will be control, however, that isn't evident at this point. Where is 98 the ability to say "no" when that is appropriate? 99 Staff reviewed the growth management section. There was recollection of a past 100 challenge from a council member not to change the Plan unless it was an improvement 101 and staff suggested that has been the goal. With that in mind, they have tried to bring the 102 best of the past (147 limit) to be available on day one of this Plan. Staff explained that it 103 would be difficult to explain how the Plan is different (or better) than the 147 because 104 there are many elements past that in the form of policy, process and planning. There are 105 ordinance changes (such as the 147 limit) that will happen (and can be worked on now) 106 that put controls in place based on the Plan. 107 A member suggested that the concern is probably more about quality than pace and that • 108 high density and affordability could impact quality. Staff suggested again that controls 109 can be built into city regulations and incentive programs can provide some control also. 110 Council comments on the Plan included basic confidence that the Plan is workable with 111 the understanding that the council will have the ability to amend the Plan when that is 112 necessary in the future. A compliment on the process that included ample input from the 113 community, an understanding that some metro requirements are not negotiable, and that a 114 stereotype associated with affordability is not appropriate. A comment of support for the 115 philosophy of the Plan because it does well to represent the ideas that came forward 116 through the visioning process. A comment that an improved plan would be better 117 because this Plan doesn't identify how the important areas of pace, quality and density 118 will be dealt with. Another comment on the quality of the process that brought the Plan 119 forward; also that it is a good idea to base the Plan on what the market brings and include 120 the resource management element but there is an issue with items that are dictated but not 121 driven by the market. 122 It was suggested that, for the next meeting, council members should bring detailed 123 questions (or send them to staff ahead of the meeting). 124 The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. 125 126 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on 127 November 24, 2008. 128 3