CCMIN12152020 - Laserfiche WebLink

MATTERS INITIATED BY COUNCIL In response to Councilmember Balch's inquiries, City Manager Fialho stated the City is running a special recruitment process for Councilmember Balch's vacated seat on the Planning Commission. He stated the deadline can be extended if a proper pool of candidates is not assembled and there is flexibility in timing due to the upcoming holidays. Councilmember Testa requested a joint Planning Commission and City Council workshop to discuss goals for better future alignment. She also requested the Council discuss a policy on community benefit calculations. City Attorney Sodergren confirmed this requires the support of three Councilmembers to send to staff. Councilmember Balch stated it would be prudent to wait until the Planning Commission is reseated as three seats are coming forth. He expressed his confusion over the exact goals of the workshop. Councilmember Narum stated her support for a workshop but requested it needs to have more specific goals. Councilmember Testa relayed her conversations with Planning Commissioners indicating their support of this visionary workshop concept because they do not want to waste their time evaluating proposals the City Council ultimately might reject. Mayor Brown repeated her earlier request to have more passages from the General Plan directly included in staff reports, stating it is a step in the right direction. She expressed her belief this evening's discussion was an isolated incident and unusual event so a workshop could be too much. Councilmember Narum stated her agreement for not needing a workshop on every project. She added the new Commissioners will need some time once seated as an adjustment period before they are ready for this, labeling it an orientation. City Manager Fialho confirmed staff reports can better include General Plan language. He stated his opinion on a workshop by stating the new Commissioners would need to be seated, oriented, and gain an understanding of City roles before an effective discussion can happen. He added waiting until summer or fall will also allow the new Council to identify its collective objectives. Councilmember Testa stated her approval of this notion. Councilmember Balch stated his belief Councilmember Testa's idea of discussing a policy on community benefit calculations would possibly be an item for March priorities so there is time for evaluation and staff research. Councilmember Narum stated her belief this could take some time to compile and be challenging to create a single policy that would be agreeable to the Council and the business community. In response to Councilmember Testa's inquiry, Director of Community Development Clark confirmed her staff was challenged by the appeal's time constraints. She stated from experience with other cities, having community benefit policies can still be challenging because they are only as good as the data feeding them. She expressed challenges for EPS in compiling its report as numbers fluctuated as evidence it can be an art as much as a science. She stated her support for the current flexible policies which allow the City to negotiate the benefits to best fit the project and specific community. She stated this process reminded her of some of the pitfalls created by more rigid policies in this area. In response to City Manager Fialho's inquiry, Mayor Brown confirmed this matter will be added to the inventory of items coming forward and, after the workshop and creation of this plan, there will be a decision of whether to prioritize it. Mayor Brown and Councilmembers Arkin, Balch. and Testa indicated their support. City Council Minutes Page 16 of 17 December 15, 2020