CCMIN070296 - Laserfiche WebLink

Committee and numerous subcommittees. Every City Commission reviewed this document. Now Council has it to act on. It really disturbs her that three out of five voted on an issue and one Councilmember now wants to override that decision and put it to a vote of the people. She believes that is wrong. It is a slap in the face to all those people who worked for three years on this plan. Ms. Dennis does not want to put things on the ballot that are controversial. We should put things on the ballot that people agree with and would like to be consulted about before they are changed. There a couple things in the General Plan that meet that qualification. She has talked to many people who would like to be consulted about some of the broader issues of the General Plan, for instance the Urban Growth Boundary and the housing unit cap. She believes that is a good parameter and there is strong public support. She felt that if Council decides to substantially go beyond the UGB and housing cap, then we need to look at the entire concept for the City. She would be very surprised if the City electorate did not preserve for itself the right to vote on those two issues. She had reservations about putting growth management on the ballot, because it is difficult to get 100% control in the way the people would like to. She believed the people will vote for the two issues and approve them by a large majority. She felt it was part of the job of Council to craft the way certain decisions are made. Mr. Tarvet felt he was being locked out of this process. There is another alternative for him. He has struggled with the growth management issue for a long time. Council refuses to get the answers from the residents. You seem to be saying the issues are too complicated and Council is so smart it knows what should be done. He implored Council to resolve this issue and put it on the ballot. Ms. Michelotti asked if the feedback has been that the public agrees with establishing an urban growth boundary and that it is a permanent line, then why do we have to ask them if they agree; just take action and do it. Ms. Dennis felt there was an additional element, which to protect the line by the vote of the people to prevent change and also to choose the ultimate size of the city. If it is to be changed substantially, the citizens want a direct voice on whether it is okay. Ms. Mohr believed the city-wide surveys indicated the citizens believe the Council is doing the eity's business well. There has not been a referendum for a long time. Some members of Council are saying the voters want to vote on the Urban Growth Boundary and on the population cap, but she felt that other than those who attend the Council meetings, most of the people don't even know the General Plan is being reviewed. If Council really wants to voters to choose the population cap, why do the whole General Plan review? Ms. Michelotti felt that Council has said the urban growth boundary line will be adopted and she believed the citizens would support that, so why are the citizens being asked to verify that? 07/02/96 -29-