CCMIN091995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ms. Dennis replied that she is not opposed to the community looking at the issues. She felt that we need the discussion and the debate, but needs to have it separated from the specifics of the General Plan. She did not want to sacrifice the quality of the plan. Mayor Tarver commented the problem is that something will fill all available time if you allow it. Unless a structure is built for people to operate within, they will not get through in time. Public hearings could have taken place and the survey could have been done. If the process is not finalized and you don't tell people what the expectations are, this will not come back in a timely manner. Ms. Mohr replied the delay was caused by Council asking for the Mirador, Vineyard Avenue and San Francisco property issues to be looked at in depth. Mayor Tarver stated almost another year has been used in this process, after going through all of that process another time. In the consultant's report, he used the same time to complete the draft EIR up to and through the public review period. He had the same schedule as in the staff report. The community has been actively participating in this process. The City has a 1986 award winning General Plan that is not changing much, yet it takes nine months to develop the paperwork and review process to get it finished, after 18 months of the public hearing process. He wanted the process finished, to hear from the community, and to have an election to make the determinations on the issues Council is divided on. Ms. Michelotti asked, when something in a General Plan goes to a vote of the people, does it mean that it takes a vote of the people to change the General Plan in the future? Mr. Roush replied yes, unless you expressly stated otherwise in the measure that went before the voters. Ms. Michelotti questioned the appropriateness in forcing the process to happen before an election. It's put on the ballot so that in case there are proposed changes it will take a vote to get the General Plan changed again. She felt this was tying the hands of future Councils. This General Plan reflects a change in the community's attitudes. Ms. Mohr asked if there were any reason legally that it has to be this election and not the subsequent election. Is there anything that requires it to happen in any timeframe with respect to the approval of the General Plan? Mr. Roush replied that any time Council votes to put an initiative measure before the voters, depending on whether you want it at a general election versus a special election, it could be done. Ms. Dennis stated that using an election to resolve a conflict in the community versus determining whether the community would like the General Plan to be subject to the elective process is a difficult question. 09/19/95 -19-