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ORONO JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION <br />& CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />Wednesday, March 2, 2011 <br />5:30 o'clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />  <br />Page 12  <br />  <br />   <br />focus on the goals. <br /> <br />Schwingler commented the last open house on the comprehensive plan, while it allowed people an <br />opportunity to provide input and ask questions, gave the impression that the City had already completed <br />the comprehensive plan and that their input really was not needed. <br /> <br />Franchot commented that a number of the residents in attendance had the impression that the <br />comprehensive plan was already completed. Franchot commented he believes the process outlined by <br />Ben Gozola is a good one. <br /> <br />Gozola indicated Staff feels it is critical to establish a focus group for this process and that the group has <br />two important questions to address: One, who will sit on the focus group and, two, what input role will <br />the focus group be given. Gozola suggested the focus group consist of one or two council members, one <br />or two planning commissioners, a residential lakeshore owner, a residential nonlakeshore/nonshoreland <br />owner, a local builder or architect familiar with Orono, and a commercial/industrial landowner. Gozola <br />indicated he would prefer to keep the focus group relatively small. <br /> <br />Schwingler recommended the members be limited to people who actually reside in the City of Orono. <br />Schwingler pointed out Orono has two very different residential landowners, lakeshore and nonlakeshore, <br />and that perhaps they should have someone from both groups on the focus group. <br /> <br />Bremer noted there are also differences within the nonlakeshore group depending on the size of their lot. <br /> <br />Gozola commented that it would be difficult to accommodate every group and still keep the focus group <br />small. <br /> <br />Rahn stated with that small sampling of volunteers, there could be a strong opinion one way or another by <br />one or two people on the focus group and that a bigger number of people would help to rectify that. <br /> <br />Gozola stated that it may be necessary to go out and approach certain individuals if not enough interest is <br />expressed. <br /> <br />Franchot stated there needs to be an identification of ideas and different perspectives, but that it would be <br />helpful if the members of the focus group have experience and expertise in this area. <br /> <br />Bremer recommended they start with a small group at first and perhaps reach out to other people with <br />expertise in this area. <br /> <br />Curtis asked if it is important that the builder/contractor actually live in Orono. Curtis commented that it <br />is important they have ownership in Orono but that a commercial/industrial landowner may not live in <br />Orono. The builder and contractor is the person Staff typically meets with before coming to the City and <br />that she does not feel the person needs to live in Orono to be on the focus group but should perhaps work <br />within the City and be familiar with the rules and regulations. <br /> <br />Franchot stated that is the reason why it is important the City clearly define what it is they want the focus <br />group to do. If the City wants to have a metering device that helps the process stay on track with Orono <br />values and vision, they should live in Orono. <br />Item #03 - CC Agenda - 03/14/2011 <br />Approval of Joint Planning Commission & City Council <br />Work Session Minutes [Page 12 of 13]