03-09-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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. MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 23,2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 9. VIDEOTAPING PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS (continued) Minnetonka is approximately 90 percent commercial applications with a few residential variances. McMillan stated she can see videotaping the meetings when a majority of the applications are commercial. McMillan stated she also looked back at 2014 and that the largest number of views was regarding the Lakeview application,which was a unique situation. McMillan stated perhaps on some of the more unique applications the City could film them,such as the Comprehensive Plan update,but that she does not see the need to videotape the meetings given the large amount of residential applications. McMillan stated it is likely some people will feel uncomfortable and that they are not familiar with appearing before the Planning Commission. McMillan stated the second item to consider is the fact that the City Council is elected versus being appointed. McMillan stated one of the reasons why the Council is taped is because they are elected officials and that the videotaping of the meetings gives the residents an opportunity to see how the Council acts. McMillan stated the third consideration is the fact that the Planning Commission really has all of their items as public hearings,with notice being given to the neighbors. McMillan stated in her view it is important for those neighbors to be in attendance at that meeting if they decide they want to say something about the application,which would not be possible if they simply viewed it at home. McMillan stated she would like to keep that public involvement. Printup stated more engagement could occur by videotaping the meetings and that it is a public meeting. Levang stated the Council should also listen to the input from the Planning Commissioners in making this decision. Printup asked if Council Member Levang would change her mind if the majority of the Planning Commissioners would say they were fine with it. Levang stated in her view she has a good sense of it already and that it would not change her mind. Levang indicated she has attended and watched a number of Wayzata meetings to see what is happening in their commercial district but that she is not interested in their residential applications. Levang stated people are more interested in commercial applications and that in her view not a lot of people are interested in individual residential applications. Walsh stated transparency is a key and that people volunteer to be on the Planning Commission. Levang stated videotaping the meetings was not what was agreed to when they accepted the position. Walsh noted the majority of what the Planning Commission is vetting is placed on the Consent Agenda at the City Council. Printup moved,Walsh seconded,to videotape the Planning Commission meetings. Page 15 of 18