November 14, 2012 Planning Commission Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER – Hoffman called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL - Mason, Struck, Sippel, Erickson, Hoffman, ex-officio Widmer.
4. ADOPT AGENDA – Erickson makes a motion and Mason seconds to adopt the agenda. Hoffman said there will be an addition of one item under miscellaneous regarding the number of commissioners to serve. All votes ayes, motion carries.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from July 11, 2012
b. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from September 12, 2012
Erickson said in the September minutes there was mention about the suggestion of selling Wilkes Park and he wants to make it known that he is against that and Struck agrees with Erickson. Hoffman asked about the gravel that was added between the pitcher’s mound and home base and wondered if some of the low areas would be filled as well. Tolsma said gravel will be added around the dugouts where there is puddling. Struck said she took photos of the park and she would be happy to e-mail those to the staff. Struck also asked about street light replacement schedule and wondered where it was taking place. Tolsma said the immediate scope is along Shoreline Drive. He said in the future they will look at other locations. He said the immediate concern is the failure of two street lights on Shoreline Drive. Struck said she noticed dark spots between the street lights on her drive over tonight. Tolsma said other streets have not been researched for replacement yet. Sippel makes a motion and Mason seconds to approve the minutes. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. CONSIDERATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Sign Permit Application: Integrity Communications Consultants, Inc. – Renee McFadden with Designer Outlook is present and she explains the proposed lettering matches the other lettering material on this multi-use building. Hoffman said he likes the mock-up provided in the packet and thinks it looks very nice. Sippel agreed that the lettering and logo is in keeping with the theme of the other lettering. Erickson makes a motion to approve and Struck seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.
b. Sign Permit Application: Spring Park Pharmacy – Hoffman said the planner had asked for foot candle measurements and they were provided by the applicant and are in front of the commissioners tonight. Sippel asked if it’s going to say pharmacy or Spring Park pharmacy. Tolsma said they are a branch of Watertown pharmacy and they are not going to be specific. Hoffman said it will be a nice addition and it will be great for the clinic. He said it's nice that it ties in with the City's comprehensive plan about that area being potentially more health-care related. Sippel makes a motion and Struck seconds to approve the sign. All votes ayes, motion carries.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
a. City Council Minutes – October 1st
b. City Council Minutes – October 15th
c. Work Session Minutes – October 22nd
Hoffman refers to the minutes about the council’s increase and asked what the increase was and Tolsma said it equated to $50 per month for each council person. It was noted that the last raise was in 1998.
8. MISCELLANEOUS – Tolsma said it’s been difficult to fill the vacant seat of the planning commission since Neve resigned. Now with the untimely death of John Ericson, it’s been discussed about reducing the PC to a five seat commission versus a seven seat commission. Staff is looking for feedback to coincide with the start of the New Year. Erickson asked if they can stipulate a minimum and a maximum. Tolsma said he’s guessing that it would have to be a specific number. Sippel said he has always wondered why there are more commissioners than council members. Struck said seven has already seemed like a lot but going to five then the concern is what if someone is absent or quits. Struck said it takes a while to bring new commissioners up to speed. She thinks six might be a good number. Tolsma said the state recommendation is an odd number for tie-break purposes. Hoffman said the commission has been fortunate with good attendance and dedicated commissioners. Hoffman makes a motion to recommend to the council to change the commission from seven to five members. Sippel seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries. Hoffman thinks five represents the city quite well. Erickson wonders if there is a tie vote does could the council ex-officio have vote power in that case. Tolsma said he’d have to look at the by-laws. Hoffman said if there is something on the agenda and a commissioner is going to be absent they could always cast their vote by proxy or conference call.
Hoffman suggests the commissioners come to the next meeting with some ideas, thoughts and/or goals about what they would like to accomplish for the coming year. Struck asked about the park study and where that lies. Hoffman said that will be coming this spring.
Sippel said there is a thick coating of salt that was dumped on Mapleton after the recent snow event and he said the next rain with run-off will run it all down the storm sewer. He thinks it should be swept or cleaned up before that happens.
Mason said they put up the new entrance signs. He said they look nice. He said the letters are smaller than the old sign and he thinks it takes a while to get used to that. Widmer commented on the reverse side of the sign and said the whiteness looks a little odd or stark. Mason wishes they could have used the old signs because they were really nice and made out of driftwood and it looked like it went with the lake area. Widmer said the rock base looks really nice and there are some spruce tips put in there now but she hopes for some additional color.
9. ADJOURNMENT – Erickson makes a motion and Sippel seconds to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL - Mason, Struck, Sippel, Erickson, Hoffman, ex-officio Widmer.
4. ADOPT AGENDA – Erickson makes a motion and Mason seconds to adopt the agenda. Hoffman said there will be an addition of one item under miscellaneous regarding the number of commissioners to serve. All votes ayes, motion carries.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from July 11, 2012
b. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from September 12, 2012
Erickson said in the September minutes there was mention about the suggestion of selling Wilkes Park and he wants to make it known that he is against that and Struck agrees with Erickson. Hoffman asked about the gravel that was added between the pitcher’s mound and home base and wondered if some of the low areas would be filled as well. Tolsma said gravel will be added around the dugouts where there is puddling. Struck said she took photos of the park and she would be happy to e-mail those to the staff. Struck also asked about street light replacement schedule and wondered where it was taking place. Tolsma said the immediate scope is along Shoreline Drive. He said in the future they will look at other locations. He said the immediate concern is the failure of two street lights on Shoreline Drive. Struck said she noticed dark spots between the street lights on her drive over tonight. Tolsma said other streets have not been researched for replacement yet. Sippel makes a motion and Mason seconds to approve the minutes. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. CONSIDERATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Sign Permit Application: Integrity Communications Consultants, Inc. – Renee McFadden with Designer Outlook is present and she explains the proposed lettering matches the other lettering material on this multi-use building. Hoffman said he likes the mock-up provided in the packet and thinks it looks very nice. Sippel agreed that the lettering and logo is in keeping with the theme of the other lettering. Erickson makes a motion to approve and Struck seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.
b. Sign Permit Application: Spring Park Pharmacy – Hoffman said the planner had asked for foot candle measurements and they were provided by the applicant and are in front of the commissioners tonight. Sippel asked if it’s going to say pharmacy or Spring Park pharmacy. Tolsma said they are a branch of Watertown pharmacy and they are not going to be specific. Hoffman said it will be a nice addition and it will be great for the clinic. He said it's nice that it ties in with the City's comprehensive plan about that area being potentially more health-care related. Sippel makes a motion and Struck seconds to approve the sign. All votes ayes, motion carries.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
a. City Council Minutes – October 1st
b. City Council Minutes – October 15th
c. Work Session Minutes – October 22nd
Hoffman refers to the minutes about the council’s increase and asked what the increase was and Tolsma said it equated to $50 per month for each council person. It was noted that the last raise was in 1998.
8. MISCELLANEOUS – Tolsma said it’s been difficult to fill the vacant seat of the planning commission since Neve resigned. Now with the untimely death of John Ericson, it’s been discussed about reducing the PC to a five seat commission versus a seven seat commission. Staff is looking for feedback to coincide with the start of the New Year. Erickson asked if they can stipulate a minimum and a maximum. Tolsma said he’s guessing that it would have to be a specific number. Sippel said he has always wondered why there are more commissioners than council members. Struck said seven has already seemed like a lot but going to five then the concern is what if someone is absent or quits. Struck said it takes a while to bring new commissioners up to speed. She thinks six might be a good number. Tolsma said the state recommendation is an odd number for tie-break purposes. Hoffman said the commission has been fortunate with good attendance and dedicated commissioners. Hoffman makes a motion to recommend to the council to change the commission from seven to five members. Sippel seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries. Hoffman thinks five represents the city quite well. Erickson wonders if there is a tie vote does could the council ex-officio have vote power in that case. Tolsma said he’d have to look at the by-laws. Hoffman said if there is something on the agenda and a commissioner is going to be absent they could always cast their vote by proxy or conference call.
Hoffman suggests the commissioners come to the next meeting with some ideas, thoughts and/or goals about what they would like to accomplish for the coming year. Struck asked about the park study and where that lies. Hoffman said that will be coming this spring.
Sippel said there is a thick coating of salt that was dumped on Mapleton after the recent snow event and he said the next rain with run-off will run it all down the storm sewer. He thinks it should be swept or cleaned up before that happens.
Mason said they put up the new entrance signs. He said they look nice. He said the letters are smaller than the old sign and he thinks it takes a while to get used to that. Widmer commented on the reverse side of the sign and said the whiteness looks a little odd or stark. Mason wishes they could have used the old signs because they were really nice and made out of driftwood and it looked like it went with the lake area. Widmer said the rock base looks really nice and there are some spruce tips put in there now but she hopes for some additional color.
9. ADJOURNMENT – Erickson makes a motion and Sippel seconds to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.