4 Planning CommissionFrom: Aliblack22@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 3:29 PM
To: Tgerhardt @ ci.chanhassen.mn.us
Subject: PC discussion points
Todd -
Page I of 1
Kate asked me to forward comments from the PC's meeting the other night. This is a sampling of comments, and
not meant to be all-inclusive. I'm sure that more comments will come up for discussion with the council during
Monday night's joint meeting.
1. What's woridng with the commission? Wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, improved understanding
by commissioners, good working relationship among commissioners, common goal of a better Chanhassen.
2. What is not working with the commission? We need to better summarize our findings/concems/issues for
council, be better at offering suggestions to staff, increase commissioners' skills.
3. what would the commission do to improve those things that are not woridng? New format for reporting to
council, better communication with staff, continued educational opportunities.
4. what are the commission's expectations of city council? Clear communication and direction from council,
feedback on items we've reviewed.
5. How does the commission define their role? Advisory to council, first review of project to determine compliance
with ordinances/comp plan, first contact with many of Chanhassen's citizens in such a forum.
Todd, this will give you an idea of our comments. I hope this helps council prepare for our meeting.
-
Alison Blackowiak
Planning Commission
BYLAWS
PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF CHANI-IASSEN
The following bylaws are adopted by the City Planning Commission to facilitate the performance
of its duties and the exercising of its functions as a commission established by the City Council
on June 17, 1968 and pursuant to the provision of Subdivision 1, Section 462.354 Minnesota
State Statutes annotated.
SECTION I - DUTIES AND RESPONSIBIIJTIES - PLANNING COMMISSION:
1.1
The Planning Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the City Council through crowing
out reviews of planning matters. All final decisions are to be m~de by the City Council.
1.2
The Planning Commission shall prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the future development of the
city and recommend on amendments to the plan as they arise.
1.3
The Planning Commission shall initiate, direct, and review the provisions and standards of the
Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations and reports its recommendations to the City
Council.
1.4
The Planning Commission shall review applications and proposals for zoning ordinance
amendments, subdivisions, street vacations, conditional use permits and site plan reviews and
make their recommendations to the City Council in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and
Subdivision Ordinance.
1.5
The Planning Commission shall hold public hearings on development proposals as prescribed by
the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.
1.6 - Establishment of Subcommittees
The Planning Commission may, as they deem appropriate, establish special subcommittees
comprised solely of their own members.
SECTION 2 - ME~I'INGS:
2.1 - Time
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month
at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 690 City Center Drive, unless otherwise directed by
the Chairperson, in which case at least 24 hours notice will be given to all members. Regular
meetings shall have a curfew of 10:30 p.m. which may be waived at the discretion of the
Chai~on. All unfinished business will be carried over to the next regular Planning
Commission meeting.
When the regular meeting day falls on a legal holiday, there shall be no Planning Commission
meeting.
2.2 - Special meetings
Special meetings shall be held upon call by the Chairpemon, or in Ms/her absence, by the Vice-
Chairperson or any other member with the concurrence of four other members of the
commission, and with at least 48 hours of notice to all members. Notice of all special meetings
shall also be posted on the official city bulletin board.
2.3 - Attendance:
Planning Commission members shall attend not less than seventy-five (75%) percent of all
regular and special meetings held during a given (calendar) year, and shall not be absent from
three (3) consecutive meetings without prior approval of the Chairperson. Failure to meet this
minimum attendance requirements shall be cause for removal from the commission by action of
the City Council.
SECTION 3 - COMMISSION COMPOSITION, TERMS AND VACANCIF_3:
3.1 - Composition
The commission shall consist of seven (7) voting members. Seven members shall be appointed
by the Council and may be removed by the Council.
3.2 - Terms and Vacancies
The council shall appoint seven members to the commission for terms of three (3) years.
Vacancies during the term shall be filled by the council for the unexpired portion of the term~
Every appointed member shall, before entering upon the charge of his/her duties, take an oath
that he/she will faithfully discharge the duties of his office. All members shall serve without
compensation.
3.3 - Quorum
Four planning commission members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Whenever a quorum is not present, no final or official action shall be taken at such meeting.
SFL-TION 4 - ORGANIZATION:
4.1 - Election of Officers
At the first meeting in April of each year, the planning commission shall hold an organization
meeting. At this meeting, the commission shall elect from its membemhip a Chairperson and
Vice-Chairperson. Each member shall cast its vote for the member he wishes to be chosen for
Chairperson. If no one receives a majority, voting shall continue until one member receives the
majority support. Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from the remaining numbers of the same
proceexfing.
4.2 - Duties of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpemon
The Chairperson or in his/her absence, the Vice-Chairperson, shall preside at meetings, appoim
committees from its own membership, and perform other such duties as ordered by the
commission.
The Chairperson shall conduct the meeting so as to keep it moving rapidly and efficiently as
possible and shall remind members, witnesses and petitioners to preserve order and decorum and
to keep comments to the subject at hand.
The Chairperson shall not move for action but may second motions.
SEC~ON 5 - PROCEDURE:
5.1 - Parliamentary Procedu~
Parliamentary Procedure governed by Roberts Rules of Order Revised, shall be followed at all
regular meetings. At special work session meetings, and when appropriate, the commission may
hold group discussions not following any set parliamentary procedures except when motions are
before the commission.
SECFION 6- PUBLIC HEARINGS:
6.1 - Purpose of Hearings
The purpose of a hearing is to collect information and facts in order for the commission to
develop a rational planning recommendation for the City Council.
6.2 - Hearing Procedure
At hearings, thc following procedure shall be followed in each ease:
a. The Chairperson shall state the case to be heard.
b,
The Chairperson shall call upon the staff to present the staff report. Required reports
from each city department shall be submitted to the Planning Commission before each
case is heard.
c. The Chairperson shall ask the applicant to present his ease.
dl
Interested persons may address the commission, giving information regarding the
particular proposal.
e.
Petitioners and the public are to address the Chairperson only, not staff or other
commissioners.
f.
There shall be no dialogue among the commissioners giving information regarding the
particular proposal.
(The Planning Commission members may ask questions of persons addressing the
commission in order to clarify a fact, but any statement by a member of any other purpose
than to question may be ruled out of order.)
g.
After all new facts and information have been brought forth, the hearing shall be closed
and interested persons shall not be heard again. Upon completion of the hearing on each
case, the Planning Commission shall discuss the item at hand and render a decision. The
Planning Commission, if it so desires, may leave the public record open for written
comments for a specified period of time.
h.
The Chairperson shall have the responsibility to inform all the parties of their rights of
appeal on any decision or recommendation of the Planning Commission.
6. 3 - Schedule
At meetings where more than one hearing is scheduled, every effort shall be made. to begin each
case at the time set in the agenda, but in no case may an item be called for hearing prior to the
advertised time listed on the agenda.
SEC~ON 7 - MISC~JANF_~US'
7.1 - Planning Commission Discussion
a.
Matters for discussion which do not appear on the agenda may be considered and
discussed by the commission under the On-going items section.
be
Matters which a~ on the agenda as open discussion item.~ will not be recorded as
minutes.
7.2 - Suspension of Rules
The commission may suspend any of these rules by a unanimous vote of the members present.
7.3 - Amendments
Amendment of these bylaws may be made at any regular or special meeting of the Planning
Commission but only if scheduled on the meeting agenda in advance of the meeting.
7.4 - Review
At the first meeting in April of each year, these bylaws shall be read and adopted by the Planning
Commission.
Chairperson: Date:
Updated 9~1~01