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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - January 11, 201701685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, January 11, 2017 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order — 7:00 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval 3. Interviews of Planning & Zoning Commission/Park & Recreation Commission/Open Space Advisory Commission/Commission Applicants 4. Adjournment H C ANDOVER COMMISSIONINTER VIEWS — JANUARY 11, 2017 MINUTES The Andover Commission Interviews was called to order by Mayor Julie Trude, January 11, 2017, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Mike Knight, Sheri Bukkila (arrived at 7:10 p.m.), Valerie Holthus and James Goodrich Councilmember absent: None AGENDA APRPOVAL The agenda was changed to switch the first applicant, as the previously listed applicant was ill and therefore was changed out with another applicant. The agenda was approved as amended. INTERVIEWS OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION / PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION / OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION / COMMISSION APPLICANTS Jim Lindahl — Park & Recreation Commission Mr. Lindahl reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Park & Recreation Commission. He stated he is still actively engaged in the parks and brings a history to the Commission, as he has seen the development of the City all the way through. Mayor Trude asked if he had an example of a problem that has happened in the past. Mr. Lindahl explained when there was rapid growth in the City they ended up with too many small neighborhood parks but believes that there is a better balance today. Mayor Trude provided some development activities that have occurred in the past few years and asked of his opinion. Mr. Lindahl replied the park was actually a good fit in that area because the neighborhood is secluded and the park acts as a good entrance to the open space area. Councilmember Holthus asked for Mr. Lindahl's vision for Kelsey Round Lake Park. Mr. Lindahl stated he would like to see an improvement of the trail system. He noted he would be fine with grass trails as those can be multi -use. Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Lindahl believes there is a good balance between what the © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 2 neighborhood wants, what the community wants and what the City wants. Mr. Lindahl believed there is a good mix of uses and noted that eventually the trails could be mowed but noted that it would be an expense. He stated historically that park has been underused but noted he has noticed more use of the park more recently. Councilmember Knight asked Mr. Lindahl for his opinion on Fox Meadows Park. Mr. Lindahl stated he would support a mowed trail around the perimeter and did not think the City should bend to the further desires of the neighborhood. Councilmember Bukkila arrived. Councilmember Goodrich stated Mr. Lindahl does a great job and is very involved in the meetings noting he provides a lot of information that helps to justify the decisions that he makes. He asked Mr. Lindahl for his opinion on how things could be improved. Mr. Lindahl replied there needs to be more focus on the aging population. He suggested converting some underused spaces to items like pickleball courts. He stated it would also be nice to have some flow for wildlife and biking trails. ® Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Lindahl knows why land was not taken to provide a trail connection along a segment of Coon Creek. Mr. Lindahl stated he does not recall that item coming up during his time on the Commission. He stated back in that time you were just looking at parcels and connectivity was not a consideration. Mr. Lindahl stated this would most likely be the last term he would seek to serve but believes he has value to add. Bev Jovanovich — Planning & Zoning Commission Ms. Jovanovich provided background information, noting that she previously served on the Andover Planning Commission for a term of 13 years. Mayor Trude asked if there is something Ms. Jovanovich sees the community missing. Ms. Jovanovich stated it does not seem that there are apartments available within Andover. Mayor Trude stated there is potential workforce housing that could occur in the City and asked Ms. Jovanovich her opinion. Ms. Jovanovich replied the City does not currently have that type of housing so that would bring a new element to the housing stock. Councilmember Holthus asked what the population of Andover was when Ms. Jovanovich was on the Commission. Ms. Jovanovich stated she began on the Commission in 1969 and therefore © has seen a lot of changes in the community. Councilmember Holthus asked about the developments that Ms. Jovanovich was involved with © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 3 during her time on the Commission. Ms. Jovanovich replied she was involved in the downtown development, as well as residential development done near the neighborhood she lives in. Councilmember Goodrich asked what brings Ms. Jovanovich back to wanting to serve once again. Ms. Jovanovich replied in the past she did not have enough time between work and raising her family but now has more time available and would like to serve. Councilmember Bukkila noted there is a mix of housing with the southern portion of the community more suburban and manicured while the north remains more rural and asked for the opinion of Ms. Jovanovich. Ms. Jovanovich replied she believes the City has a nice mix with the two different elements of residential development. Councilmember Knight asked Ms. Jovanovich what she would like to see for the City. Ms. Jovanovich replied she would like to see more for the arts culture or maybe an art center. Mayor Trude asked if there are any elements of development that Ms. Jovanovich has liked or disliked over the years and if she has any input. Ms. Jovanovich stated she is pleased to see how the City has developed, using the example of the Super Wal-Mart that took the place of Pov's. She stated she would like to see more community gardens and general beautification with flowers and plantings. She noted she likes the availability of walking trails and senior housing. She stated there have been issues of vandalism and possible shady activity at the park near her home, and noted she keeps a watch in the evening hours and alerts the authorities when necessary. Alden Riley —Planning & Zoning Commission Mr. Riley reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated he has thought about getting involved with the City in some capacity and has lived in Andover for 40 years and therefore has seen a lot of changes to the community. He stated he has an interest in seeing the development continue in the current trend. He stated he does like that the City purchased the open space areas, which helps to preserve the rural character of the community. He discussed his involvement in his church and other organizations, such as Family Promise, which is very rewarding. He confirmed that he has also been an election judge for the City. Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Riley's property is on sewer and water. Mr. Riley replied his development is not served by water and sewer. Councilmember Holthus asked for more information on the PTA Board that Mr. Riley served on. Mr. Riley replied he and his wife began their life in St. Paul and he was on the Board of the PTA for the elementary school in that area. © Councilmember Goodrich stated there has been a lot of change in the community but there is still room to grow. He asked for Mr. Riley's thoughts regarding rezoning to accommodate © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — danuary 11, 2017 Page 4 development. Mr. Riley stated he is not opposed to rezoning to accommodate growth but would like to see it tempered. Councilmember Bukkila asked the amount of knowledge Mr. Riley has regarding the City codes and regulations. Mr. Riley stated he is informed as he often watches Commission and Council meetings from home, noting that he did watch the Planning Commission meetings after he submitted his application to learn a bit about what is currently occurring. Councilmember Knight stated Andover is one of the fastest growing cities in the metro and asked Mr. Riley where he sees the City going. Mr. Riley stated the housing market dropped off but is starting to recover. He did not believe the growth would occur at a rate similar to what occurred in the past but noted there is room for growth and space available for development. Mayor Trude stated they like to see different points of view and asked if Mr. Riley is comfortable expressing his opinion even when others have other points of view and can he still come to a consensus when the group has different opinions. Mr. Riley replied he does not have a problem voicing his opinion but is also aware that groups of that nature need to come to a consensus to be of value. He provided an example he has encountered in the past when his original opinion was swayed by the comments of the others on the Board he was serving on. Sharon Cramer — Planning & Zoning Commission /Park & Recreation Commission /Open Space Advisory Commission Ms. Cramer stated she has applied for a position at least three times and is excited to have another chance. She stated she is interested in all three Commissions for different reasons and stated she would prefer the Commission that has a vacant position. She stated that she has lived in Anoka County for her entire life and provided background information on her education and career experience as well as her interests. She stated regarding open space, she has a strong interest in and is a supporter of the program. She stated she can see the value in providing easy access to open space for residents, noting that not everyone has a cabin. She noted the open space areas are an opportunity for families with children to be outdoors without the technology and simply get fresh air and enjoy the land. She stated Andover has been very forward thinking regarding open space as the City not only recognized but took action multiple times to gain open space areas for residents. Councilmember Holthus asked Ms. Cramer's favorite open space area. Ms. Cramer stated she has not been to all the sites but was very impressed with Martin's Meadows. She stated when she visited she noticed that perhaps the site could benefit from additional parking and spaces for people to sit and enjoy the space. She stated part of her would like to see a pavilion where people could gather and enjoy the space while spending time with friends and family. © Councilmember Bukkila stated Ms. Cramer always seems to be very prepared and asked what she does to get prepared. Ms. Cramer stated she is very analytical and described the process she © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 5 used such as gathering data from the City website, watching previous meetings on the QCTV site, and reflecting on the notes she had from previous interviews that she has completed with the City. She noted she and her husband also visited a number of parks within the City. She noted she also tries to think of things from different angles as well. Mayor Trude stated that is very helpful. She referenced the Planning Commission and asked Ms. Cramer in her opinion if the Commissioners have done their homework. Ms. Cramer stated it appears they are doing their homework. She noted while she is not always able to attend meetings in person when she is not appointed to a Commission, it is nice to be able to watch the meetings on the QCTV website. Mayor Trude asked if Ms. Cramer has an opinion on something that could have been done differently. Ms. Cramer referenced the Fox Meadows Park and stated her concern would be how they preserve the quality of the neighborhood, as there are a lot of homes in that area, and still allow people to enjoy the park. She referenced Timber Rivers Park and stated that is such a beautiful place. She stated there appears to be a football field at that location and wondered why that location was chosen for that type of activity. She stated perhaps something else could be done with that space if there is activity of that type occurring in other parks. Mayor Trude stated more kids are in organized sports today and therefore there is more demand for those multi -use sports fields. Councilmember Bukkila stated some Comprehensive Plan amendments and zoning amendments were done to expand the sewered area within the City and therefore could guide for a different type of development. She asked how Ms. Cramer would balance the decisions and when you change what you are doing for the betterment of the City as a whole. Ms. Cramer stated she would have to draw from the City's vision and roadmap while also considered the infrastructure that will be needed. She referenced the schools, the ability of the Fire Department and elements of that nature that must be considered. She stated development is inevitable but the decisions should be adequately weighed to ensure that smart decisions are made. Mayor Trude explained that development pays for development but noted that sometimes requests for flexibility are received under PUD requests. She thanked Ms. Cramer for her time and the level of research she completed. Nick Loehlein —Planning & Zoning Commission Mr. Loehlein reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated he is a lifelong resident of Andover and would like to give back to the community using his strengths. He stated he is an electrical engineer and professional engineer, © noting that he is involved with the planning engineering for Connexus. Councilmember Goodrich stated there is a lot of growth left in Andover, which often involves © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 6 rezoning. He asked if the rezoning should continue to support development or whether the area should remain more rural. Mr. Loehlein stated there are two trends, the first to continue in the same manner and second more focused on core development noting that you would need to find a balance between the two. He stated young people want to live in the city more now compared to the rural areas and noted the City would need to determine how to still market to that age range. Councilmember Knight asked where Mr. Loehlein sees the City in ten years. Mr. Loehlein stated he sees the rural reserve area developing in a mixed-use manner. He commended the City for their efforts in redeveloping the Bunker Lake Boulevard corridor as a nice commercial area. Councilmember Bukkila asked if Mr. Loehlein sees busses and transit or workforce housing in the City. Mr. Loehlein stated there are not a lot of options in Andover. He referenced the development that Ramsey has done around their transit stop and noted that opportunity does not currently exist in Andover. He stated as the City develops, transit needs to be an area of focus to determine what could be done to support continued growth. Councilmember Bukkila asked if there would be negative aspects to bring in transit. Mr. Loehlein stated there could be a burden on City services and infrastructure. He stated there ® would also need to be consideration of the existing residents and their expectations and experience with the City to manage those expectations. Councilmember Holthus stated there are long-term plans to reconfigure the City Hall complex and asked for Mr. Loehlein's opinion on expanding the Community Center. Mr. Loehlein stated it has been some time and he has not recently seen those plans and therefore would not have an opinion. Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Loehlein would like to see the City change direction or whether he likes the rural feel. Mr. Loehlein stated he likes the rural component and likes the balance the City provides as he has lived in a rural part of the City and now lives in a more developed area. Mayor Trude stated there is sometimes friction between the different types of development. Mr. Loehlein stated he has not personally felt that friction but noted he does have experience in his career listening to the concerns of employees and on the projects he manages. He stated he did watch some past Planning Commission meetings and once he saw it in action he further understood the duty of the Commission. He stated he did find himself thinking of questions that were then typically answered and also heard questions that he found interesting. Mayor Trude asked why the Council should pick Mr. Loehlein. Mr. Loehlein stated his career and educational experience would apply well with the Planning Commission and is a way in which he would be able to give back to the City. ® Blair Buccicone — Park & Recreation Commission © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 7 Mr. Buccicone reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Park & Recreation Commission. He provided an update to a recent career change. He stated he looks at parks as a public face of the growing community and is the element he enjoys the most. Councilmember Holthus agreed that parks are often the face of a city and reflect how the city takes care of their things. She asked Mr. Buccicone his favorite park in the City and for his opinion of Kelsey Round Lake Park. Mr. Buccicone stated his favorite park currently is Prairie Knoll, which also happens to be closest to his home. He stated there are a variety of uses within the park that allow for different activities. He stated that in regarding Kelsey Round Lake Park, he unfortunately does not know as much as he should. He stated he lived in Uptown when he was much younger and there was a nice easy path and he would run. He stated he runs at Bunker Park because it is close to his home but noted the residents on the other half of the City do not have that same opportunity and would benefit from a running path. Councilmember Goodrich asked for his opinion on regional parks. Mr. Buccicone stated he attended the meeting which the master plan for the City Hall/Community Center site and stated if that develops that would be great. He stated his focus would be providing for the residents of Andover and not so focused on trying to compete with Bunker for a regional park feature. Councilmember Bukkila stated new is always easy and asked at what point reality would set in to balance ongoing care and maintenance. Mr. Buccicone stated he has tried to evolve in the past 18 months to be more pragmatic and think more about fiscal responsibility. He stated while new is fantastic and you should get things for free if you can, fiscal responsibility and planning for the future is a challenge that must be considered. He stated there is a cost to the tax payer ultimately and therefore you need to find a balance between requests and the correlation to tax dollars. Councilmember Knight stated Mr. Buccicone is a very busy man and asked if he would have the available time to commit. Mr. Buccicone stated he has transitioned to working less hours and has let go of a few prior commitments. He was confident he would have sufficient time for the Park Commission. Mayor Trude stated Mr. Buccicone has a strong personality and can influence people with his words. She stated some people may be concerned that he could just take over and asked how that could be managed. Mr. Buccicone stated he has been involved with meetings that use Robert's Rules since he was 14 and knows how to find a balance between when you need to speak up and when you need to take a backseat. He stated the Council could talk to others in the community that he has been involved with, as he can step back and does not find that as a challenge. Mayor Trude thanked Mr. Buccicone for his service to the community, with the youth in the community, and with Heart Safe. She asked if Mr. Buccicone would be interested in the ® Community Center Commission because of the age and involvement of his children. Mr. Buccicone stated he would not be opposed to serving on that Commission if that is where the Council feels that he would fit best. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 8 Rebecca Dahlberg — Planning & Zoning Commission Ms. Dahlberg reviewed her background and reason she is applying for the Planning & Zoning Commission. She stated she has been interested in public service for a while and thought this would be a good opportunity. She stated she has a background in business and currently owns and operates two businesses in the area. She stated it is important for the City to ensure that the development is being done in the right way, to keep Andover what it is. Mayor Trude asked for more specification on what Andover means to Ms. Dahlberg. Ms. Dahlberg stated she lives on a City lot with water and sewer but is on the border of the more rural area and therefore can also appreciate that. She stated she grew up in a rural town while her husband grew up in Blaine, so they have a mix of both elements in their household. She stated Andover has the small town feel but also has the city feel. She stated she would be interested in other Commissions as well. Mayor Trude confirmed the Council would be comfortable allowing Ms. Dahlberg to have an application for both the Planning Commission and Open Space Advisory Commission as well. She asked Ms. Dahlberg for the ages of her children. Ms. Dahlberg replied her girls are ages 8, ® 10, 16, and 18. She stated regarding the open space areas she would want to further publicize the areas and market them to residents. Mayor Trude asked for Ms. Dahlberg's opinion of the open space areas. She noted now that the open space areas have been purchased the job of the Commission is changing to manage the areas, which is more like running a business. Ms. Dahlberg stated Andover is ahead of the game with their initiative to set aside these areas. She stated her family was not aware of the open space areas until she applied for a position with the City. Councilmember Holthus asked if Ms. Dahlberg has been to any of the open space areas. Ms. Dahlberg replied she has not as she just became aware of them in December. She stated it is a unique opportunity that Andover has taken to create a healthy community and not develop every inch of the City. Councilmember Goodrich asked if Ms. Dahlberg has an opinion on whether elements should be added to the open space areas or whether they should remain pristine. Ms. Dahlberg replied she can see the benefit in creating a gathering center with a pavilion but also realizes that there are maintenance implications. She stated trails are a great asset and would help people to fully utilize the space. Mayor Trude asked if Ms. Dahlberg has had a chance to watch a Planning Commission meeting or read the minutes and if so, what are some items that she had interest in or disagreed with. Ms. ® Dahlberg stated she did read some of the minutes and found it to be educational. She noted that her original application was for the EDA because of her business experience but was made aware that the EDA is full and therefore perhaps she would be interested in the Planning Commission. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes—January 11, 2017 Page 9 Mayor Trude asked for Ms. Dahlberg's opinion on apartment buildings. Ms. Dahlberg replied that as a resident she does not want apartment buildings in Andover. Councilmember Holthus explained the role of a Commission as an advisory body to the City Council. Ms. Dahlberg asked if the Commission does the research behind the requests. Councilmember Holthus replied that staff does the research but the Commissioners read through the agenda packets and staff reports and ask additional questions of staff in order to provide an informed opinion. Councilmember Bukkila explained there is a learning curve and in the beginning, new Commissioners ask more questions to gain that knowledge but then are able to adapt to the process. Councilmember Holthus noted that the Planning Commission has a lot of technical aspects and therefore even tenured Commissioners still ask questions. Mayor Trude noted Ms. Dahlberg works in other communities and asked how those compare to Andover. Ms. Dahlberg stated her experience just makes her love Andover that much more. Jamie Barthel — Planning & Zoning Commission Mr. Barthel reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated he believes it is his time to give back to the community. He noted he and his family moved to Andover 1.5 years ago and chose Andover because of the schools, community activities and the number of families moving into the City. He stated they like that their neighborhood is composed of other young families. He provided information on his career with Anoka -Hennepin Community College and Technical College. He stated they bring training and education out to industry through continuing education courses. He stated they also teach unemployed and underemployed individuals real world skills that do not require long-term education/training and that will help them gain employment once completed. Mayor Trude stated there was a little controversy with the smaller lots with rural around that area. She asked what makes for a good community in terms of design. Mr. Barthel replied he would try to consider who the City is trying to attract, who is looking to move from neighboring communities, and what are they looking for. He stated he would also want to ensure that the people affected by the development are comfortable as well. Councilmember Holthus asked what Mr. Barthel knows about the rural reserve area and his opinion on if that should be developed and if so, how should it be developed. Mr. Barthel stated in his opinion he does not want to live in a city that just builds houses next to houses and develops to the maximum. He stated they moved to Andover because of the sidewalks in their ® Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 10 neighborhood and walking paths and Andover is not a community of cookie cutter homes. He stated he would not want to see the rural reserve area developed into homes. He stated that if you are interested in row after row of homes then you are no different than some of the other communities in the area. Councilmember Bukkila stated the problem is that someone else owns that land and someday will want to sell the land, most likely to a developer that wants to put homes there. She stated the Planning Commission would need to make a decision. Mr. Barthel stated perhaps the City can meet with the property owner and look to see the types of grants and other funding that could be used to do something else with the land. He stated the property owner may have other thoughts on what they want the land to be used for. Mayor Trude stated if the property owner brings a development request to the City, they would bring forward a rezoning request that would fit their desires for development to maximize the profits and development and asked how Mr. Barthel would respond to that. Mr. Barthel stated the City would then need to work with the developer to zone the property in the manner that would best fit the property. He noted the developer may be frustrated with the process but the developer does not live in Andover and the residents have to live with the results. ® Councilmember Knight provided information on the median age for the City, which is 36, and noted that there is also an aging senior population and therefore there needs to be consideration of both groups. Don Schmeichel—Andover/YMCA Community Center Mr. Schmeichel reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Andover/YMCA Community Center. He has lived in Andover for the past 20 years and has found it to be a good community to raise his family, noting that his brother's family and his parents have also moved to Andover from North Dakota after visiting him. He stated he has been involved in youth sports in the community and was actually coaching at the Community Center tonight prior to the interview. Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Schmeichel is aware of how the Andover/YMCA Community Center Board functions and operates. Mr. Schmeichel replied he has reviewed past minutes and information regarding the Board and is aware of the function. He stated his passion for the community and the youth of the community, partnered with the skills he has developed in his professional career with computer software would be a good fit for the Board. Councilmember Holthus asked if he is a member of the YMCA. Mr. Schmeichel replied that he is a member of the YMCA. Councilmember Knight stated this is a unique partnership between the City and the YMCA and has been used as a model moving forward. Mr. Schmeichel stated he was one of the original Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 11 donors for the Community Center and his name is recognized on the plaque at the Community Center. Councilmember Holthus asked if there is a lot of travel involved in his job and whether he was confident he would be able to attend meetings. Mr. Schmeichel stated he has been at his company for 17 years and therefore has flexibility. He stated he is efficient with his travel plans to ensure that he can still meet his commitments, but noted there are instances when he does not have the flexibility. Councilmember Goodrich asked if there are programs, initiatives, or thoughts about expansion for the Community Center. Mr. Schmeichel stated a lot of residents do not understand that there are different entities within the same facility. He stated it is a great model and he is excited with the possible expansion of the YMCA that would add elements that would make sense for the community. He stated a lot of youth sports use the Community Center. He stated he does not have a preconceived agenda for the Community Center and simply wants to be involved. Councilmember Bukkila asked if there is a point in terms of expansion where while building out could be great for the long-term and the youth in the community she asked if there is a point ® where the community cannot afford that. Mr. Schmeichel stated in doing his research he was surprised that the YMCA did not pay rent for the first five years. He stated there is a balance between the needs and wants of the community and the elements that will generate revenue to sustain the expansion. Mayor Trude stated there have been discussions regarding adding retail elements in an expansion because it provides a service and also generates revenue. She used the example of the YMCA offering daycare and noted that could compete with other local daycare centers and asked for his opinion. Mr. Schmeichel stated there is an evaluation to ensure that the market is not oversaturated to ensure that the business model would make sense and be profitable and if it does not make sense there is no reason to add that space into the expansion. He explained if you include something that is not successful and the business plan for the expansion relied on that revenue, that can cause a problem. He stated there are a lot of daycare providers in Andover but noted it sometimes seems that your daycare provider is closed on an inopportune time and therefore perhaps a drop-in option could be helpful. He commented on the need for additional gym space in the community for youth sports. Councilmember Knight stated there have been more senior developments which also place a demand for services that were not previously anticipated. He noted that pickleball has seen an increased demand. ® Dean Daninger —Planning & Zoning Commission Mr. Daninger reviewed his background and reason he is applying for the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated he has enjoyed his time on the Planning Commission and has seen some Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 12 great things happen and has been happy to be a part of it. He stated he likes to make tough decisions, as those tough decisions help to guide the City. He stated he likes rules and that is why he likes planning and zoning. Mayor Trude asked if there is an even mix of rural and urban members on the Planning Commission. Mr. Daninger stated there have been a couple difficult members, specifically in regarding their thought process and it seems there are some people that are too task orientated. He stated he does not think it should matter where you live or where you are from as it comes down to what is best for the City. He stated he is always concerned that sometimes people do not think before they speak and these are public meetings. He hoped that members would have an unbiased opinion no matter where they live. Councilmember Knight stated Mr. Daninger has done a great job running the meetings. Mr. Daninger stated he has Chaired the meeting and has enjoyed that but recognized that if re- appointed he may not be chosen for the position of Chair. He stated he believes that the decision for Chair should be made by the Council rather than submission of members that would like the position of Chair. He explained that if people put their name in for Chair and are not appointed it can be a bit awkward. Mayor Trude provided background information on the process the Council followed for making the decision to allow the Commissions to nominate their own Chairs. Mr. Daninger stated he reads the packet thoroughly and then typically calls staff to gain further details that may not have been included in the packet but could still aide discussion. Councilmember Holthus stated she appreciates how he brings the Commissioners up to speed on the topic and also educates the audience that may not have ever attended a Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Daninger stated the real goal is to develop a product that gives the Council the information they need to make a quality decision. Mayor Trude stated she noticed the input from members of the community, the Commission and the Council came together to bring forward a quality development. She stated the residents of Andover have an aspect that the staff does not have, because they do not live in the community. Mr. Daninger agreed and noted the Planning Commissioners often drive to sites they are not familiar with prior to a meeting in order to gain additional information. Mayor Trude asked if Mr. Daninger would find it beneficial to have a joint meeting with the Council and Planning Commission prior to the Comprehensive Plan process beginning. Mr. QDaninger stated he would always support a joint meeting if time allows. Councilmember Goodrich stated he loves watching the Planning Commission meetings that Mr. Daninger runs and finds the information the he provides very helpful. Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 11, 2017 Page 13 Mayor Trude thanked Mr. Daninger for the excellent job he does and noted she has only heard positive comments from the Council tonight. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Holthus, Seconded by Councilmember Goodrich, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Staple, Recording Secretary TimeSaver OffSite Secretarial, Inc. H