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, _. <br />Regular Council, Meeting <br />6/19/95 Page 7 <br />Additional discussion was held about when (or if) a variance was granted for <br />the current sign. <br />Mr. Fixler said that is the point he asked before; we don't know how long ago <br />that was granted, but he is sure some form of variance was granted to <br />whomever, maybe. <br />Mayor Rinker said that Planning and Zoning is very sensitive about the role <br />that it plays, that it doesn't play. It used to have more of a legislative <br />authority than it does now. It really is an advisory body now. There have <br />been a number of instances where when P&Z interprets ordinances, it looks <br />to the letter of the ordinance and restricts its interpretation collectively to the <br />letter of the ordinance. They are pretty strict in the way they interpret it. <br />Unfortunately, then when it comes to Council, and we tend to look at things <br />as the reaction tonight (there were a number of peoiple who said the sign <br />looks great) and he guesses the problem comes down to how do we legislate <br />aesthetics--how do we deal with it. We have any ordinance that speaks of <br />this. P&Z interprets this. That is where P&Z stands on this one. He thinks, <br />ultimately, it comes down to Council's discretion. <br />Mr. Ferrante said he knows Council has final discretion, however if you are <br />not going to abide by the decision Planning and Zoning makes, then why <br />have a Planning and Zoning Commission? <br />Mayor Rinker said he thinks it is with every set of rules that you have; rules <br />can change--it's just how you affect that change that is critical. When an issue <br />comes up on as many occasions as this has--maybe the better question is <br />should Council look at this again--should Ordinance Review meet and <br />discuss this ordinace and see whether or not it should be amended in some <br />fashion and then make a recommendation to Council. <br />Mrs. Cinco said it is her understanding it is a temporary sign for nine <br />months--correct? <br />Tom Gustafson, a representative from Ostendorf Morris said yes. <br />Mrs. Cinco said she has less of a problem knowing it is temporary. She likes <br />to think that we do use P&Z as an advisory board and they are very necessary. <br />She thinks Council needs to keep in mind overall affects and benefits.