12/10/2002 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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? J . ? ? Appoint a Planning Commission member to Landmarks for 2003. R. Koeth raiotioned to appoint K. O'Rourke to the Landmarks Commission for 2003 and to serve as Flanning Commissaon seeretary. J. Lasko seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. Discuss budget for 2003 £or Planning Commission supplies line item. Mr. Koeth indicated that the members received the clerk's memo regarding the totals spent in 1992 for the Master Plan it shows that the final cost was $50,000.00. A professional Planner was hired for about two months of work this year and the price equaled about $4,500.00. The City is currently in a position, which they are laying off workers and he does not feel it would be right to start asking for $20,000.00, $30,000.00 or more at this time. Mr. Koeth voiced a concern that even if Planning Commission spends the time and money to make recommendations for areas they feel should be changed Council does not have to follow the recommendations. Past experiences has shown that Council has not followed the master plan as it is now. Therefore, why should this board think they will this time. 1VIr. O'Malley reminded the board members that they are obligated to review and update the Master Plan every 4 years by charter. He encouraged the board members to move forward and ask for the money needed to update the Master Plan. Mr. Koeth indicated that he had read in the papers how the Mayor would like to start working on the West End of town to improve the area and promote growth. He voiced that Planning Commission would like the Mayor to come to Planning Commission and discuss his ideas now so they do not get into the same situation as with the Library. The Planning Commission should be involved even in the infancy stage of the process. Mr. Koeth indicated that he would send an invitation to the Mayor to share his ideas with Planning Commission. Many board members voiced their concerns over the current state of the economy and that it did not feel right asking for funds at this time. Mr. O'Malley reiterated that the Law Director would like Planning Commission to acquire the funds to fulfill their obligations under the charter. Mrs. Hoff-Smith voiced that she believed that updating the Master Plan would help the economy of the City as it would bring in businesses and generate revenue. Mr. Spalding felt that administration should address the money needed to update the master plan. Mr. Hreha voiced his past budget experiences and felt Planning Commission should not be requesting money when people are being let go in the city. Planning Commission needs to recognize the financial crunch the City is currently experiencing. Mr. ICoeth suggested just using the same Professional Planner for one or two meetings to get the board on the right track. Mr. Spalding felt that since the City does not have a City Planner a professional Planner is required to help the board know were to start. The clerk indicated that she had been speaking with Mr. John Demuth the Project Coordinator for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. He has indicated that they may be able to meet with members of the City to give them an idea of how to start the process of updating and prioritizing the Master Plan. Auclience participation; Councilman Gareau reviewed that the City currently has designated money in the economic development fund, which could be used to help Planning Commission. He would like to see the City get proposals for the west-end of town as that is the hot spot in North Olmsted for development. He believed that the economic development account had about $50,000 currently which could only be used for situations such as this. Councilman Gareau voiced that he would be very interested in taking part in the review of the Master Plan and would like to be invited to the meetings. Mr. O'Malley questioned if Mr. Gareau was discussing the Master Plan review 4