HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2004-01-05 Special[ ]
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Minutes of a Special Meeting
of the
Friendswo od Planning and Zoning Commission
January 5, 2004
A special meeting of the "Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held
Monday, January 5, 2004, at 4:00 p.m. at the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce
located at ll00A S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following members
were present:
Bob Be1irand
David Brakebill
Michele Brekke
Tom Burke
Jim Gibson
Kevin Holland
Steve Y eretsky
Ron Cox-City Manager
Tracy Goza-Council Liaison
Mike Hodge -Director of CD and PW
Dan Johnson -Deputy Director of CD
Diana Steelquist -Planner
Cheri Skelton-Develo pment Coordinatqr
With a quorum present, Chairman Bertrand called the Planning & Zoning Retreat session
to order to discuss the following:
Call to order:
1.Planning retreat facilitated by the Management Connection.
Facilitator Joe Gonzalez of the Management Connection established four essential
goals for the retreat to be met before adjourning. Those goals were:
1.Establish a working philosophy of Planning & Zoning' s role within the
Council's expectations and goals. · ,✓.
2.Define working relationships between Planning & Zoning, Council,
Staff and other entities.
3.Establish short and long term goals.
4.Establish Next Steps to accomplish goals.
After discussion amongst the Commissioners, it was determined that their current
working philosophy is:
1.They have a Project-to-Project focus (more focused on issues/agenda
at hand).
2.They look at laws and applications to determine case-by-case agenda
items.
3.Commissioners feel they are more reactive than proactive.
4.The development process has improved over the past few years.
5.They would like the ability to do more proactive work and to make
specific request from Council regarding perimeters.
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In addition, it was dete1mined that the desired working philosophy of the Planning
& Zoning Commission is as follows:
1.To have the ability to do more planning.
2.Be more proactive than reactive.
3.Be the central entity for groups (liaisons). Ask Council to implement
an active liaison relationship between such committees as .ZBOA,
CEDC,-CAB.
4.Help innovate to get around problems.
5.Have a communication plan.
6.Work for Win-Win situations.
7.Be balanced as a Commission.
8.Bring good ideas to Council.
9.Create a score card to dete1mine if goals are being met and are
consistent with Council goals.
10.To have common vision and point of focus.
11.To advise, encourage and help.
After discussions about current and desired working philosophy, the
Commissioners identified the following as key components of the new working
philosophy:
1.Focus on planning and be proactive.
2.Apply laws in a balanced way.
3.Be a resource/consultant to bring resolution to issues.
4.Set standards (planning view/vision) in guidelines, ordinances and
regulations.
5.Bring issues as future agenda items.
6.The Commission will utilize Staff more to make recommendations for
changes that Planning & Zoning will respond to and make changes as
needed.
Mr. Gonzalez asked the Commissioners' what they expected from others. The
Commissioners' stated the following list of items that they expected:
1.To be educated.
2.To have effective communication.
3.To have the oppo1tunity for input/feed�ack.
4.To resolve spot issues.
5.For council to set a course direction.
6.Feedback should be received in more official form.
7.Vision, clear goals, objectives, measures provided to Planning &
Zoning by Council.·8. Information rep01t to be shared committee to committee via email.
9.Staff needs to understand council vs. Planning & Zoning role.
10.Would like staff to be liaison to all groups with common information
to share.
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Mr. Gonzalez hen asked the Commissioners what they thought others expected
from them.. The Commissioners felt the following list is what is expected from
the Planning �nd Zoning Commission:
1.To provide information and knowledge.
2.Council should expect Planning & Zoning to define Commissioner's
roles.
3.Staff expects Planning & Zoning to follow councils' direction.
4.To be prepared for meetings.
5.Come to Staff prior to meetings for information, clarification, and
research.
6.Mutual respect.
7.Mutual building of trust.
In conclusion, the Planning & Zoning Commissioners decided on several; short
term (1-year) goals to be met. These goals are as follows:
1.Update and adopt Comprehensive Plan by Planning & Zoning.
2.Establish a mission statement for Planning & Zoning.
3.Develop and improve cross communication plan between all city
committees, commissions, Council and staff.
4.Complete & adopt the Tree Ordinance by Planning & Zoning,
(Separate construction site plan management procedures in Design
Criteria Manual).
5.Develop feedback system/HOA input.
6.Improve Planning & Zoning Commissioner training.
7.Update Plat policy regarding sidewalks.
8.Update Sign Ordinance..
9.Engage Planning & Zoning in EOD/DOD/Main street activities.
10.Convert Planning & Zoning to electronic format.
11.Funding for AP A training for Community Economic Development
Committee & Council.
12.Joint retreat with Council and Planning & Zoning.
Three groups were organized consisting of Commissioners and Staff; three-year
(3-year) goals were established. These goals are as follows:
1.Refine Vision 20/20.
2.Rezone _open space (Buyout Lots).
3.Revise Lighting Ordinance (Dark Skies).
4.Tree City USA designation.
5.Capital Improvement Program Review.
6.Main Street Implementation Plan.
7.Ordinance Review
To· insure successful implementation of the working philosophy, relation
expectations_, and short and long term goals which were identified during the
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retreat, a plan to provide a process for follow up and accountability was
developed by the Staff and agreed to by the Commissioners. These follow up
and accountability steps are as follows:
1.Staff will consolidate retreat notes and goals by January 22, 2004.
2.Staff presentation of retreat notes to Planning & Zoning by January 22,
2004.
3.Review goals quruierly with Planning & Zoning in March, June,
September and December.
4.Planning & Zoning report on retreat to Council, Febmruy 2, 2004.
5.Planning & Zoning report on progress of goals to Council (Quarterly).
6.Continue to have retreats annually.
Mr. Gonzalez went through the four goals that were established at the beginning
of the retreat and stated that all of the retreat goals were met. In addition, Mr.
Gonzalez thanked everyone for their hard work and stated that the short-te1m
goals established by the Planning & Zoning Commissioners were great goals and
that Planning & Zoning should accomplish a lot this year.
2.Adjournment.
With no further comments, the special meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
f-!Jr A;_ 3:-u:/-oxJ Chei Skelton
Development Coordinator
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