CITY OF SUNNYVALE

Joint Study Session

City Council and Planning Commission

May 16, 2006 5:30 p.m.
West Conference Room
456 West Olive Avenue

MEETING NOTES

I.                   Call to Order

Mayor Ron Swegles called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.

II.                Introductions

City Council

Mayor Ron Swegles

Vice Mayor Otto Lee

John Howe

Tony Spitaleri

Chris Moylan

Melinda Hamilton

Planning Commission

     Chair Chuck Hungerford

     Vice Chair Jim Fussell

     David Simons

     Laura Babcock

     Brandon Sulser

     Larry Klein

City Staff

     Amy Chan, City Manager

     David Kahn, City Attorney

     Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager

     Kathryn Berry, Senior Assistant City Attorney

     Robert Paternoster, Director of Community Development

     Trudi Ryan, Planning Officer

Members of the Public

     Harriet Rowe

     Jack Rowe

     Tom Flaherty

III.             Discussion: Length of Planning Commission Meetings

This question was touched on briefly during the discussion of other items of interest.

IV.              Discussion: Other Items of Interest

The Mayor explained that the meeting was to keep an open line of communication between the Planning Commission and the City Council.

As conversation starters the following questions were posed:

     Does the Planning Commission feel that the City Council is not doing their job?

     Are the Planning Commission minutes adequately relaying the wishes and intent of the commission?

     Does the Commission feel that the City Council takes the Planning Commission recommendations?

The following comments were made by Planning Commission and City Council members:

     Minutes very adequately and very clearly convey the Planning Commission meetings.

     Minutes and staff reports have improved over the years.

     Commission is concerned with last minute information received before hearings.

     Planning Commission is advisory to the Council and understands that not all their recommendations will be followed.

     The City Council considers more than land use matters when making decisions of projects.

     Planning Commission recommendations are valued by the Council.

     Planning Commission would expect more flexibility to be exercised study issues decisions.    

     There is value from opposing opinions and getting all sides of the issue.

     City Council sometimes receives different information.

     Regarding the Best Buy/PetSmart development: the basis of decisions; and, the potential flexibility of corporations.

Planning Commission is doing a good job and Council appreciates the amount of time the Planning Commission and staff put into reviewing applications.

Watching Planning Commission hearings on TV gives council members a better flavor of the discussion that may not be as obvious from the minutes. Others rely heavily on the minutes.

Regarding length of meetings:

ü       Planning Commission may want to implement the Mayor’s technique of asking for opposing viewpoints early in the deliberation of a motion

ü       Special meetings for controversial items

ü       Less than 3 minutes per speaker when there is a large crowd

ü       Balancing the rights to be heard and keep meetings from going too late

Factual information should be corrected (e.g. that the Planning Commission volunteers their time and is not paid).

Appeal decisions may be based on new information. Need to weigh the impact delays would have on applicant.

Regarding Downtown and the Mall

ü       No new requests filed

ü       The process of considering changes to entitlements was reviewed

ü       Some community members think the City is responsible for making the development happen

ü       Any new requests should have a significant community outreach, perhaps like the previously conducted Planning Commission forums

ü       Announcements were made by the owner’s representative at a Chamber of commerce meeting; she will be attending the Heritage District Neighborhood Association meeting

ü       Possible changes could include more housing units, rebuilt Target, grocery, hotels, lower height

ü       Council thinks of Planning Commission as their partners in considering any mall proposals

Council and Commission have no excuse for not having a good working relationship.

Specific concerns with Tree Preservation ordinance, architecture of office developments, closed off Artwork, mitigation of neighborhood concerns with Mary Avenue extension and an urging to postpone a decision if there is too much new information.

Commissioner Fussell announced that it was a difficult decision but that he will not be reapplying for Planning Commission due to competing demands from family and work.

Planning Commission is wrestling with attending Council meetings to represent the entire commission, along with the additional time commitment associated with this activity. It was suggested that other boards or commissions may have useful advice on how they have dealt with the representation issue.

Joint Study sessions should be held more frequently. Good opportunity to jointly discuss issues.

V.                 Public Comments

The following comments were made by a member of the public:

ü       Applaud the Councilmembers who watch Planning Commission meetings on TV.

ü       City needs more architectural art: cornices, medallions, murals.

ü       Developers tried to black mail city with not wanting to change the architecture

ü       Educational study sessions for Council should be joint with Planning Commission

VI.               Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.