Zoning Commission to Liaison
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Planning Services Department
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
Phone (319) 589-4210
Fax (319)589-4149
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March 28, 2000
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Zoning Commission Liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
The Long Range Planning Commission has noted the extended absence of the Zoning
Advisory Commission liaison from our meetings, as well as the Zoning Advisory
Commission's discussion of replacing the liaison with a citizen from the community.
Planning Commissioners are concerned about both the lack of attendance and this proposal.
The liaison position is stipulated by Chapter 36-4 of the City Code, so replacement of the
liaison with a citizen from the community would require an amendment of the City Code.
The Planning Commission believes that the Zoning Commission liaison is important to the
success of long range planning for Dubuque. We appreciated and valued the dialogue with
the liaison and the entire Zoning Commission during creation of the Comprehensive Plan.
As we begin an update of the Comprehensive Plan, we feel that this dialogue remains just
as valuable.
You may recall our discussions last year regarding the growth areas outside the study
boundaries of the Comprehensive Plan's systems map and development requests that
differed from the Comprehensive Plan. These issues were brought to our attention by the
Zoning Commission liaison. Although the City Council chose not to enact any regulatory
changes to address these issues, this was an opportunity for the Planning Commission to
hear about problems, concerns and issues that Zoning Commissioners face as they review
rezoning requests. We feel that this dialogue should continue, and that the liaison is an
important mechanism to ensure that this dialogue occurs.
We hope that the City Council shares our belief that the liaison is an important member of
the Planning Commission. We ask that you direct the Zoning Advisory Commission to
appoint a new liaison to the Long Range Planning Commission at their next meeting.
Sincerely,
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Gordon Mills, Chairperson
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
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Zoning Advisory Commission
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Service
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R"ponsibility
Innovatinn
Teamwork
Planning Services Department
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque. Iowa 52001-4864
Phone (319) 589-4210
Fax (319) 589-4149
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March 8, 2000
Gordon Mills, Chairperson
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th St.
Dubuque IA 52001
SUBJECT:
Liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Dear Chairperson Mills:
This letter responds to your letter dated February 24, 2000, requesting that the Zoning
Advisory Commission maintain a liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission. After discussion at their March 1, 2000, meeting, the Zoning Advisory
Commission maintains the belief that the regular liaison role is not necessary, in part
because the Commissions often focus on separate issues.
The Zoning Advisory Commission feels that although a permanent liaison role is not
necessary, it is important that the Zoning Advisory Commission maintain dialogue
regarding Comprehensive Plan issues. The Zoning Advisory Commission feels that a
compromise solution may be to hold work sessions, as needed, between both
Commissions to discuss the Comprehensive Plan update and other related issues.
We ask that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission reconsider its original
position of maintaining the Zoning Commission liaison, and consider a compromise
solution that the Commissions conduct joint work sessions when Comprehensive Plan
issues arise.
Sincerely,
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Richard Schiltz, Chairperson
Zoning Advisory Commission
Service
People
Integrity
R"ponsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 24, 2000
TO:
FROM:
Zoning Advisory Commission
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager ~
SUBJECT:
Liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
The Zoning Advisory Commission has discussed the replacement of the liaison to the
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission with a citizen from the community. Zoning
Commissioners have discussed that their reasons for seeking this change as:
the extra time demands placed on the Zoning Commissioner who serves as the
liaison;
coordination with the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission and the Zoning
Advisory Commission on the Comprehensive Plan process is no longer
necessary; and
the two commissions can maintain dialogue through work sessions or minutes, if
necessary.
Replacement of the liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission with a
citizen from the community requires the amendment of Section 36-4 of the City Code.
Section 36-4 sets forth the composition of the 9-member Long Range Planning
Advisory Commission as "...including a member of the City Council designated by the
City Council, a member of the Zoning Advisory Commission designated by the Zoning
Advisory Commission and seven (7) residents of the City appointed by the City
Council...."
To approve the Zoning Advisory Commission's proposal, the City Council would need to
enact the following amendment to Section 36-4; language to be removed has been
crossed out, and new language has been added in bold type.
"...including a member of the City Council designated by the City Council, a n lei nber of
ti'Ie Zoning Advisof'ý Con ,mission designated by the Zoning Advisor) Con ,mission and
seven (7) and eight (8) residents of the City appointed by the City Council...."
Liaison to Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
page 2
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission has discussed the Zoning Advisory
Commission's proposal to replace the liaison with a citizen from the community. The
concerns of the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission are described in the
attached letter.
Given the concerns expressed in the letter from the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission, I recommend that the Zoning Advisory Commission discuss the following
points regarding the replacement of the liaison:
1.
Does a majority of the Zoning Advisory Commission still believe that the liaison
should be replaced with a citizen from the community?
2.
If yes, are there additional reasons to those listed above that convey why the
Zoning Advisory Commission believes this change is necessary?
3.
If so, what are those reasons?
4.
Are there ways in which the Zoning Advisory Commission could address the
concerns of the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission for dialogue, such
as periodic work sessions to discuss concerns, problems and issues or to
participate in long and short range planning projects?
5.
Should the Zoning Advisory Commission and the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission meet to discuss their differing views on the liaison position, before
the Zoning Advisory Commission sends their recommendation to the City
Council?
The requested action step is for the Zoning Advisory Commission to discuss the points
listed above, and then to reach a decision on the next steps that you would like to take.
Attachment
Planning Services Department
SO West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
Phone (319) 589-4210
Fax (319) 589-4149
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February 24, 2000
Richard Schiltz, Chairperson
Zoning Advisory Commission
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Liaison to the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Dear Mr. Schiltz:
The Long Range Planning Commission has noted the extended absence of the Zoning
Commission liaison from our meetings, as well as the Zoning Commission's discussion of
replacing the liaison with a citizen from the community. Planning Commissioners are
concerned about both the lack of attendance and this proposal.
The Planning Commission believes that the Zoning Commission liaison is important to the
success of long range planning for Dubuque. We appreciated and valued the dialogue
with the liaison and the entire Zoning Commission during creation of the Comprehensive
Plan. As we begin an update of the Comp Plan, we feel that this dialogue remains just as
valuable.
You may recall our discussions last year regarding the growth areas outside the study
boundaries ofthe Comp Plan's systems map and development requests that differed from
the Comp Plan. Although the City Council chose not to enact any regulatory changes to
address these issues, this was an opportunity for the Planning Commission to hear about
problems, concerns and issues that Zoning Commissioners face as they review rezoning
requests. We feel that this dialogue should continue, and that the liaison is an important
mechanism to ensure that this dialogue occurs.
We hope that Zoning Commissioners will reconsider your position, and share our belief that
the liaison is an important member of the Long Range Planning Commission.
Sincerely,
5~~~
Gordon Mills, Chairperson
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Service
People
Integrity
Respnnsibility
Innovation
Teamwork