10-13-2003 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes October 13, 2003 ............................. Page 12 Mayor I~inzing stated so you see a clear difference between advocacy groups and the commission. You see yourself as a commission who recommends to the City Council and once that recommendation has been given then the commission moves on. Commissioner Gongoll stated that you've asked us to do historic things; I can be an advocate regardless. If we have a report, we are going to advocate that. Councilmember Kuester stated that she felt that the recommendation that they make is a form of advocacy and when the things come to Council, the Council needs to balance that advocacy with things that need to be done, and that's how she sees the role as being different. So when the Historical Commission comes and makes recommendations, she sees that as an advocacy not necessarily making the decision but can make even two recommendations that counter, and say that one is preferred and then Council will make the final decision. Councilmember Tveite feels that the first three bullet points under Section 2-214, Powers and Duties, explain their duties. Further discussion on advocacy took place. Mayor I~inzing stated that it is true that there is a certain amount of creditability because they are on the commission. The HPC is not an advocacy group; it is to bring recommendations to the City Council. You have treated it that way very well, to bring recommendation to the Council and probably there wasn't the communication from the Council when the downtown plans changed and we should have asked for an addendum to your recommendation because things had changed. That point needs to be made that we should have had you come back with another recommendation or an addendum. There is also that question as to how does HPC members advocate outside of the HPC for issues that the City Council has already looked at and said we are not interested in that standpoint right now. How is that seen and how is that done.; She feels that it could be a problem in the future when the Council makes a decision and the group does not stand behind it. Commissioner Lundberg feels that she is wrong and that the issue is more pronounced in her mind than in the Council's mind. He stated that there are very few people that know about the HPC let alone that he is on the HPC. Councilmember Kuester stated that she is glad that it is being brought back as individuals and that you haven't brought it back as the HPC and as individuals that you need to be able to do that. Councilmember Kuester stated that it can be a problem because on one hand we want those people most passionately involved and most knowledgeable about local history to be on the HPC and yet those are the very people who would lead a stronger advocacy so if you felt it shouldn't be there, there should be an understanding that at that point you want people to resign. I don't know if this is what you are advocating for or not. Mr. Rohlf stated that a strong opposite view is healthy. Mayor I~inzing stated that there can be disagreement and should be. You are here to recommend things to us after you have a chance to look at it and I don't want a "yes" group, that's not why you are here. You're here to make a strong recommendation but after