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Assistant Director Vesgo asked the Planning Commissioners to talk about major projects and their priorities for 1998. Comments included: the desire to be more proactive, Franklin Street Area, Downtown Theater Project, traffic and traffic flows, Pete's Harbor area, working more with builders and developers, widening of Woodside Road, affordable housing, in lieu fees, the Downtown, and the importance and/or lack of Council direction. Members discussed the fact that the Planning Commission did not have the ability to set its own priorities, but had to react to projects brought to it. They said this process precluded the Planning Commissioners from having input into projects in their earliest stages and from doing any actual planning. Architectural Advisory Committee members listed: updating the General Plan, especially regarding traffic, the need to work on accepted criteria and requirements for upcoming projects, El Camino Real beautification, Woodside Road, freeways, Franklin Street Area Development, downtown height and bulk, how the Committee approves design documents and what actually gets built which is a concern as well as a project, how much authority the Committee should have in establishing direction of projects when working with developers, the fact that so much of the design is set before it reaches the Architectural Advisory Committee, such as street layout, and perhaps being allowed to review more projects. Council Members, Planning Commissioners and Architecture Advisory Committee Members discussed the problems of overlapping responsibilities, not knowing what the others have done, and "not ganging up on the developers." A suggestion was made that a book be kept on each project. Council Members listed their major projects and priorities for 1998 which were set at the Council Workshop in January which included: regional transportation, long range planning, aesthetics, parks and fields, code enforcement and clean-up, and better communications with boards, committees and commissions. Other priorities listed by individual Council Members included the desirability of more planning responsibilities by the Planning Commission, affordable housing, enforceable and high standards for developments so that what was approved was exactly what was built, and what will the City look like in the future. Council Members said that these priorities had not been fleshed out but were given to staff as guidelines for the discretionary monies in the budget process and as policy guidelines, as well as guidelines for those groups in the City that had asked for direction from Council. Council Member Hartnett said he wanted the Planning Commission to also look at what the City should look like in the future and bring its vision and ideas back to the Council. Council Members, Planning Commissioners and Architectural Advisory Committee Members discussed how best to get support and direction from the Council early on, and maintain independence to do their jobs. Adjourned Regular Meeting/Study Session MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 April 13, 1998 Minutes Page No. 396 Page 10