Plan Commission (Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m.)

PLAN COMMISSION Minutes December 20, 2023 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Chair Paine at 4:00 pm on September 20, 2023 in Government Center Room 270. 1 ROLL CALL PRESENT: Jim Paine, Brent Fennessey, Laura Gapske, Brian Finstad, Anne Porter, Garner Moffat VIRTUAL: ABSENT: Lindsey Graskey CITY STAFF PRESENT: Director Serck, Tech Becken, Chief of Staff Scherf OTHERS PRESENT: Shelly Nelson, Lori Ronchi, Kelly Keller, Cory Gatzke, Kimber Johnson 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1 Plan Commission Minutes from September 20, 2023 MOTION to approve September 20, 2023, minutes by Commissioner Fennessey, seconded by Commissioner Porter. Carried. 3 OLD BUSINESS 4 NEW BUSINESS Chair Paine asked the commission to take business out of order to allow more time for late coming Small Business Grant applicants. Commission agreed. 4.1 Review and approve proposed changes to Certificate of Appropriateness Process Chair Paine asked Jeff Skrenes to introduce the Historic Preservation process. Commissioner Fennessey asked for clarification on what CLG status means. Skrenes explained the designation means a community has met state criteria and therefore allows participants to be eligible for more tax credits. Commissioner Fennessey asked if historical properties qualify for those things regardless of the CLG status. Commissioner Finstad explained that grant eligibility expands through the Historical Society and shared from the Historical Society website. Commissioner Paine asked for clarification on what sort of code standards may be offered. Director Serck shared it meant that the historical homes could potentially ask to make updates to their home under older codes that may allow for less structural damage in updating something like electrical. Commissioner Finstad shared that by and large, his experience with criteria like this have been positive, as the interaction with homeowners tend to be positive as it’s a chance for the historical team to help find solutions with the homeowner rather than just offering negative directives. PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES - 12/20/23 Mtg (Meets monthly on 3RD Wednesday of each month) Page 1 of 3 Chair Paine asked if CLG gives the city enforcement ability. Skrenes clarified that the CLG status allows the city to have clarity on what it can and can’t do when it comes to historically designated properties that are part of the local historical designation program. Commissioner Moffat asked for clarity on what ‘alter’ means in the new language, specifically citing a situation where someone with a brick historical building might want to paint it all black. Chair Paine shared thought structure was actually the structure, not necessarily paint. Commissioner Finstad shared that paint could be tricky, but with brick or stone, paint could be structural change. Moffat agreed that it could be a very dynamic change. Director Serck shared that paint is not generally a change that requires a permit. Commissioner Moffat asked for clarification on if decorative elements would be considered structural and named ones that are often associated with period architecture. Chair Paine shared that being too specific allows for unnamed potential elements to be exempt. Commissioner Gapske added that keeping it broader might put those questions in the hands of the Historical Preservation Committee to be able to discern as questions rise. Commissioner Finstad added if there’s not a direct list, people will ask. Skrenes said there is an area for definitions earlier in the code area, so potential for adding more clarity. Fennessey noted that vague could be helpful as noted earlier. Commissioner Gapske asked if clarification could be added in earlier definition and be brought back to the Plan Commission for further consideration. MOTION to approve the proposed changes to certificate of appropriateness process by Commissioner Fennessey, seconded by Commissioner Gapske. Carried. Skrenes shared that the Historical Preservation Committee would be looking at the definitions at their January meeting and he would return to the Plan Commission in the future to discuss again and make further recommendations. 4.2 Small Business Grant Application Q4 Review & Recommendation a. Bird’s Bar b. Strength Factory c. Yes, Cheese d. Lori Ronchi Agency Inc Tech Becken introduced the four grant applications and shared representatives were online and available for questions. Director Serck reminded the commission that the Small Business Grant process would be up for review at the January meeting, so actual process comments and changes anyone had in mind would be a topic for January. Chair Paine shared three were very obviously building related, where one was more equipment based and asked if there were any questions for Kelly Keller who had to leave early. Commissioner Fennessey agreed that one grant was more focused on equipment. Chair Paine if there was a recommendation for all four to be approved. PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES - 12/20/23 Mtg (Meets monthly on 3RD Wednesday of each month) Page 2 of 3 MOTION to approve all applications and recommend to the City Council by Commissioner Moffatt, seconded by Commissioner Finstad. Carried. 5 ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 4:30 Respectfully submitted by Stephanie Becken. PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES - 12/20/23 Mtg (Meets monthly on 3RD Wednesday of each month) Page 3 of 3