This is a review of what I can glean from the city council packet, posted here every week. I don't talk about everything in the packet, just what seems interesting.

This week on the city council. there will probably be more talk about all of the downtown issues that were talked about last Thursday. Hopefully, there is some talk about an interesting memo written by councilmember Joe Hyer, somewhat in response to the efforts by Jeff Kingsbury and Doug Mah to add four new ordinances to the city's roster in terms of dealing with social issues downtown.

Hyer didn't type his memo in a standard font, so I can't copy and paste the text here, but as a teaser he does refer to Orwell's 1984 in talking about so called "social issue" ordinances. I attached it, so read it here as a pdf.

What I can copy and paste is a draft list of dowtown problem/issue statements the council is discussing. Pretty interesting reading:

Problem/Issue Statements:
• “Bullying” of downtown patrons
• Scofflaws – unpaid and delinquent tickets
• Drug use/dealing in downtown
• Pedestrian interference/obstruction (vague ordinances)
• Smoking on sidewalks in front of/near doorways
• Non-reporting of crime
• Panhandling – aggressive or otherwise
• Public urination – shortage of public restrooms
• No centralized outreach services
• Criminal prosecution not an effective tool for a variety of reasons
• Living in vehicles
• Unsanitary camps – public health concerns
• Too many empty storefronts and unkempt buildings
• Nuisance behaviors that are not illegal
• Graffiti and vandalism
• Availability of high octane alcohol, fortified beer and wine
• Public intoxication
• Speeding/Failure to yield to pedestrians
• Inattentive pedestrians
• Littering/Trash – groups
• Lots of litter on Saturdays and Sunday mornings
• Lack of recycling/garbage receptacles
• Lack of people living downtown in housing
• Fear
• Lack of common courtesy to others
• Lack of affordable housing
• Not enough people/activity downtown
• Landlord/Tenant Act – evictions

The other big issue that is going to get people downtown for the city council meeting on Tuesday is the public hearing on Chambers Lake area moritorium. Since a few years ago there has been a spike in development in this corner of town, which is pretty marshy and wet historically. A lot of residents wonder where all the new run-off was going to go, the city didn't know, so they put a stop to all the development for now.

Now, the city has to consider a future course, and there will be a lot to discuss on Tuesday with the public. Here is the great pro/con section of the staff report on this item:

Option 1. Continue moratorium for six months and direct staff to focus on hybrid approach of design and funding for stormwater line necessary for development as planned west of Wiggins Road, and formulation of refined proposal to amend Comprehensive Plan to generally provide for low density zoning east of Wiggins Road (about one unit per two acres) consistent with drainage limitations and flooding risks. (Staff proposal.)
Pros 1. Additional time would be provided to refine analysis and proposals.
2. Staff resources would be directed to refining a single hybrid approach.
3. Issue likely to be resolved 12 to 18 months after moratorium enacted.

Cons 1. Landowners’ opportunities for development would continue to be restricted and in doubt.
2. Alternative approaches would receive little further analysis by City staff.

Option 2. Continue moratorium for six months and direct staff to continue refining analysis of all viable approaches.

Pros 1. Detailed information would be compiled regarding all possibilities.
2. More information would be available for final decision.

Cons 1. Extensive staff resources would continue to be directed to this work program.
2. Total time period of moratorium likely to be extended by extra six months.
3. No direction provided regarding likely outcome.

Option 3. Allow moratorium to lapse.

Pros 1. Property owners would be permitted to proceed with development.
2. Staff and City resources could be directed to other problems and issues.

Cons 1. Identified drainage and flooding issues would not be addressed.
2. Risk of flood damage to existing and future development and public facilities.

The other big issue that is the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, which  to be honest with you, I haven't read into this year. This is typically important stuff becasue it isn't easy to amend the Comp Plan, which is the guiding development document for the entire city.

There are nine amendsments, and I've attached the file so you can read them yourself.

Attachment	Size
G_DowntownIssuesATT3.pdf	710.89 KB
OB_2006CompPlanAmendmentATT1.pdf	581.61 KB