CITY OF HEPPNER

PLANNING COMMISSION

July 7, 2003

ATTENDEES:

Dan Dunnett, Vice-Chairman

Jerry Breazeale, City Manager

Debra Kendrick, via phone

Suzanne Jepsen

Bob Jepsen, Mayor

Bill Kuhn, City Attorney

ABSENT:  Jerry Gentry, Chairman, Bill Green, Dave Fowler, Rod Wilson

MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC:

John Edmundson

1.  General Business:

      A)  Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM, by Vice-Chairman Dunnett.

      B)  Introductions:  Mr. Edmundson is attending the meeting as a private citizen.

      C)  Announcements:  Due to the lack of a quorum, official business of the Planning Commission will be postponed until a later date.

      D)  Approval of the minutes of the Planning Commission June 7, 2003.  Action tabled until the next official meeting of the Planning Commission.

2.  Old Business.  TGM Grant, Downtown Development Plan – Ordinance revisions, Transportation System Plan, Comp Plan Revision.  Ordinance Adoption. 

      A)  TGM Grant, Downtown Development Plan – Ordinance revisions, Transportation System Plan, Comp Plan Revisions.  Due to the lack of a quorum, this revised ordinance cannot be recommended for adoption by the City Council. 

      DISCUSSION: 

      At the June 23, 2003, Special City Council meeting, additional public recommendations for revision to the ordinance were presented and discussed.  Due to this, adoption of the ordinance was tabled until additional changes were made.  According to Mr. Breazeale, these changes have now been made by Mitchell-Nelson.  Mrs. Jepsen stated that she feels that the plan which was originally approved for recommendation to the City Council by the Planning Commission on June 7, 2003, should be kept as approved at that time.  She also stated that we would then have the plan in place to apply for grants. 

      Mr. Edmundson asked about the statement made at the June 23 meeting, that the person “Didn’t want Heppner to look like Wilsonville.”  He stated that he didn’t feel any creditability should be given to this statement. 

      Mr. Dunnett stated that in his opinion, trees would add to the appearance of the city.  He commented that we need to decide what we want Heppner to look like for residents as well as people coming into the area.  He feels that whatever we do has to be done within resources.  Mr. Dunnett also stated that Lewiston, ID, and Clarkston, WA, have trees in their area which make it very attractive.   

      Mrs. Jepsen stated that the plan could be changed as needed.

      Mr. Breazeale stated that in his opinion, Mr. Dunnett should attend the July 14, 2003, City Council meeting due to his expertise in this area.  Mr. Edmundson stated that he will be unable to attend this meeting, but he would like to encourage the city government to stay the course and move ahead with the original plan.  He also wondered if any kind of turn lane was proposed for the CBEC and Heritage Plaza area.  According to Mr. Breazeale, this was deleted from the TSP.  Nothing about access to CBEC was included.  Mr. Edmundson feels a turn lane would be beneficial in slowing down traffic coming into town and he wondered how it could be put back into the plan.  Mr. Jepsen stated that the turn lane was removed from the plan.

      Mrs. Jepsen asked if it would be appropriate to have Ms. Kendrick attend the Council meeting and state that the Planning Commission wanted the plan to stand as it was originally recommended to the Council. 

      Mr. Jepsen stated that under a previous city manager, some sort of screening was recommended to improve the entrances to Heppner.  In Mr. Jepsen’s opinion, it would be easier to leave this item in the plan and if changes were needed, to request them from the Planning Commission as required. 

      Mrs. Jepsen recommended approval by the City Council of the original proposal approved by the Planning Commission. 

3.  Additional Discussion:

      A)  Mrs. Jepsen suggested that in the future, Planning Commission members be called or notified via e-mail prior to the meetings to verify their attendance and ensure that a quorum will be present to conduct official business.

      B)  Mrs. Jepsen stated that Mr. Green’s non-attendance at commission meetings needs to be dealt with.  Mr. Breazeale stated that Mr. Green will be notified by mail.  Mrs. Jepsen stated that she is in favor of allowing Mr. Green the option of attending future meetings regularly or resigning his membership on the Planning Commission. 

      C)  At the next regular City Council meeting, a hearing will be held on the use of exhaust brakes within the City Limits.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:30 PM.