Adopt Resolution #15-02-046 Approving the Environmental Policy Board's Statement of Purpose and Scope

As the City Council will recall, last fall a joint City Council/Environmental Policy Board (EPB) meeting was held to discuss the purpose of the EPB.  Through this discussion, various concepts and strategies emerged to begin shaping a new direction for the EPB.  Building on the thoughts and comments from the joint City Council/EPB meeting, the EPB conducted a collaborative session at their December meeting to develop and refine their purpose.  

A Statement of Purpose and Scope has been developed and approved by the EPB.  The document identifies five (5) focus areas for the EPB, including taking an active role in reviewing certain Land Use Applications, involvement in the Comprehensive Plan Update process, education, emerging issues, and periodic review of the Zoning Code as it relates to natural resources and the Comprehensive Plan.  One or more members of the EPB will be present to review the document with City Council this evening.

The most significant component of the document is the Board's new role in actively reviewing certain Land Use Applications.  As outlined in the document, the EPB will now be incorporated into the review process for Major Plats (four [4] or more lots), Site Plans, Variances in Overlay Districts (Wild and Scenic, Critical Area, Shoreland, and Floodplain), and Comprehensive Plan Amendments.  The Board certainly expressed interest in this new role but cautioned they wanted to ensure that their involvement could be incorporated into the current review process (i.e. they didn't want to extend the process for an applicant).  The EPB's regular meeting day is being moved to the third Monday of the month (beginning in April) which ensures that their involvement in the review process can be accommodated within the existing timeline and will occur prior to any public hearing conducted by the Planning Commission.

The EPB recommends that City Council approve their new Statement of Purpose and Scope.

Motion to adopt Resolution #15-02-046 approving the EPB's Statement of Purpose and Scope.