CITY OF PHOENIX
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE
1000 SOUTH "B" ST
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012

CALL TO ORDER

Council President Nelson called the special joint meeting of the City Council/Planning
Commission to order on Monday, April 30, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Public Works Office.

ROLL CALL

                PRESENT:            Diana Nelson, Karen Jones, Carolyn Bartell, William
Moore, Micki Summerhays, Ike Eisenhauer, David Lewin,
Terry Helfrich, Tracy Phillips

                  ABSENT:            Bruce Sophie, Jeff Bellah, Carlos DeBritto

            Staff Present:       Eli Naffah, City Manager/Recorder

                                          Janette Boothe, Deputy City Recorder

                                          Steffen Roennfeldt, Assistant Planner

STUDY SESSION ON REGIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING PLAN:

Dick Converse explained the meeting was prepared as an introduction to the upcoming
hearings.  He then followed up with the schedule, beginning with the Public Hearing at the
Planning Commission meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.  The following hearing
will be held on June 18, 2012 at the City Council meeting.  Mr. Converse further explained
the Jackson County Planning Commission is scheduled to review the plan on May 24, 2012.
He went on to explain the process for these hearings.

Mr. Converse presented the proposed Regional Plan Element of the Phoenix Comprehensive
Plan, beginning with the review of the Regional Plan by the Department of Land Conservation
and Development (DLCD).  He explained the DLCD made several recommendations to the
plan at its March 15, 2012 meeting, documented in a letter dated March 26, 2012 to Kelly
Madding, Director of Jackson County Department of Development Services.  Mr. Converse
further explained the documented recommendations in detail and followed up with the
Regional Plan Element as he took questions from council and planning commission members. 

Mr. Converse further explained the process involved adopting the plan.  The county has
adopted the plan by ordinance and will be revising the ordinance according to the
recommendations given by DLCD.  The upcoming hearings will be held to offer the
public the opportunity to be heard; however, at this stage in the process, the City
will not be revisiting the growth areas, as they have been adopted by the Board of
Commissioners.  The focus of the meetings will on the regional plan element itself and
adoption of the City’s portion of the Regional Plan. Further discussion followed, as Mr.
Converse explained that he will be at the upcoming scheduled meetings to formally
present the plan.

Mike Montero, 4497 Brownridge Terrace, Medford, briefly explained the letter (on file) he
distributed to the council and planning commission at the meeting.  He further explained
that he is alerting the City that Harry and David Holdings, along with Arrowhead Ranch,
are in the process of working with the DLCD to explore potential refinements to its advice
to the Commission.

Greg Holmes, PO Box 2442, Grants Pass, OR, Southern Oregon Planning Advocate of 1000
Friends of Oregon, spoke in favor of the PH-5 and the South Valley Employment Center
recommendations given by the DLCD.  He further explained his position by stating Phoenix
would not have the opportunity for this type of employment land, were it not for this
process. 1000 Friends of Oregon has actively supported the inclusion of PH-5 into the
plan, so as to provide justification for the volume of employment land in the City of
Phoenix to the land use system.  He further explained that there is flexibility in the plan
regarding the employment land in the DLCD’s revision.  Additionally, he further explained
the process for the City’s adoption of the Regional Plan Element.

Dan O’Connor, 823 Alder Creek Dr., Medford, expressed he is contemplating a proposal
to the City of requesting an 8 acre exclusion from Industrial Land on PH-5 on the very
southern end of the Arrowhead Ranch property.  He further explained the only way he
would move forward with this proposal would be if he reaches an agreement with 1000
Friends of Oregon and the DLCD that the exclusion is consistent with the RPS process.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,                                  Attest:

Janette Boothe                                                Eli Naffah

Deputy City Recorder                                    City Manager/Recorder