What's Up? - 2 Feb 2016

So I've wanted to use modern communication tools to help interested members of the public stay up to speed on what's going on with their City Council. I'm still adjusting to life on the Council and organizing my time to be as effective as possible. Time spent on this blog is time away from pushing other priorities forward. But this is a priority for me, and I want to get going with it, even if it isn't polished. Here is what I came up with this time. I imagine it'll morph a little as I go along. This is coming very late, just before the meetings. I'll try to do better next time.

What's coming up?

2 Feb 2016 Work Meeting:

1) A discussion regarding a proposed resolution appropriating $97,000 in the Engineering Capital Improvement Fund for lighting and landscape improvements on 300 South.
There is not much information in our packets on this one (instruction on how to access the support documents is here). I imagine that this has to do with the road reconstruction project. I look forward to learning more about this tomorrow. 
2) A follow up discussion on Council Priorities and Vision for the city.
I'm excited about this one. We've put a lot of work into defining our priorities, and I hope we can wrap this up and get to work on them. Information on the work that has already been done, including preliminary priorities, can be found in the packet.
3) Discussion comparing Council goals and priorities to the Mayor's goals and priorities.
From the packet: "The purpose of this item is to compare the Council Priorities to those of the Mayor and get a better understanding for where the Council and Administration align. The Council is interested in understanding where there is alignment of goals so that the Council may provide recommendations and develop policy to guide Administration efforts."
4) A discussion on an ad hoc housing committee.
Housing is a topic that has concerned the former Council and the new Council for months. It is a broad topic that covers specific concerns like the "missing middle" and concentrations. A fairly major effort is underway to study the best practices from other cities and to see how to best apply them to our City. This committee is the next step in this process.
5) A discussion on Council rules regarding how land use items get on Work Meeting agendas.

2 Feb 2016 Council Meeting:

1) A presentation of the January Employee of the Month Award to Lisa Stewart, Legal Secretary.
I've always enjoyed this segment in the past. We have some great employees service our city! Congrats to Lisa Stewart, I look forward to the presentation tomorrow.
2) A presentation from Women in Leadership by Pat Jones.
Ms. Jones is the CEO of the Women's Leadership Institute and has been a leader in business and public service. Read more about her contributions.
3) A public hearing on a resolution appropriating $97,000 in the Engineering Capital Improvement Fund for lighting and landscape improvements on 300 South.
See my description on this item in the Work Meeting.
4) A resolution consenting to the appointment of Kim Santiago to the Provo Housing Authority Board.
A member of the Council has traditionally served on the Board for PHA.
5) A public hearing on a resolution to adopt the Franklin Neighborhood Plan as part of the Provo General Plan.
I could fill up a couple of pages on this item alone. I support the Neighborhood Planning effort in general, and this particular plan is a product of a lot of good work and collaboration. But I also have some concerns with the overall effort and with a couple of aspects of this particular plan. I plan to discuss these concerns at the meeting tomorrow.
6) A public hearing on an ordinance amending Provo City Code Section 14.29.150(3) (Uses Conducted Within Buildings) in the Planned Industrial Commercial (PIC) Zone to add an allowance for outdoor storage with increased landscape standards.
In a nut shell, here are my questions about this item:
1. What is the vision for this area?
2. Is the current zoning appropriate for the vision?
3. Will the proposed amendment make it more likely to realize the vision?
4. Does the vision for this area need to be revised?
7) A public hearing on an ordinance amending Provo City Code Section 14.34.290(4) (South State Street Design Corridor and Guidelines) to clarify language in the South State Street Design Corridor.
We went through this information at the last Work Meeting. It looked fairly straight forward to me.

What's been up?

19 Jan 2016 Work Meeting:

Consideration of the creation of a proposed ad hoc Council Development Approval Process Review Committee focused on city development processes. (16-011)   Approved 6:0.Council Member Kay Van Buren excused.
This is a major priority for me, I'm excited to be on the committee.

A discussion and assignment of Council  Members to various committees. (16-007) Approved for Council Members  David Knecht, to  be the Chair of  the Neighborhood Program Review Committee, David  Sewell, Chair of the  Rules Committee,  Kim Santiago, Chair of the Budget Committee, Gary  Winterton, Chair  of the Policy Governance Committee, Council Member  David Sewell  Chair of the Council Development Approval Process Review Committee and Kay Van  Buren as a Committee  Member. Approved 6:0. Council Member Kay Van Buren excused.
You can see the make up of the committees in the support documents for this item of the agenda.
A follow up  discussion on Council Priorities and Vision for the City. (16-015)   Approved to  adopt  the four  Council values presented by Council  Staff and for  each individual Council Member to use the format that David Harding has introduced to complete each  of their individual priorities. The drafts are to be shared with other Council Members for their review and completed by the February 2, 2016 Work Meeting. Approved: 7:0.
We made some good progress. Hopefully we will wrap up tomorrow.
A report from the Mayor's Provo Bicycle Committee. (16-010)   Report Only
2015 was the best year...yet.
An update on  Provo City  Sanitation Composting and Green Waste Recycling. (16-013)   Report Only
...
An overview of the Provo  City  Franklin  Neighborhood  Plan.  Franklin Neighborhood.  (150003GPA)  This item will be heard at the February 2, 2016 Council Meeting.

An overview of a request to amend Section 14.29.150(3) Uses Conducted Within  Buildings in  the Planned Industrial Commercial (PIC) Zone.  City-Wide Impact. (15-0013OA) This item will be heard at the February 2, 2016 Council Meeting.

An overview of a request to amend Section 14.34.290, to amend the South State  Street Design Corridor.  Spring Creek and Provost South Neighborhoods. (15-0019OA)  This item will be heard at the February 2, 2016 Council Meeting.

19 Jan 2016 Council Meeting:

A presentation by the Covey Center.

A presentation of the Winter Commuter Award.

A review of the 2015 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). (16-014)

A public hearing on  a resolution amending the General Plan to include Provo  Downtown  Streetscape Standards in a new Appendix I (City  Design Standards). City-Wide Impact. (150004GPA)  Approved 7:0, Use Streetscape Standards that  Austin Corry sent on 1-19, titled  “Exhibit ADowntown Streetscape Standards”

A public hearing on  an ordinance amending Provo  City Code Sections 14.06.020 (Definitions) and 14.34.230 (Residential Facilities). City-Wide Impact.  (15-0017OA) Approved 7:0.

Open for Business: During the last Work Meeting, we formally approved the creation of the Council Development Approval Process Review Committee. I will be the Chair of that committee and will serve with Council members Dave Harding and Kay Van Buren. The Administration will be working in close cooperation with us to develop standards for desired outcomes and service levels for the development approval process. Council Priorities and Vision: This is the first year since I have been on the Council where we have made an effort to identify priorities for the year at the very beginning of the year.