Springfield City Council last night approved the major goals of a long-term planning guide for the city and Greene County that took years to develop and included input from hundreds of local residents.
A follow-up to Vision 2020, Field Guide 2030 comprises plans for improving the region during the next two decades in 13 areas across four broad themes identified by a resident-led strategic plan coordinating committee.
A total of 13 subcommittees focused on each area or chapter, including arts, culture and tourism; economic development; education and workforce development; housing; and public health. The four themes that informed the suggestions were sustainability, civic engagement, regionalism and minimizing poverty.
Committee Chairman Mark McNay, general manager of Southern Missouri Containers Inc., addressed council before the administrative body voted to approve the resolution. He said the major goals to be considered in the council resolution will provide city and county leaders with an overview of the direction residents want to see their local government move in the future.
“The way the coordinating committee saw this plan rolling out was that it was to provide an overview of the issues we see in our future, both tactically during the next five years and strategically during the next 20,” McNay said at the meeting. “We see that as an opportunity to share a menu of items with today’s City Council and those that will follow.”
Goals identified by the committee include:
- financially sustaining the operating and infrastructure needs of area arts and culture organizations;
- creating a competitive business climate;
- aggressively using economic-development incentives to encourage investment in the community and to encourage job creation and retention;
- strengthening partnerships with community, county, state and federal agencies to meet workforce and life-long training needs of the local service area; and
- creating innovative strategies for revitalization.
Councilman Doug Burlison was the lone member who opposed approval of the resolution, saying he appreciated the work of the committee members and those in the community who actively participated in the process, but he felt the potential costs associated with some of the goals could pose a challenge to economic growth.
City Manager Greg Burris said the planning process began in 2011, when he conducted listening tours to gather input from residents, which helped city and county leaders develop the framework for identifying strategic goals. The goals, however, are not set in stone.
“It is not intended to in any way encumber or influence future councils,” Burris said. “It gives the community a blue print, and says, ‘Here’s the direction we want to go.’”[[In-content Ad]]
