The steering committee tasked with helping develop Washington’s new comprehensive plan continued to revise draft objectives during a meeting Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 18.
Goals for the plan are divided into six major focus groups including aesthetics, civic improvement, land use, transportation and infrastructure, parks and recreation and economic development.
Committee members worked their way through civic improvement and economic development objectives to make sure they can be easily understood and convey the correct meaning. Objectives were added or deleted as needed.
The public was invited to vote on draft goals during a visioning session in May. The goals were then narrowed down to the top five or six in each focus group, with about 40 goals total. Actionable objectives to meet the goals were created.
The committee is now working to revise the objectives. Once the committee has combed through all the objectives, the draft goals and objectives will be presented to the public for comment, likely in late October or early November.
Booth at Festival
To get additional comments from the public, a booth will be set up this weekend at the Fall Festival of the Arts and Crafts in Downtown Washington.
The Lang Gang, the consultant hired to develop the plan, has two subcontractors, Washington Engineering and Surveying and Arcturis, St. Louis, whose role is on the public participation side of the plan. Arcturis will set up a booth at the festival.
Festival visitors will have the opportunity to look over information and learn about the process of creating the plan.
The comprehensive plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Background
A total of 14 people serve on the steering committee including Bob Dobsch, Gretchen Aubuchon Pettet, Joe Gubbels, John Vietmeier, Julie Scannell, Kurt Voss, Scott Breckenkamp, Terri McLain, Tessie Steffens;
Carolyn Witt, Tim Brinker, council member, Gayle Hachman, planning and zoning board member, Tom Holdmeier, plan board chairman, and Mayor Sandy Lucy.
The next meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the city council chamber in Washington.
