Administrative Brief
COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
VOL. 31 NO. 09
April 2, 2009
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM GARY HOBBIE
Development Services Department - Planning Division
Comprehensive Plan Update - The Comprehensive Plan was initiated in early 2007 and a
signed contract with Gould Evans Associates was approved by the City Commission in August
2007. Since the beginning of this plan's review, over one hundred people from the community
were involved in several meetings and public venues held in schools, churches, local
restaurants, the Stiefel Theatre and the City-County Building. Seventeen community members
formed the Advisory Committee and have worked diligently to feed input to the consultants
throughout this process. Their efforts have helped shape the framework of this plan.
Additionally Gould Evans Associates teamed up with LSA Associates to look at transportation
and connectivity areas, including vehicular, bicycle, walking and hiking trails. Community
Futures was hired to assist in economic development aspects, reviewing and commenting on
interviews and reports from downtown development, Chamber of Commerce and Arts Space
staff members, as well as the Advisory Committee and Focus Group members. Locally Wilson
and Company was hired to look at the existing infrastructure and work towards a future master
plan for utilities. Finally ETC Institute was hired to produce, distribute and score a survey from
several citizens in the community. Each company brought with them years of expertise in their
profession and a fresh look into our existing conditions in Salina.
The plan is separated into three main chapters including (1) The Technical Support
Information, which incorporates a community history review; (2) The Plan, including the areas
of Future Land Use, Growth and Development, Connectivity, Parks, Downtown,
Neighborhoods and Housing and Economic Development; and (3) The Implementation
Process, including action items and policy review suggestions for each of the Plan Document
areas. City staff will have several policy changes to review and revise, as well as new policies
to develop once the implementation items have been completed and the final plan has been
completed and adopted.
City staff recently held two study sessions with the City Commission, Planning Commission
and Advisory Committee members. After the review, City staff has received very few
comments and will work to finish our in-house review within the next two weeks. Once the
plan has been proofed and ready for final publication, study sessions will be planned with the
City Commissioners and Planning Commissioners at which time staff will publish a Public
Hearing Notice and establish a Public Hearing date for the Planning Commissions
consideration for approval, after which a copy of the plan will be sent to the Board of Saline
County Commissioners, Airport Authority, Unified School District and Public Library for review
and comment. The City Commission will be asked to approve or amend the Final
Comprehensive Plan which will complete our Plan Update.
CIM
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City staff wishes to thank the City Commissioners, the Planning Commissioners, the Advisory
Committee Members, the Focus Group Members and many City staff members, for the many
hours of review, extra time taken to develop new and effort taken to give input, read draft plan
documents, develop and print city maps and assist in meeting notices and arrangements.
MONDAY'S MEETING
Enclosed are other items on the agenda. If any Commissioner has questions or cannot
attend the meeting, please contact me.
Jason A. Gage
City Manager