Mount Clemens outlines updated master plan and sharper public‑engagement strategy

Mount Clemens City Commission members agreed at a work session to fold a refreshed downtown plan and riverfront redevelopment into the city’s master plan update and to sharpen the plan’s language and public‑engagement approach. Commissioners said the RFP for the master plan will explicitly include downtown considerations — public infrastructure, private development, and how projects will integrate with riverfront work — and signaled several future work sessions to refine scope and metrics.

The commission debated terminology for strategy language, with some members arguing for more active, measurable verbs such as 'redevelop' rather than passive phrasing like 'visioning.' Unidentified Speaker 5 urged the group to combine messaging goals — ‘‘Celebrate our successes and impart essential information’’ — so the city both highlights wins and meets day‑to‑day public‑information needs.

Staff described multi‑channel communications already in use — social media, the city website, the Clementine newsletter, public hearings and community surveys — and said an upcoming website redesign is intended to improve accessibility and user experience. Commissioners asked that analytics from social channels and the planned community survey be included as metrics for measuring outreach success; staff said they are working with county partners to run a statistically strong survey that can target underrepresented groups.

The group also discussed media relations and whether the strategic plan should specify who may speak to reporters. Commissioners favored a manual and baseline media‑training for elected officials to reduce out‑of‑context reporting; staff noted that for sensitive or legally risky issues, comments should route through the city manager’s office. The commission left the drafting of precise communications language to staff and scheduled follow‑up to incorporate metrics and the survey design.

The work session closed with direction to finalize RFP language and include clear public‑participation and measurement expectations in the strategic plan.