City kicks off comprehensive master plan update; planners propose subcommittee and public survey

The Planning Commission received a formal kickoff on April 9 for a comprehensive master plan update that will include a community master plan, a housing study and a non‑motorized master plan. Consultant Rowe introduced the project team and presented a proposed one‑year schedule that begins with a public attitude survey, moves through alternatives and an open house and targets adoption of all components in April 2027.

Consultants and staff said the update is required to be reviewed at least every five years and emphasized the importance of aligning the future land use map and zoning to implement city goals. The team proposed public engagement tools (an online attitude survey and an open house with multiple stations) and recommended forming a 5–7 member subcommittee or steering committee to carry out detailed review work between monthly Planning Commission meetings.

Commissioners debated the merits of a subcommittee versus handling the work as the full Planning Commission. Supporters said a subcommittee allows weekly work and faster review of technical chapters; skeptics said the full Commission should be sufficiently involved to ensure familiarity with the process and outcomes. Commissioners asked staff to return to the next meeting with suggested names for a subcommittee, applicable state law or charter citations and a plan for outreach to ensure diversity of viewpoints. Staff said the notice-to-planning-letter to utilities and adjacent jurisdictions will be sent within the next month and that the public survey will be developed and distributed for review.

The commission did not finalize a subcommittee at the hearing; staff will bring recommendations and legal guidance to the next meeting and continue work on the survey and notice steps.