The City of Salem wants your input on what you would like to see the city accomplish in the next ten years.
A community listening session for the comprehensive plan will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 Wednesday night at the Harvest Room in the Orchard Shopping Center at 1300 South Broadway.
The city has hired a consultant to lead the effort to develop the plan.
Jim Arndt says work is already underway.
“We’ve had four different planning sessions,” Arndt said, “looking at each individual quadrant of the community to see what their special needs are, what their identity is in those quadrants, what future projects and grant programs they’re wanting to start in those quadrants over the next ten years.”
Arndt explains what happens beginning Wednesday night.
“We’re going to actually be able to learn from the community, listen to the community as a whole to see the things that they want to see accomplished over the next ten years. After getting that feedback, we’ll be meeting with the planning commission to learn their desires and vision for the community for the next ten years. The next step after that, we’re going to meet with the city council in a formal council session, with the whole council together, to learn what they want to do over the next ten years.”
Arndt feels it’s important for cities to have a comprehensive plan.
“You have to have a target. In order to have a clear destination, you have to set the destination, and that’s what the city is doing with the comprehensive plan. I give credit to the city of Salem for doing a strategic plan a few years ago, but that’s short-term. You’re looking at three to four, sometimes five years with the strategic plan, really goal-specific within that short period of time. The comprehensive plan allows you to take a bigger look at the future and see what you want to get accomplished over a decade.”
Everyone is invited to attend and make their thoughts known at the Community Listening Center from 6 to 7:30 Wednesday night at the Harvest Room.
