During a recent government meeting, council members discussed the progress of the master plan update, which is set to be completed by February 2026. This update marks the culmination of nearly a decade since the last revision, with the original master plan first adopted in 1996 and subsequently updated in 2006 and 2016.

Director Ruedes outlined the timeline for the update, emphasizing the need for a completed master plan by September 2025 to meet the February deadline. The process will involve a citizen-based committee, similar to previous updates, which will include volunteers from the community, planning and zoning commission members, and city council liaisons. The director sought feedback on whether to replicate the structure used in 2016, which included 23 participants, or to consider a different approach.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of engaging a facilitator to guide discussions and keep the process on track, as well as potentially re-engaging Jonathan Barnett, the original author of the master plan, for his insights on current trends that could impact the update.

Council members expressed their support for the proposed citizen-based approach and discussed the logistics of participation numbers, weighing the benefits of a larger group against the challenges of managing a more extensive committee.

As the meeting concluded, the council acknowledged the need for further discussion and direction on the master plan update, with plans to reconvene for additional input and decisions in the coming months.