Council discusses revising 2030 vision plan committee structure and coordinating with Bonner Group strategic plan

Riverview councilmembers and staff discussed next steps for the city's 2030 vision plan committee, including whether to reissue a formal resolution that clarifies membership, deliverables and a steering structure, and how to coordinate the committee's work with a separately contracted strategic planning effort by the Bonner Group.

A speaker recounted the original motion: "It was on 10/17/2022. It was a motion by council member Workman, seconded by council member Blanchett that an ad hoc 2030 vision plan committee to be initiated with council members Gagnaga, Norton, and O'Neil to serve as the steering committee and to direct the city manager and the city attorney to work with these council members to prepare and complete a plan to engage our residents and businesses in planning the city's future for the full council to consider as soon as possible and further that the appointment of council member Robin as the alternate committee member be approved. It was carried unanimously," the speaker read from the record.

Council members said the 2022 motion provided a starting point but that the committee's scope, membership and expected deliverables should be updated. Staff and council discussed a proposed steering committee made up of the council appointees plus the city manager and community development director, and subcommittees to hold topic-specific public meetings and town halls.

The Bonner Group's separate contract for an economic strategic plan was raised. Council and staff described the Bonner Group's work as a distinct product that could serve as input to the vision plan; the Bonner Group's contract was discussed in meeting remarks as a roughly $32,500 strategic plan and as separate from the vision-plan committee's responsibilities. Participants said the two efforts should share data and interview results to avoid duplication. One staff member said Bonner planned interviews with council members, business owners and school board representatives and had timeline benchmarks through March, April and May with an expected June completion for portions of the strategic work.

Budget and staffing questions were central to the discussion. Committee members said they expect a need for administrative support (meeting scheduling, copying, outreach), and possibly paid interns or part-time administrative hours. Council suggested that once the committee sets its scope, it should present a budget estimate showing required hours and anticipated consultant support.

Council members also raised practical items from the committee's notes: a proposed steering committee of five to seven business owners plus the mayor, a council representative, the city manager and the community development director (dates and membership in existing notes appeared inconsistent); one speaker said electronic copies of prior vision-plan documents exist but some records remain only in a box of printed materials that staff will digitize if needed.

No new resolution or formal vote was taken at the meeting; councilmembers asked staff and the existing appointees to prepare a revised resolution or motion that clarifies membership, deliverables and budget before bringing it back for council concurrence.