Lake City council begins strategic-plan talks, residents press housing, youth programs and recreation

Lake City Mayor Noah Walker opened a strategic-planning discussion at the March 10 Lake City Council meeting, saying the city should be "a business friendly community with such things as a start up incubator to help our local, folks start businesses, grow their businesses here in town" while retaining a "small town city feel." City Manager Don Rosenthal introduced the contracted consultants from Sarafin and Mercury, who asked the council to identify five-year priorities.

The nut graf: Council members and the consultants flagged housing availability, youth programming and recreation, public safety and economic development (anchored by the nearby Mega Industrial Park and interstates I-75 and I-10) as top priorities for the strategic plan. Staff told the council they will follow up with a public survey and targeted outreach and hold a business roundtable the next day.

Most council members framed housing as the biggest near-term constraint. Council members used the term "affordable housing" repeatedly and discussed the need for starter homes, workforce housing and a broader housing…