Riley County planning staff outline progress on comprehensive plan; community workshop set for May 14

Amanda Webb, Riley County Planning Director, updated commissioners on progress toward the county’s comprehensive plan. Webb said subcommittees and stakeholders have been meeting, the consultant (Stantec) is completing an existing-conditions study and targeted stakeholder interviews are under way.

Webb told commissioners the comprehensive plan project team expects subcommittees to finish draft goals by mid-May to meet the consultant’s schedule and that Stantec asked for subcommittee work roughly by mid-May. She said staff and the consultant plan public outreach, including advertising and a community workshop on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at a location to be announced. The workshop will present the existing conditions and market analysis and solicit public input.

Webb asked commissioners to suggest stakeholder contacts the county should interview; commissioners recommended including Fort Riley. Webb said the county will publish the consultant’s existing conditions report when ready and will provide multiple ways for residents to give input (in-person workshop, email and a dedicated project address).

Commissioners discussed project branding and logo options presented in a prior survey. Webb said the branding options were preliminary and that staff/communications (Vivian) and the consultant would produce mock-ups; commissioners asked staff to return with additional design and tagline options and to follow the county’s branding policy.

The presentation was informational; commissioners gave staff direction to continue stakeholder outreach, finalize the existing-conditions release and hold the May 14 workshop.