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Resident asks Leavenworth commission for a clearer strategy to boost population and jobs
Summary
During public comment, John Kessler urged the commission to adopt a measurable growth strategy to increase population and attract employers, noting parks earmarked $500,000 for land acquisition but asking who is accountable to expand the tax base.
John Kessler, a Leavenworth resident, used his public-comment time to press the commission for a clearer economic strategy. “What is Leavenworth's strategy for growth?” Kessler asked, criticizing budget documents that, he said, focus on repairing and preserving existing assets but do not define where the city is going. He highlighted the parks department's $500,000 set‑aside for land acquisition as an example of long‑term thinking and urged the commission to apply similar goals to economic development.
Kessler asked who is accountable for delivering a growth strategy, how the city will measure success, and how the commission plans to expand the sales‑tax base so the burden on existing taxpayers is reduced. The commission did not take action on his request during the public‑comment period; staff and commissioners acknowledged the question and thanked him for the remarks.
