As the Board is aware, for some time now the staff has been working with Stantec to update the 2019 CRA Plan document (update to the 2001 Plan). To begin an assessment was conducted to determine the status of each element of the current plan.  This information was used in various ways during the update process, including during public involvement.  Immediately following the document review and assessment process the public involvement stage was initiated and involved the following: stakeholder interviews (downtown businesses, hoteliers, chamber of commerce, realtors, developers, residents) and meetings, two public workshops, a project website was developed which contained a survey and additionally there were several social media posts.

The next phase of the process involved some additional evaluation as consideration was given to the existing boundaries of the CRA to identify any parcels or areas that may no longer be appropriate for inclusion in the district. The following phase of the project involved the development of the vision and goals and some of this material was informed based on the previous Plan Update and further refined and articulated through the public involvement process. At this point in the planning the study honed in on three focus areas and they are: U.S. Highway 19, Neighborhoods and the Downtown Area. With the vision, goals and focus areas serving as the broader framework some preliminary objectives have been identified-including economic development, infrastructure, housing, appearance, and others. Once the plan is complete and approved by you these objectives will then be further articulated into organized and detailed policies that will be used in the coming years to facilitate implementation of the plan.