WARSAW — Does the council share the same vision for the city of Warsaw as the mayor? What are the goals for the city? A two-hour work session was held Wednesday afternoon with members of the Warsaw Common Council, clerk-treasurer, mayor and the city’s plan department to update and reestablish goals set out in the 2012 Strategic Plan.

Council members began discussion on two of the six goals set out in the 2012 Strategic Plan and will meet again at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the second floor conference room. The work session is open to the public.

The group took a “10,000 foot view” of what the mayor and council is trying to get done in the next four years. “This will make the smaller details easier to compromise on,” stated Mayor Joe Thallemer.

The mayor stated the 2012 plan, prepared by American Strcturepoint, Inc., provided a vision the mayor had and was reaffirmed by council members. Goals were set and various projects started to meet those goals. While some goals have yet to be completed, accomplishment is in the works.

Jeremy Skinner, city planner, reviewed the six strategic goals from the 2012 plan, sub-goals or objectives, and what was done to accomplish each of those sub-goals. Those goals are: growth management, business retention and expansion, business attraction, downtown Warsaw, communications and processes and neighborhood revitalization.

He posed these questions to council members:

• Are the goals still relevant?
• Are the objectives accomplishing the goals?
• What has happened over the last four years that may have impacted the original goals and objectives?
• Where has the town fallen short of meeting the goals and objectives? How are those shortcomings be addressed?

Skinner presented six areas that may have impacted the goals and objects in the past four years: U.S. 30 Coalition; Warsaw Chemical Fire; Stormwater fee/issues; sanitary sewer issues/capacity; housing issues/aging in place/low moderate income housing and increase rail traffic/safety issues, connectivity.

He expounded on each area stating the coalition is how those in the US 30 corridor dictate to INDOT what is seen in the future – does it get moved or comprised by under passes and over passes; the chemical fire brought to light thoughts about environmental issues and what happens to the lakes; projects dealing with flooding due to storm water issues; and growth plans and will the sanitary sewer plant need expanded. The housing issues includes a number of areas to think about including senior housing. It was also noted that a feasibility study has been approved for a grade separation with Norfolk/Southern.

“We’re brain storming here on where do you want to go? Where do you want to be? What will you be talking about four years from now?” stated Skinner.

Council members were in agreement the goals and sub goals for growth management and business retention were still relevant, but came up with a number of objectives.

In the area of growth management objective areas included: areas without utilities or sidewalks within the city; connectivity/walkability; airport’s needs – land/expansion; exploring joint city/county planning; zoning and land use discrepancies – land use trends.

Business retention and expansion suggested objectives including recognizing existing businesses, providing more and/or better programs, collaboration v. city initiative, and looking at why businesses are not downtown – actively seeking new businesses downtown is the city or others doing that?

Skinner and Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, assisted council members by answering questions and providing additional ideas in areas suggested as goals. They also suggested that maybe new objectives be added.

Skinner and Dombrosky will take the information provided from the work sessions and develop a new plan, including cleaning up some wording and present the plan back to council members once the work sessions are complete.