Council discusses goals
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The city’s proposed strategic plan served as the basis for much of City Council’s goal-setting workshop, held Feb. 26 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center.
In what looked more like a packet students are handed during SAT testing, councilors were given a list consisting of 20 pages, broken down into two sections of questions: those pertaining to the strategic plan and those not associated with it.
Items were broken down into categories, with councilors asked to indicate how soon they’d like to see the matter accomplished. Their choices were: 0-6 months, 6-15 months, 12-21 months, 18-36 months or over 36 months. The strategic plan categories and the topics councilors were asked to provide feedback with regard to when they’d like to see certain goals achieved included:
• Economic Vitality — economic development plan, identify target business segments, agricultural strategy, educational excellence, housing strategy, Presque Isle Industrial Council, transportation infrastructure, energy and technology strategy, housing strategy, investment in technology, training and continuing education for personnel, develop natural resources marketing strategy and/or promote environmentally friendly urban core, aggressively protect natural resources without overly complicated regulations, encourage commercial and recreational uses that foster and enhance natural resource mecca reputation, promote reuse of vacant farm land that enhances image, and use natural resources as central theme in land use planning;
• Increase Vitality of Downtown — redevelop Main Street and adjacent areas, riverfront development, pedestrian plan, center for ‘creative economy’ of Aroostook County, governance, atmosphere of activity and ‘energy,’ and transportation;
• Quality of Life — create partnerships with other communities and organizations, embrace decision making that enhances quality of life, identify events that connect citizens and their pride in area, invest in quality of life infrastructure, identify ‘at-risk’ populations, and promote outdoor activities;
• Presque Isle: Center of Aroostook County — launch new marketing campaign, collaborate with other communities and agencies to maximize resources and streamline process, become identified as the urban core of Aroostook County, analyze transportation alternatives to the area, and establish Presque Isle as preferred location for agency providers;
• Active Lifestyle — encourage active lifestyle choices as preferred expectation for community, encourage strategic partnerships with organizations that promote active lifestyles, and construct infrastructure with active lifestyle considerations; and
• Population Growth — population strategy, and demographic trends.
Councilors spent the most time discussing the non-strategic plan items, which covered the following: search for efficiencies on trash with Tri-Community; sell City Hall/move to new location; create area of community that supports trucking-related activities; find alternative to downtown traffic to connect to phase 1 of bypass; airport diversity PenAir issues; and promote more biomass.
The list continued with: balance downtown focus vs. other areas of community; winter maintenance issues of sidewalks; joint meeting with city of Caribou; incubator space; determine cost to include pool in community center, shut down others; and merger with Tri-Community Landfill.
More non-strategic plan ideas included: reduce capital assets over next five years; improve appearance of city hall or look for new one to rent; determine cost to improve Arnold Brook Lake; create new industrial zone; maintain commercial space inventory availability; and develop break-even goals for enterprise-type funds, i.e. airport.
The list concluded with: business visitation program (this is mentioned in the strategic plan); review trash system PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw); create new recreation programs; increase Forum events; interactive water park feasibility to replace outdoor pool; encourage development on Exchange Street; improve business groups’ alignment; and focus more on growth of community.
Councilors were also provided a breakdown of priorities from city department heads, with focusing on the downtown deemed the most important goal, followed by the marketing of the city and improving energy costs.
City Manager Jim Bennett and Deputy City Manager Martin Puckett were in attendance, offering more details as councilors discussed the various items up for consideration.
The non-plan list was discussed more thoroughly, with councilors choosing to review the strategic plan list at their own pace.
“The original thought was we’d take each page and talk about the items listed,” said Bennett.
Following dinner, councilors completed their goal packets, turning the finished lists over to Bennett. City officials will tabulate the results. Bennett said that process should take a couple weeks. When completed, Bennett will present a list of goals to councilors based on their feedback. Councilors will then begin discussion on which goals, if any, they’ll pursue and what timeframe will follow.
