TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

New Guide Clears Up City's Vision Statement

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

PLANT CITY - An ambitious update of a vision statement guiding Plant City's future has been enthusiastically endorsed by commissioners.

The strategic guide, "Embracing the Future While Preserving the Past," was unveiled at the commissioners' Sept. 8 workshop. It establishes a framework of values and goals based on issues commissioners raised at a June 9 workshop to update their vision statement adopted in 2004.

"It's not something staff dreamed up; it's something you said you wanted to see," said Assistant City Manager Greg Horwedel, who prepared the document and presented it to city commissioners.

Each of "five overarching goals" details specific objectives, such as supporting preservation in the historical districts and working with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Committee of 100 to recruit technology and manufacturing firms to create jobs.

Under the "unique sense of place" goal, one of the 35 objectives is to partner with community groups to promote the city's agricultural and railroad heritage.

Another calls for an annual "state of the city" event at which commissioners and city staff will conduct an open house to outline goals and achievements and solicit resident input.

"This is so good, it really deserves our efforts and our attention," Commissioner Dan Raulerson said, urging the city to focus immediately on several of the objectives.

Raulerson, Commissioner Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis and Mayor Rick Lott praised the brevity of the one-page chart that was part of Horwedel's presentation.

"It's right to the point," far superior to a lengthy document, Lott said.

At Lott's suggestion, commissioners expressed official support of the vision plan by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Mike Sparkman was absent from the workshop.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT