Council Moves Ahead With Master Plan Update

The Sidney City Council recently approved a plan to update the city's Downtown Master Plan.

The City is currently working with the Downtown Master Plan from 2008.

Originally, the plan would include support from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning funds. The City applied for funding through CDBG, but was not selected for a grant. Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard proposed the City commit $20,000 from the downtown portion of the LB840 fund to have the Plan updated.

“My thought is we already have a Master Plan, so they won't have to start from scratch,” she said.

Norgard said since the City has a completed Master Plan, updating the Plan should be much less costly than writing a new one. In her proposal, Norgard said a request for proposals would be sent out, and if none are returned within the $20,000 budget, the project would be brought back to the council.

The existing plan was written in two phases with the first phase focused on issues that could be controlled and modified by the City. Projects include general beautification, pedestrian crossings and general walkability as well as new streetscapes and street tree planting. Phase One also included infrastructure and a storm water plan.

“A viable downtown is important and can increase the community's tax base and create a center for community activity, which can be directly related to business expansion and location decisions,” Norgard said in her Jan. 14 presentation to the city council.

Her memo to council also outlined benefits of a thriving downtown, including a positive self-image for the community, new job opportunities, encouraging commerce and economic activity, and preserving the community's historic resources.

Norgard said after the Master Plan is updated, the City can apply for downtown revitalization implementation funds of $250,000 to $400,000 with a 25 percent match. She proposed the matching funds come from the LB840 fund.

“A lot of the needs of the community have changed in the last couple of years,” said Sidney Mayor Roger Galloway.

In the Jan. 14 meeting, Norgard also updated the council on events associated with her office. She noted a resume writing a job seeking workshop, Rapid Response Events in association with staff changes at Bass Pro-Cabela's, a meet and mingle networking event, high school business and industry assembly, existing business growth and continued business recruitment.