Mqt. Commission talks city’s strategic plan

The City of Marquette is in the early stages of creating a strategic plan.  The plan was discussed at the City Commissioners meeting Monday night.

The city appointed a small ad hoc committee to develop a process for the strategic plan.  This is the first of two parts to develop the plan.

Mayor Pro Tem Robert Niemi said the strategic plan is a way for the city to discuss where the commissioners want the city to be in ten or twenty years from now.  He added the strategic plans highlights want should be accomplished in the city and what kind of quality of life the city wants encourage and develop.

They also hope to get the input from Marquette residents, but that will occur further down the road in developing the strategic plan.

The agenda also saw the city applying for a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to finance fourteen acres of land donated to Marquette.  The property is on the north side of the Marquette that includes 1,500 feet of lake shore.  The entire parcel will become a park, but Niemi said it is unclear at this time what will go into the park.  The commission plans getting public input on that project as well, but at a later time.

There was approval of over $80,000 from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to various organizations, including the Beacon House, Lake Superior Hospice, and the Marquette Maritime Museum.  The KBIC and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians give 2% of their gaming revenue back to the community.

The City of Marquette acts as  a physical agent, meaning they receive the money from the tribes, and then pass it along to the organizations.