Alta has a new roadmap for its future — with seven priorities aimed at strengthening the community over the next two years.
The Alta City Council identified those priorities during a strategic planning session Monday night, led by Tim Moerman, planning and visioning director at Beck Engineering Inc.
The session followed community surveys and individual interviews that generated 35 potential action items and 56 comments about what residents envision for Alta by 2036.
Moerman says the process is about moving beyond the city’s day-to-day responsibilities and taking a more proactive approach to community development.
Council members selected seven preliminary priorities: reviewing the city’s financial capacity for major projects, creating an economic development committee, building on Hometown Pride initiatives, exploring land acquisition for a new residential subdivision, evaluating participation in Main Street Iowa, planning downtown infrastructure improvements and forming a housing committee.
The priorities were chosen based on their potential impact and whether meaningful progress could be achieved within two years.
Downtown infrastructure improvements were added after Moerman discovered some council members had interpreted the Main Street Iowa proposal as including street reconstruction. The council clarified that the two are separate initiatives, with one focused on downtown revitalization programming and the other on physical improvements.
Housing was another major focus, with discussions about new single-family homes, senior housing, apartments and affordable housing.
But the ambitious plan also raised concerns about the city’s ability to carry out so many projects.
City Clerk Lindsay Brown acknowledged that while the work is manageable, finding time to complete it would be challenging.
Moerman suggested the city consider additional part-time administrative support and spread the projects over two years rather than beginning everything simultaneously. He also emphasized that the council’s role is to establish the vision and direction, while allowing staff to determine how to accomplish those goals.
The session wasn’t solely about projects. Moerman also challenged council members to strengthen teamwork, communication and trust, saying effective collaboration will be essential to implementing the plan.
Moerman will now work with Brown to develop an action plan identifying specific steps, timelines and responsibilities for each priority.
He expects to return to the council Dec. 7 with a draft for review.
The seven priorities remain preliminary until the council considers the completed strategic plan.
