This report concerns a request an amendment to the City's 1976 Comprehensive Master Plan approved by the City Council on May 27, 1997. It describes the Goals and Objectives that were created during the past year by the Master Plan Steering Committee. Adopting these goals and objectives completes Phase One of the process of replacing the 1976 Plan and creating a new Master Plan. These Goals and Objectives will also provide a foundation for the neighborhood plans that will be prepared during Phase Two of this process of creating a new Master Plan.

Identification of Values
The Master Plan Steering Committee first met with various elected officials, Plan Commission members, and residents in March, 1996 to identify the basic core values or principles important to most residents of Highland Park. The Committee identified over 70 separate values or issues which were consolidated into similar categories. The Committee then identified about 20 problems or negative aspects of Highland Park which should be addressed in the new Master Plan. Finally, the Committee listed about 40 obstacles or conflicts that will make it difficult to preserve or achieve the community's values in the future.

The three following lists identify each of these sets of ideas. The Steering Committee used these concepts to create the specific Goals and Objectives listed later in this report which are the foundation of the new Master Plan:

1. Community Values and Principles
2. Problems/Negatives About Highland Park
3. Conflicts/Obstacles to Achieve Community Values

In reviewing and discussing the draft Goals and Objectives, the Master Plan Steering Committee focused on citywide concerns and objectives, not narrow, localized problems. They brainstormed about the concepts expressed in these statements before editing the specific language. They did not try to work out detailed solutions to problems but simply identified potential solutions to be explored in the future. Finally, they also identified conflicting or overlapping Goals and Objectives to reduce redundancies.

In order to translate the values listed above into the new Master Plan, specific Goals and Objectives were created and organized into the four following categories to give structure to the Master Plan:

1. Shaping the Physical Future of Highland Park
2. Maintaining and Improving a Strong Economy
3. Improving Our Community and Ourselves
4. Government's Role and Responsibilities