Marquette City Planning Commission adds 2 new members – Upper Michigan’s Source

Marquette City Planning Commission Report: Strategic Urban Development and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Commission Updates

The Marquette City Planning Commission convened to review strategic objectives outlined in the Community Master Plan. The meeting marked the introduction of two new members to the commission, tasked with contributing to the city’s sustainable development trajectory.

• New Appointee: Jacob Guter
• New Appointee: Nico Vermaat

The integration of new members is anticipated to bring diverse perspectives to the planning process, strengthening the commission’s capacity to address complex urban challenges in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by fostering effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level.

Master Plan Review and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A primary agenda item was the review of the Community Master Plan adopted in the previous year. Discussions centered on implementing iterative updates to ensure the plan remains a dynamic tool for sustainable urban management. This process directly supports several key SDGs:

1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The continuous refinement of the master plan is fundamental to making Marquette more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It ensures that urban planning is responsive to the evolving needs of the community and the environment.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The commission emphasized maintaining “redevelopment ready status” with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This strategic priority aims to attract investment, foster economic growth, and create employment opportunities, contributing to productive and decent work for all.
3. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By planning for future redevelopment, the commission is actively working to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation within the city.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook

The collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation exemplifies a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Such partnerships are crucial for mobilizing resources and expertise to achieve ambitious sustainable development targets. Planning Commission Chair Kevin Clegg expressed enthusiasm for the new voices on the commission, highlighting the importance of collaborative input in steering these initiatives.

Next Steps

The commission will continue its work on the master plan in subsequent sessions. The next public meeting is scheduled for December 8, where discussions on aligning Marquette’s development with global sustainability benchmarks will proceed.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is directly addressed through the article’s focus on the Marquette City Planning Commission and its work on the “Community Master Plan.” The entire purpose of a planning commission and a master plan is to guide the development of a city to make it more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects to this goal by mentioning the commission’s effort to “maintain redevelopment ready status with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.” This status is a strategic tool to attract investment and promote sustainable economic growth within the community.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant as the article describes the functioning of a local public institution (the Marquette City Planning Commission). The appointment of “two new voices” and the public invitation to meetings highlight the principles of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.3

    “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.”

    The work of the Marquette City Planning Commission in reviewing and updating the “Community Master Plan” is a direct example of integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.

  • Target 11.a

    “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.”

    The commission’s coordination with the “Michigan Economic Development Corporation” demonstrates an effort to strengthen regional development planning by linking local plans with state-level economic strategies.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.3

    “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…”

    Maintaining “redevelopment ready status” is a development-oriented policy aimed at creating a favorable environment for economic activities and investment, which in turn supports job creation.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.7

    “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.”

    The article highlights this target by noting the appointment of “two new members” and “new voices on the commission,” which enhances representative decision-making. Furthermore, the explicit invitation for the public to “attend the next Marquette City Planning Commission meeting” is a direct promotion of participatory governance.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 11.3 (Sustainable Urbanization and Planning):

  • Implied Indicator: Existence and regular review of an integrated city development plan.

    The article explicitly mentions that the planning commission “took a look at the Community Master Plan adopted last year” and “discussed making small updates,” which serves as an indicator of active urban planning and management.

• For Target 11.a (Regional Development Planning):

  • Implied Indicator: Official recognition or status from a regional/state development body.

    The “redevelopment ready status with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation” is a specific, measurable status that indicates the city’s planning aligns with broader regional economic development goals.

• For Target 16.7 (Inclusive and Participatory Decision-Making):

  • Implied Indicator: Proportion of positions in public institutions filled by new appointees.

    The article states, “Two new voices joined the Marquette City Planning Commission,” which can be tracked as a measure of renewal and inclusivity in local institutions.

  • Implied Indicator: Public attendance at official meetings.

    The open invitation for the public to attend the next meeting implies that public participation is valued and can be measured as an indicator of participatory decision-making.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: uppermichiganssource.com