Flint contemplates its future, through planning

The City of Flint is hosting a public forum this evening to discuss its plan for the future.

"This is a chance for a lot of the political leaders and some community people to lay out the process and to get additional information from the audience," said Michael Kelly of the Flint Area Public Affairs Forum. He says the forum will allow city leaders to talk  about assets and challenges that face the city.

Flint Mayor Dayne Walling will moderate the forum. Panelists include the chief planning officer for the city of Flint and members of the Flint Master Plan Steering Committee.

Flint remains under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager and faces a budget deficit of almost $20 million. Kelly says the panel will discuss issues surrounding the deficit in Flint.

"This is part of a process of re-visioning and re-planning the future of this community in the light of population change, economic change, and physical change of the property itself," says Kelly.

This forum is the first stage of developing Flint's first master plan in 50 years.

-Lindsay Hall, Michigan Radio Newsroom