Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren City Council formally recognized WCCBI President/CEO Jim Decker for his efforts in completing the regional Build Back Better challenge grant application that was filed last week. The grant, if successful, would provide over $7 million in funding to boost efforts aimed at redeveloping Warren’s riverfront. Mayor Dave Wortman said there is “still a lot of work to be done” but that the city is “deeply indebted” to Decker for his “time, effort and energy.”

The City of Warren’s comprehensive plan will take another step forward this week.

The first of two invite-only sessions will be held March 23 with the second following a week later.

Brandi Rosselli with Mackin Engineering said the plan has been in the works for about six months.

“We are trying our best to get as many people involved as possible,” she told council.

She explained that the end result is “not going to get a laundry list of 100 things” to implement. The plan is “really going to focus on a manageable prioritized list that the city can achieve for implementation.”The sessions in the next week will focus on the downtown, business development, city assets and targeted areas for land use.

Rosselli said “a number of experts” from the city and region were invited “that we think could really help these work sessions.”

This will kick off the next phase of the planning process, developing those specific action plans.

Rosselli said there would be a second public meeting held in May.

Mayor Dave Wortman said he is “excited to see the final outcome” and to “be a part of the continuing process. (There is) a lot of great stuff going on in Warren.”

Rosselli said there are “a lot of dedicated people living and working in Warren” and “a lot of exciting upcoming things you can build on.”