PRIEST RIVER — Bit by bit, the city is moving forward with an update to its comprehensive plan.

The latest updates were presented to the City Council at its Monday meeting, with Planning and Zoning Administrator Jake Gabell noting that chapters on school facilities, economic development, public services and facilities, and housing and community design were shared with city and school district officials for their review.

West Bonner County School District Superintendent Kim Spacek made a few minor edits to the school facilities chapter, and additional minor edits were made to the other chapters as well, Gabell told council members.

Most of the changes center on the addition of details to several reports and the beginning of work on a community engagement plan to gather input once the plan is completed.

Cities are required by state law to adopt a comprehensive plan and regularly update it. The plans serve as a guiding document on everything from growth to policy and provide a vision and direction for a seven‑ to 10‑year period.

Gabell said he’s begun work on the process, wrapping part of it into the capstone project he is completing as part of his master’s degree. While implementation of the entire plan would be too large a task to complete in the three months he has for the project, Gabell said he will be able to use a couple of the chapters.

It will also, Gabell said, get the city started on the steps it needs to implement the plan.

Once the plan is adopted, Gabell said it typically takes a couple of years to revise city code to align with the policies incorporated into the plan.

However, because the revision has been so extensive, Gabell said it is likely that the next update won’t need to be as substantial.

Priest River Mayor Jeff Connolly agreed, saying the need to completely revise this iteration of the plan is unlikely for future updates.

Once the plan has been completed and reviewed by appropriate staff and officials, Gabell said input will be sought from the community. Any revisions will follow.

Gabell took the council through proposed changes in the chapters, as well as a review of the accompanying comprehensive plan zoning map.

The Planning and Zoning administrator encouraged the council to read the document and pay attention to the policies and proposed changes — where they see growth, where they would like to see growth, whether existing planning zones make sense, and where expansion of city services is most likely.

The council did not take action on the plan, opting to continue reviewing the proposed changes. It is expected to be discussed at the next council meeting Feb. 16.