Planning, parks top list for Watkins

Creating a new Cosmopolitan Park for the next generation, renovating and expanding the Daniel Boone City Building and embarking on a planning partnership for downtown with MU and Stephens College are three of the major initiatives City Manager Bill Watkins outlined during his State of the City Address this morning.

Before addressing seven initiatives for the next fiscal year during a news conference in the City Council chambers, Watkins thanked his predecessor, Ray Beck.

“No one can replicate Ray’s work or step into his shoes,” Watkins said. “But my goal for Columbia is to keep adding value to our asset ... this place where we make our homes, raise our children and build are lives.”

The first initiative discussed was the visioning plan that has been in the works for several weeks. Watkins quoted best-selling author Stephen Covey, who wrote “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”

“Covey said that, ‘Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success. Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall,’” Watkins said. “We owe citizens a planning process that points to ‘the right wall’ with accurate facts and reasonable forecasts,” he said.

The next initiative Watkins mentioned was the city’s plan to create a joint planning partnership with MU and Stephens College. All three entities would create a joint nonprofit development corporation that would coordinate public and private development in the area between Providence Road and College Avenue. Details, Watkins said, would be discussed at the City Council retreat, which begins Thursday night and continues through Saturday morning.

“(This) opportunity is particularly exciting,” Watkins said.

Watkins also discussed the need to get to work on creating a regional park for south Columbia. The city already owns Bristol Lake and surrounding property in the former Philips tract, and has discussed the possibility of buying land that would connect that acreage to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Watkins said city parks are at capacity and that Columbia particularly needs to accommodate sports and family needs. He said the city could either develop a 400- to 500-acre mega-park or scatter several 100-acre parks around the city.

“We’ve got some great land by the airport. Is that too far south?” Watkins asked. “Probably. Maybe that’s an option for a third Cosmo park.”

At the end of the address, Watkins described Columbia’s uniqueness.

“I believe that what makes Columbia particularly special is that we are a community of optimists, attached to each other: neighbor-to-neighbor, interest to interest,” he said. “We also are strongly attached to our history and our tradition, but we’re feeling the tug of the future.

“As your City Manager, it is my honor to serve you at this time of decision. My door is open to you at any time,” Watkins said.