Part of the work on the strategic planning process MHK involved an environmental scan looking at areas in Manhattan ranging from city infrastructure to population.
Jared Wasinger, Assistant to the City Manager, said the second round of public engagement will begin in May. In the meantime the environmental scan has explored existing conditions and trends to help form the strategic plan.
Some of those provided by planning committee officials ranged from the observation that while the K-State population is declining the population for the City of Manhattan is increasing. There are 67,000 people connected to Fort Riley with about 5% of them or about 2,000 people living in Manhattan.
Wasinger noted that the fastest growing population group involves 65 to 74 year old residents, diversity has increased and many people commute into Manhattan work while a lesser number travel outside the city to their job.
Wasinger said the next step will be April 20th where there will be a discussion with the city commission and planning consultants. In the first round of public engagement more than 1,000 people participated in the process.