Yellow sticky notes detailing ideas and project ruminations hung from categorized poster boards aside colored dots stuck to mark which of those categories residents want Gulf Shores to prioritize in the next 10 years.

The exercise was part of a resident engagement session the city held for its Vision 2035, the municipal strategic plan that will help shape the community's future for the next decade.

The first iteration of this project, Vision 2025, focused on action items that worked toward enhancing quality of life. It targeted ideas like access to better health care, environmental stewardship, improving education and creating "new economic opportunities throughout the community."

Projects in that first plan included splitting Gulf Shores' schools from the county system, expanding infrastructure, revitalizing Gulf State Park and creating Waterway Village and the Gulf Beach District. The new high school, justice center, "cautiously optimistic" airport expansions and the pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway were all born from the city's first 10-year strategic plan.

"Everything's over-budget," Mayor Robert Craft said when reviewing some projects that have taken longer than initially planned, like the pedestrian bridge, or have been put on the back burner, like some Coastal Gateway Community Park plans.

Categories of focus at the recent community input session, held at the Erie Meyer Civic Center on Oct. 29, were chosen based on feedback from this summer's resident survey. Jon Walker, city administrator, said the city sent out around 6,000 and received 4,000. Those categories included small-town culture, public safety, planned growth, environmental resilience, diverse and vibrant economy, and health and wellness.

Glenn and Kendra Richardson went to the small-town culture board first, filling out sticky notes with ideas and wishes to maintain the "beautiful aesthetics" of Meyer Park. They lived in the neighborhood during the development of Vision 2025 and engaged with the process then, too.

They said they are happy with the changes they've seen in terms of amenities, schools and things to do. They are excited for future changes but also don't want a detour being made for traffic during the pedestrian bridge's construction to go permanently through the neighborhood.

Three members of Gulf Shores Junior City Council, a program for students in grades 10-12 to learn about city government, the democratic process and how to become active citizens, according to the city's description, walked around the room placing their own sticky notes on various boards.

Haven Spruiell most prioritized the diverse and vibrant economy board with an idea to offer more lower-income housing so job opportunities could be given to local residents. She said she worked at Waterville as a lifeguard over the summer and learned many non-locals work there and can't move to the city because of housing prices.

Carleigh Jurkiewicz said she wants there to be more of a focus on conversation, for the area to be more walkable and to not rush large developments.

Claire Colvin wants a focus on improving infrastructure and said she appreciates changes made in education that now allow her and her peers more opportunities for learning.

To read Vision 2025, go to https://tinyurl.com/4teb2362.