What should Albert Lea be in the future? That&8217;s up to you, and tonight is the night you need to be there.

Here is how municipal planning works in a nutshell:

Planning decisions in many cities including this one are made using city, county, state and federal codes, a zoning map and a comprehensive plan. The zoning map is based pretty much on two factors: existing use and the comprehensive plan. That makes the comp plan the most important planning document. It&8217;s the vision. The comprehensive plan is drawn up based on several meetings with members of the community. The city forms the comprehensive plan using feedback from the people.

That means at no time does your input have greater impact &8212; greater meaning, greater importance, greater consequences &8212; than during the workshops to determine how the comprehensive plan should look. In fact, not being there has consequences because it means your input &8212; your great idea, your vision, your impetus &8212; is left out.

OK, now let us tell you why this time it is an even bigger deal than most community meetings.

In a lot of places the comprehensive plan is updated every five, 10 or 20 years. In Albert Lea, it hasn&8217;t been updated since the early 1970s. That&8217;s far too long.

As a result, this update of the comp plan is particularly critical. We&8217;re such a different community than the early 1970s that it is almost like working off a new slate.

&8220;Speak now or forever hold your peace&8221; sure has a fitting ring to it for this occasion.

Head over tonight to the Albert Lea Senior Center in the Skyline Plaza. The Skyline Plaza is on West Main Street, but the Senior Center is accessed easier from the back side on Front Street.

The workshop takes place from 7 to 9 p.m.

The consulting team will present an overview on comprehensive planning, and then people will break into small groups to discuss: transportation and mobility, jobs and economic development, urban design and appearance, redevelopment and growth, water quality and the environment, and parks and recreation systems.

But finish your supper at home because Destination Albert Lea will serve dessert at the workshop.